Mixed Herbage of Grass-Land. 
135 
means of other sieves of varving fineness, into four or five different 
lots, in order to facilitate the examination and identification of 
its components ; and notes were made accordingly as to their 
apparent character. But it was found that there still remained, 
in some cases, nearly one-fourth of the original sample as unde- 
termined stemmy and leafy residue. Hence, all such residues 
that amounted to more than 10 per cent, of the original sample 
were afterwards submitted to a further separation — a most tedious 
labour — which, however, has in verv few cases left as much as 
lU per cent, of undetermined matter. Still, after these further 
separations, the relative proportions of the final stemmy and 
leafy residues will, to some extent indicate the ease or dif- 
culty attending the separations and identifications, and at the 
same time, be some indication of the character of development 
of the herbage. For, it will be readilv understood that a very 
luxuriant and stemmv Graminaceous produce, would be much 
more easily separated into its components, than a mass consisting 
almost exclusively of leafy herbage. Indeed, whilst some of the 
individual samples required more than a week for the first, and 
afterwards some days for the second separation, others were 
worked much more easilv. 
The numerical results of the inquirv, showing the proportion 
per cent, in each sample, of each separated, portion, are given 
in the large folding Table, facing p. 164 ; in which the indi- 
vidual plants, or descriptions of herbage othenvise defined, are 
classified into — 
1. — Graminaceous herbage : 
Determined species ; 
Lndetermined stem and leaf; 
Shedded flowers and seeds, &c. (ckiefly Graminaceous). 
2. — Leguminous herbage. 
'6. — Miscellaneous herbage. 
And, as will be seen, the different plants composing the ^lis- 
cellaneous or weedy herbage, are classified into the Xatural 
Orders to which they respectivelv belong. 
The following is a detailed statement of the manuring of the 
different plots ; a brief description of which is given under the 
corresponding plot-numbers in the Tables. Unless otherwise 
stated, the same description and amount of manure has been 
applied to the respective plots every vear since the beginning of 
the experiments in 1856. The quantities are given per acre. 
Plot 1. — Unmanured. 
Plot 2. — Unmanured (duplicate plot at the further end of 
the series). 
