102 
Droufjht of 1870 and 
able ; though, of the four lower samples, the uppermost, that is, 
the third from the surface, perhaps showed slightly the least, and 
the lowest, or sixth, the brightest red tinge. 
The turf of Plot 9, manured with mineral manure and am- 
monia-salts, consisted of a dense, almost peat-like mass, of de- 
composing roots, radicle leaves, and stubble, thickly penetrated 
with strong roots and fibrils, the whole being as much matted as 
on the unmanured soil, showing, however, less complexity, but 
greater strength of roots. The horizontal subterraneous stems 
of the Agrostis vulgaris greatly predominated, emitting many 
fibrils, and sending out many descending fibrous roots. Poa 
pratensis also developed a large amount of strong root, and a 
profusion of fibrils. Roots penetrated to about the same depth 
as on Plot 3, but in larger quantity, and of larger size ; being, 
however, in the fifth 9 inches, both very few in number and very 
fine. As already said, the samples of the first 9 inches of the 
soil of the three plots differed comparatively little from one 
another in the degree of their change by the action of vegeta- 
tion ; but, if anything, that of this Plot 9 was the darkest, indi- 
cating so far more of mould-like character. The second 9 inches 
of this plot was decidedly more changed than that of the un- 
manured, or of even Plot 14, The third and fourth 9 inches 
were, compared with the unmanured, slightly darker, or less 
bright in colour, showing still some change. The fifth and sixth 
were little, if at all, distinguishable in colour from the raw, red- 
dish-yellow clay of the unmanured plot at corresponding depths. 
The turf of Plot 14, manured with mineral manure and 
nitrate of soda, had not the peaty appearance of that of Plot 9 ; 
the prevailing plant, Bromus mollis, which made up about half 
the crop, possessing comparatively few radicle leaves ; whilst, 
especially under the influence of this manure, Poa trivialis, 
Holcus lanatiis, and Lolium perciine, have a tendency to assume 
the same character of development above ground. The Bromus 
mollis, too, was found in a most striking degree to send down 
strong wiry roots into the subsoil, leaving only its fibrils, and 
the roots of less prominent or smaller species, to feed near the 
surface. The second 3 inches of soil also held together, being full 
of fibre. At the extremity of the fibrils of the Brom.us mollis small 
tubercles, much like those which occur on the roots of some legu- 
minous plants, were observed down to a depth of perhaps 12 or 
14 inches. The roots of this grass extended, however, to a depth 
of. nearly 4 feet, still maintaining their wiry character. The dif- 
ference in the character of the samples of soil, and especially of 
the subsoil, of this compared with those of either of the other plots, 
was very striking. The first 9 inches differed little from that of 
the unmanured plot. The second was, however, more altered 
