446 



Experiment with a Turf Plough. 



'compare plots i and 2) cannot be said to have had any 



marked effect, but stirring the soil (compare plots 2 and 



6) has, in both years, reduced the yield to the extent of 

 about two cwt. per acre. 



In the season immediately succeeding the autumn in which 

 the work was done, it was very evident that the treatment had 

 materially affected the relative abundance of the various 

 plants, and, more particularly, the scarcity of ribwort on the 

 " ploughed " plots was very conspicuous. This result might 

 have been anticipated when it is remembered that this plant 

 has a very pronounced tap-root, which would, of course, be 

 severed by the share of the plough. The botanical analysis 

 of the herbage of 1899 shows that seven plants constituted 

 about 90 per cent, of the total weight of material. Of these, 

 comparison of the respective plots will show that " ploughing" 

 combined with stirring and rolling, resulted in a reduction 

 in the case of fiorin, sweet scented vernal, white clover, and 

 ribwort, whereas there was a marked increase of crested dogs- 

 tail, and Yorkshire fog. The various species of fescue were, 

 on the whole, but little affected. 



If the average of plots 2 and 3 be compared with that 

 of plots 4 and 5, and if the percentages of the various 

 plants be converted into actual weight per acre, we have 

 the following results : — 



" Ploughed," stirred, " 

 and rolled (plots 2 

 and 3) - 



Not ploughed, stirred ' 

 or rolled (plots 4 

 and 5)- - 



Pounds per acre of the undernoted plants in 1899. 



Dogs- 

 tail, 



Fescues 



Fiorin. 



Vernal. 



York- 

 shire 

 Fog. 



■ 



White 

 C over. 



Rib- 

 wort. 



443 



203 



701 



50 



515 



48 



59 



347 



216 



774 



64 



427 



92 



10S 



Finally, it may be interesting to note whether artificial 

 manures acted better on such " ploughed " land, or on 



