28 
Gi'oss Experiments at Wobiirn. 
Weight of the Produce for the Two Years, calculated for an Acre of 
each Grass cut in Flower or in Seed. 
In Piower 
In Seed 
Less yield of 
plants cut in seed 
Italian ryegrass .... 
" Annual " ryegrass . . 
tons 
owts 
qrs 
.lbs. 
tons 
owts 
qra 
.lbs. 
per cent. 
3 
9 
3 
20 
2 
7 
2 
0 
47 
3 
12 
0 
0 
2 
7 
2 
24 
51 
Perennial ryegrass . , . 
2 
19 
2 
16 
2 
11 
3 
4 
Hh 
3 
IG 
0 
8 
2 
4 
3 
20 
70 
Cocksfoot 
5 
10 
0 
8 
4 
1 
0 
IG 
3Si 
Meadow fescue .... 
3 
18 
3 
18 
3 
11 
1 
4 
ID 
Tall fescue ..... 
.5 
9 
0 
24 
3 
19 
3 
12 
33^ 
3 
10 
0 
16 
3 
3 
0 
0 
15 
The different weights of produce in the two halves de- 
serve some consideration, though caution must be exercised in 
comparing the weights. The produce Avas all weighed green. 
This necessarily gave an advantage to the plants cut in flower, 
which abound in water that is lost to the plant which has 
ripened its seed. A certain proportion of the greater weight of 
the portions cut in flower is due to the aftermath ; while the 
plants that had ripened their seed, having done their year's 
work and exhausted themselves, produced scarcely any after- 
math. The early-cut foxtail was ready for mowing this year on 
May 28, and was cut the second time on July 31 ; while in the 
heavy loam of the Warren Field a third growth was cut on 
September 28. By the end of October the timothy and foxtail 
had ceased growing, but the cocksfoot, meadow fescue, and 
tall fescue were still producing fresh foliage. 
After making all allowances for adventitious weight that 
does not increase the nutritive properties of the food, there can 
be no doubt that there yet remains a valuable surplus which 
gives a decided advantage to the pasture that is cut during 
flowering. When the grass begins to flower, the whole plant is 
most fully charged with nutrient substances. Flowering is a 
food-consuming process. When the seed is fertilised, the whole 
of the food temporarily stored throughout the plant is gradually 
transferred to the growing seed, where it is finally stored for the 
use of the young plant when it begins its independent life. As 
soon as the work of lodging the food in the seed is completed, 
there is left in the leaves and the stalk little besides the cellu- 
lose, which forms the substance of the plant, and which is of 
little use as food. In the work of preparing hay from grasses 
that have seeded, a large proportion of the seeds are lost, and 
with them the food required by the stock. It is then most 
desirable not to allow the plants in a meadow intended for hay 
