( 347 , 



■ Xy. — Experiments on Top-dressinrj Grass-land in Windsor 



Great Park, 



[Communicated by order of H.E.H. the Prince Albert.] 



The land marked I. (see p. 348) was enclosed from open pasture 

 and cropped for hay, for the first time. The whole land so enclosed 

 had received during the winter about twelve loads per acre of 

 deer-pen manure, valued at 2s. per load. This manure seemed 

 never to have produced any effect, in consequence of the long 

 drought succeeding its application ; and though its value ought to 

 be stated against the crop, when considered generally, it has not 

 been taken into account in the above statement, which is intended 

 to show a comparison between land under two artificial manures, 

 and land of the same description without them. 



The land marked II. (p. 348) was a portion of a meadow, which 

 has long been cropped for hay every year. This land received no 

 other treatment than the application of the artificial manures. 



From the above statement the benefit resulting from liberal 

 top-dressing of grass is apparent. The aftermath on all the top- 

 dressed land was also superior to that on the rest of the field, 

 but no difference could be seen betwixt the two sorts experi- 

 mented with. On the application of guano there seems to be 

 considerably the greatest profit ; but as experiments have been 

 tried in other localities in which the nitrate of soda has had the 

 superiority, the explanation of the difference in the effects pro- 

 duced must be sought for in some peculiarity of the soil. In 

 both cases stated above, the soil and subsoil consist of clay, not 

 very tenacious. 



It is believed that the difference in the produce of the dressed 

 and the undressed land is greater than may be expected in 

 ordinary seasons, in consequence of the weather and other cir- 

 cumstances having been exceedingly favourable for the appli- 

 cation of the manures. No rain had fallen, and there had been 

 constant drying easterly winds from February till the 22nd May, 

 the day of application, and consequently the grass had made no 

 growth whatever. The manures, therefore, on being applied, 

 came immediately into contact with the roots, and on the 26th 

 May genial rains commenced, which continued almost without 

 interruption till the day of cutting. The surrounding grass 

 seemed never to make a start all the season, which the smallness 

 of the crop will show, while the top-dressed land improved 

 daily. 



F. H. Seymour, Deputy Ranger. 

 W. Menzies, Deputy Surveyor. 



Windsor Great Park, 



22nd Oct. 1852. 



