3oo Influence of Manures on Mutton. 



effects have been practically unobservable. In each of the 

 three years the average gain per head per week has actually 

 been rather less on Plot 2 than on the unmanured plot 

 (No. 6). The small total live-weight gain on this plot, 

 above the yield of No. 6, is entirely due to the fact that 

 in 1898 it was grazed by eight sheep, as compared with 

 six on Plot 6. When the number of sheep was the same- 

 on these two plots the results are rather against the lime, and 

 this apart altogether from the question of outlay. Not a 

 single sheep on Plot 2 was ready for the butcher at the end 

 of 1899. 



The lime has, however, somewhat increased the yield of 

 hay, but this is of very poor quality, containing as it does- 

 more Agrostis than any of the treated plots, and practically 

 no clover. This result has come to many as a great surprise,, 

 and it is worth noting that even at the end of the third year 

 — with only negative results to refer to — some farmers still 

 cling to the idea that lime will yet assert itself. 



Although common lime, when used alone, has so far done 

 nothing to improve the pasture, a very different result has 

 been got on Plot 8, which in 1897 and again in 1899 received 

 half a ton per acre of pulverised lime as an addition to super- 

 phosphate. This plot, in fact, has been treated exactly like 

 No. 5, so far as the super is concerned, but whereas No. 5 

 received no lime, No. 8 was dressed with lime as indicated. 

 Comparison of these two plots (Table I.) will show that the 

 lime has each year added to the aggregate production of" 

 mutton, the gross gain on the three years being 39 lbs. per 

 acre. But this result does not indicate the whole benefit, for- 

 whereas, in 1899, Plot 5 furnished only two fat sheep, Plot 8 

 furnished five. When the two lots were placed in adjacent 

 pens for inspection by the butcher, he expressed the opinion 

 that the difference was so marked that had he not known the 

 animals to be originally of the same lot he could not have 

 believed they were the same " class " of sheep. Reference 

 to Table I. will show that he valued those on Plot 8 at the 

 same rate per head as the highest of the series. 



Judged by the weight of the sheep, and disregarding 

 residual value, the addition of the lime to the super has not 



