Comparative Effects of different Manures on Grass Lands. 647 
of so large a quantity as 7 cwts. of artificial manure per acre for grass 
land ? 
Professor Voelcker : I have no rloubt that on some land that 
quantity might be used with advantage. 
Mr. Lee suggested that 2 or 3 cvvts. of artificial manure would be 
enough, and inquired whether Professor Voelcker's recommendation, 
and Ml'. Lawes's experiments went up to 7 cwts. 
Sir John Johnstone, M.P., said, Mr. Lawes's experiments went up to 
8 cwts. per acre ; but where that dressing had been applied, the coarser 
feeders amongst the plants, especially the enormous cocksfoot, grew 
so strongly that INIi-. Lawes expected that within two or three yeai'S it 
would drive out almost every other gi-ass ; in fact, that the plot would 
become a bed of cocksfoot. That showed what was the effect of an 
excess of ammoniacal mamu'e. The cocksfoot was getting ahead of 
cverytliing; it was even driving out another common grass, the 
Holcus lanatus, which was a very coarse feeder. 
Professor Voelckeu said that autumn was the proper time for the 
application of lime to the land. As regarded the mode of applying 
it, he liked that of Devonshire best. In that county it Avas put on the 
land in small heaps, and covered over with earth, it thus got spon- 
taneously slaked : early in the spring it was spread in Imups over the 
land, and the lime washed in by degrees. Soil could be obtained 
from the ditches of the road-sides, which would do : it was not neces- 
sary to make a regular compost heap where earth was available. 
Lime so slaked falls into a fine powder, and could be more easily 
distributed on the laud. Farmyard manure might be well laid on 
about Christmas ; for artificials — the end of January or the beginning 
of February would be a good period. As regarded the quantity of 
artificials which might be used with advantage, he purposely gave a 
liberal application. Knowing that most tenant-farmers were not 
inclined to make such outlays, with the view of pushing them a 
little further than they were likely to go, he recommended a larger 
dose than perhaps he might use himself (laughter). But they had only 
to divide by two to get very good manure. 2 cwts. of dissolved bones 
and 1 cwt. of guano, constitute a very good dressing ; and if the dose 
should still be found too expensive, it might be divided by three. He 
had been more anxious to point out the relative properties of dissolved 
bones, guano, and salt, than to fix upon any particular quantity of 
manure for grass-land. There was another manui-e, namely soot, 
which when obtained in the neighbom-hood of large towns at a mode- 
rate price, &d. to 8d. per bushel, produced very good results on pastures. 
Mr. Frere.- — What do you call a moderate price ? 
Professor Voelcker. — Sixpence a bushsl, if it is pure. 
Lord Walsingham. — But soot was always adulterated, and could 
rai'ely be had pure. 
Professor Voelcker. — Even at 8f?. a bushel soot was a cheap 
manm-e ; and it owed its efficacy chiefly to the sulphate of ammonia 
which had produced such a marked effect upon the grass lands on 
which Mr. Lawes carried on his experiments. 
Professor Buckjiann said, In going over Messrs. Lawes and 
