296 lu'iijii uii Ed-[icruiHiiiU hii Load AijricaUural Sucietles. 
Tlot 6. 
Tlot 7. 
4 lbs. Italian ryegrass 
G lbs. Cocksfoot 
3 lbs. Meadow fescuo 
2 lbs. Tall fescue 
2 lbs. Meadow fescue 
3 lbs. Timothy 
3 lbs. Rod clover 
li lb. White clover 
ll lb. Alsike 
2 lbs. Italian ryegrass 
5 lbs. Perennial ryegrass 
5 lbs. Cocksfoot 
3 lbs. Meadow fescue 
2 lbs. Meadow foxtail 
1 lb. Hard fescue 
2 lbs. Timothy 
1 lb. Crest'id dogstail 
4 lbs. Cowgrass 
1^ lb. White clover 
l| lb. Alsike 
The dimiuislied produce in 1888 as compared with 1887 is 
noticeable, although the season was distinctly more favourable 
for grass. Mr. Holland, the Society's botanist, remarks on the 
deterioration of Italian ryegrass and red clover (biennials) on 
the rotation plots, but adds that their place seems to have been 
taken by other grasses. Plots G and 7 (three years' ley) would 
both readily stand for permanent pastures, and probably be much 
better than many of the ordinary mixtures sown by farmers. 
Of the permanent pasture plots at Saltney (plots 1-5), all have 
made good progress, and there are no signs of a deterioration. 
At present it is difficult to say which is the best. Plot No. 1, 
a cheap mixture, consisting of 
24- lbs. Devon.shire evergreen ryegrass I 4 lbs. Wild white clover 
4 lbs. Crestel dogstail | i lb. Sweet vernal grass, 
has formed a wonderfully close root, and is literally one mass of 
white clover. Mr. Holland thinks the seed sold as " Wild " 
white clover has produced a plant of smaller character, but with 
greater power of spreading than clover from ordinary white 
clover seed. He also thinks the plot shows the Devonshire 
Evergreen Ryegrass to be a special strain of dwarfer nature, but 
with more spreading habit than other strains of ryegrass. Both 
Yarrow and Birdsfoot Trefoil are spreading largely on the plots 
where they were sown. Mr. Holland's report contains further 
notes on specimen plots of individual grasses and the appear- 
ances presented by them. 
At Rostherne, the experiments have been continued on the 
laying down of jDermanent pasture and for two and four years' ley. 
The dry season of 1887 caused the seeds sown that spring not 
to come up well ; indeed, it was intended at one time to plough 
the plots up, but by April 1888 they had much improved, and, 
a wet season following, it appeared that a considerable number 
of the seeds which had been lying dormant came up, and the 
