Gaiit : Botanical Survey of a Pasture. 107 



Beyond these and probably overlying- them in the same direc- 

 tion, are rocks of Permian age. 



Situation of Field. — The field itself forms part of an east 

 to west valley on the restricted outcrop of the Lower Coal 

 Measures. It consists of three distinct portions : — (i) A flat 

 region (C. on map) bounded on the north by one of the small 

 streams alluded to, on the east by one of its tributaries, and on 

 the south by a shallow ditch. (2) A slope with a northern 

 exposure ; this beg"ins at the ditch and forms the southern part 

 of the area, rising ultimately into a sandstone ridge in the 

 cultivated fields beyond. These two are grass areas. (3) A 

 bank (S. on map) on the east of the tributary with a western 

 exposure and a ' Scrub flora.' 



Agricultural Features. — The low elevation of much of 

 the field, the impossibility of draining-, and its liability to pro- 

 long-ed inundation in winter and wet summers have prevented 

 much improvement being- carried out, consequently the herbage 

 may be looked upon as natural, it not having been subject to 

 alteration by grazing", drainage, or application of manures. 



Draining has at some remote period been attempted by the 

 ridge and furrow method on the slope, the furrows running- in 

 the direction, of steepest slope, but apparently the result has been 

 negative. The ditch dividing two of the parts alluded to has 

 lost to a g-reat extent its artificial character ; it is about a foot 

 deep and is seldom without water at the bottom. This is an 

 important feature of the drainage, as an examination of the 

 levels given will show. Where the ditch joins one of the main 

 streams the level is 175 feet, and this may be taken to be the 

 normal level of the two main streams. Between the ditch and 

 the main stream there must therefore be a water-table at a 

 depth varying- from one foot to five feet below the surface. In 

 time of flood this water-table rises above the surface of the soil 

 and the lower portions of the field are converted into a pond. 



Edaphic Features. — In the present case climate and rainfall 

 may be entirely neglected, because these must be the same over 

 the whole field, except in regard to different exposures on the 

 various slopes. The important factors are the physical nature 

 of the soil and the drainage. 



The soil and subsoil has been carefully studied throughout 

 the field by means of borings. The implement used was of 

 a very simple but, at the same time, efficient kind, being an 

 augur of the type used by carpenters, but with a shaft pro- 

 longed to about four feet. A core of soil of this depth was 



1904 April I. 



