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Iteport on Experiments conducted in 1887 hij 
II. The Eoyal Maxchester Lr\'£RP00L and North 
Lancashire Agricultural Society. 
The Experimental Committee of this society, under the 
direction of Mr. Smetham, the society's chemist, and Mr. 
Holland, their botanist, decided upon carrying out experiments 
on the laying down of grass for permanent pastui'e, and also for 
one, two, three, and four years' ley, these subjects being of the 
most importance in the districts in which the experiments were 
to be conducted. 
The society has two stations, one at Saltney, near Chester, 
and the other (more recently added) at Rostherne, on the estate 
of Lord Egerton of Tatton. 
A. — Grass Experiments at Saltney, near Chester. 
The field selected is in the occupation of Mr. John Roberts, 
and is 17 acres in extent. The soil is a strong one, 10 
to 12 inches deep, with a clay subsoil. Wheat was the crop 
in 1885, oats following in 1886. Five acres were laid down 
with mixtures of grass-seeds suitable for permanent pasture, 
whilst five other acres, comprising ten half-acre plots, were laid 
down with different mixtures of clovers and grass-seeds, for one, 
two, and three years' ley. Besides this, specimen plots of the 
clovers and grasses were sown, and other plots laid out for the 
cultivation of difierent varieties of potatoes. 
All the plots were pastured up to March 28, 1887, and the 
whole then manured with 3 cwt. of bone manure per acre. Each 
plot was then divided, one half being hurdled off for mowing, 
and the other half left to be fed. The hay was mown on July 2. 
Mr. Holland remarks, with regard to the effect of mowing 
permanent pastures during the first year, that the root was 
clearly not so thick on the mown as on the unmown portions ; 
and that this effect was felt by the grasses rather than the 
clovers, which latter seem to liave suffered little. In the case 
of the rotation plots the object is of course a different one, viz. 
to get as much bulk as possible during the first year. Of the 
different grass-mixtures plot 3 in the permanent pasture series 
(composed of the stronger grasses only) seemed to be eaten off 
best; and among the rotation grasses plot 6. The mixtures of 
seeds sown -per acre in each case were as follows : — 
Plot No. 3. 
2 lbs. Italian Eyegrass. 
G „ Cocksfoot Grass. 
5 „ Meadow Fescue Grass, 
y „ Tall Fescue Grass. 
1} „ Timothy Grass. 
4 lbs. Meadow Foxtail Grass, 
4 „ White Clover. 
1 „ Red Clover. 
1 „ Alsike Clover. 
