38 Influence on the Production of Mutton 



though not so marked as in the years following the previous 

 culmination in 1899. 



The history of Plot 4 is not less interesting, and may be 

 similarly followed in Table XVII. Had not the dose of 

 5 cwt. of slag been repeated on this plot for 1900 the curve 

 would certainly have come down in that year, but, as it is, 

 it has markedly risen, but for one year only. It rises again 

 in 1902, due, as has been said, to the favourable grazing 

 conditions of that year. But from that point the line of 

 descent runs practically parallel with the curve of Plot 3, 

 reaching the lowest point in 1905. In the autumn of that 

 year 5 cwt. of slag was put on Plot 4, and in 1906 the yield 

 of mutton is markedly higher, as is also the case, though the 

 rise is not so great, in 1907. From that point the yield drops 

 abruptly, agreeing with Plot 3, and no doubt it would again 

 have fallen about as much in 1909, had not the slag (5 cwt.) 

 been repeated for that year. This dressing — the fourth — 

 although it has been able to modify the descent, has not been 

 able to arrest it, so that although this, the fourth, dose of 

 slag has had considerable effect, its influence has been 

 markedly less than any of the previous three. The present 

 position of these plots opens up interesting possibilities of 

 speculation as to what results the future holds, but these may 

 be left to speak for themselves in due course. 



The Comparative Effects of Basic Slag and Superphosphate 



of Lime. 



Ten years ago, when the use of basic slag was less 

 common than now, there was much diversity of opinion as 

 to the comparative value of these two manures when applied 

 to pasture. The matter was therefore included in the original 

 scheme at Cockle Park, and in the duplicate stations at 

 Sevington and Cransley. It also received attention at prac- 

 tically all the other English stations, as well as at Professor 

 Wright's (Downan) in Scotland, but it was not included 

 in the series of tests carried out by the Highland Society, or 

 by the West of Scotland College of Agriculture. The 

 basis of comparison in the investigations was the relative 

 effects of equal quantities of insoluble phosphoric acid in 

 basic slag, and of soluble phosphoric acid in superphosphate 



