3o6 



On the average of the three years the hay crop has been 

 reduced in weight by the addition of the potash, a result 

 which has frequently been observed on strong land, not only 

 at Cockle Park, but elsewhere. The effects of the potash on 

 the botanical composition of the herbage have been chiefly 

 observable in the increase of cocksfoot, fescues, Yorkshire 

 fog, and white clover, and the reduction of Agrostis and 

 crested dogstail. On the whole, one would say that the change 

 in this respect has been in the direction of improvement, and 

 this conclusion is borne out by the growth of the sheep, 

 which have each year given slightly more increase on 

 Plot 7 than on Plot 5, the aggregate difference being 37 lbs. 

 per acre. As the potash cost 15s. 4d. per acre, it is evident 

 that, judged by the weight of the sheep, its use has not 

 been profitable. From the butcher's point of view the case 

 for potash appears decidedly more favourable. In the three 

 years the butcher's valuation is 14s. 3d. per acre in favour 

 of potash ; and if this be deducted from the cost of the 

 material, the net debit balance against the potash is only 

 is., id. per acre, which is probably much more than covered 

 by the residues. 



The butcher found four of the sheep on the potash plot to 

 be prime fat (as against two where the super was unsup 

 ported by potash ,, and reported " sheep of Plot 7 of better 

 quality and thriving better than those on No. 5." 



As potash is generally regarded as an important substance 

 in the production of wool, the expert was asked to make a 

 very careful inspection of the fleeces of the sheep of Plots 5 

 and 7. His verdict was, " Quality of No. 7 fine, but lustre 

 deficient, not so deep and well grown as No. 5." Apparently, 

 therefore, the \\ months' growth of wool has not been 

 improved by the artificial supply of potash to the pasture ; in 

 fact, the tendency, if anything", points in the opposite 

 direction. 



Plot 9. — Effects of adding Nitrogen to Super. — In the three 

 years a total of i67lbs. of sulphate of ammonia per acre has 

 been used as an addition to the super, of this plot. In the 

 two years of application 1897 and 1899) it has slightly 

 increased the produce of mutton, but neither from the point 



