306 



Influence of Manures on Mutton. 



essentially the more reliable, it being impossible for anyone 

 by mere inspection and handling to make the fine distinctions 

 that are revealed by the balance. Table II. shows, however, 

 that the two methods of valuation are closely consistent ; in 

 fact only in the case of the sheep of plot lo are the two sets 

 of figures seriously divergent. 



The cost of the cake and manures is arrived at by taking 

 the actual price at the nearest railway station, and adding 2S. 

 per ton for cartage. 



The botanical analysis of the hay was made on samples 

 taken on a definite system.* All the plant-species met with 

 were separated and weighed, but in Table I. the percentages 

 of grasses, Legtmimosce, and miscellaneous herbage only are 

 stated, an exception, however, being made in the case of 

 white clover, a plant which possesses unusual interest where 

 questions affecting pasture are being discussed. Besides 

 white clover all the plots — notably No. 8 — contained bird's 

 foot trefoil, while meadow vetchling and red clover were 

 also present — though seldom abundant — in a considerable 

 number of cases. 



Although the experiment is essentially concerned with the 

 influence of the cake and manures on the rate of growth of 

 the sheep with which the plots were stocked, it may be men- 

 tioned that at the end of each season certain of the plots still 

 contained a considerable amount of available herbage. For 

 various reasons it was desirable to get rid of this roughness," 

 and this was effected by placing a certain number of store 

 heifers (Galloway and West Highland) on the plots con- 

 cerned, and keeping them there for a definite period of time. 

 The keep of these animals is an item that may fairly be placed 

 to the credit of the manures, ani this will ultimately be done, 

 but for the present no account need be taken of the value of 

 such supplementary grazing, though in the course of a few 

 years it will be by no means inconsiderable. 



Having thus referred to certain points affecting the general 

 -arrangement of the experiments, the following brief notes 

 together with the butcher's report for 1898, are offered as an 

 indication of the position of matters at the end of the second 

 season. 



* See " Sixth Report on Experiments with Crops and Stock." By W. Somerville, 

 p. 104. 



