446 
The Herbage of Old Grass Lands. 
Mayo in the west. It might be objected that the turfs were 
not large enough to be representative, but it is very doubtful 
whether half a dozen or even a dozen such turfs from the same 
field would have yielded average results much different from 
those actually obtained, or whether the relative positions of the 
various gramineous and leguminous species would have under- 
gone any material alteration. Again, although every species of 
plant, identified upon each plot, was noted, the percentage com- 
position by weight would no doubt have been different had the 
mowing taken place earlier or later. With earlier cutting, 
Alopecurus pratensis and Anthoxanthum odoratnm would have 
made a better show, with later cutting the advantage would 
have been in favour of Phleum pratense. And yet again, the 
season is known to be a potent factor in determining the 
character of the herbage of grass land. In their masterly 
memoir describing the Rothamsted experiments upon the 
mixed herbage of permanent meadow. Sir John Lawes and 
Dr. Gilbert arrive at the conclusion ("Phil. Trans." Pt. I. 1880, 
p. 405) that " a given quantity of gross produce of the mixed 
herbage may be one thing in one season and quite another in 
another season, both as to the proportion of the different 
species composing it and their condition of development and 
maturity." 
Against such objections as I have endeavoured to anticipate 
I venture to place one weighty circumstance, and that is the wide 
area from which the twenty-five turfs were collected. When it is 
remembered that these turfs were drawn from twelve English 
and seven Irish counties, when it is borne in mind that they 
were selected by men of sound agricultural experience as re- 
presentative of the best old grass land of their respective districts, 
and when it is recollected also that each turf continued to grow 
upon its oviH soil, then it cannot but be admitted that the 
general result should be trustworthy. And if there is one fact 
which, more clearly than any other, is demonstrated in the 
results obtained, it is the position taken by Ryegrass and 
White Clover, which appear to constitute the backbone — if I 
may so express it — of many of our best grass lands. 
Though other profitable lines of inquiry are suggested by 
the results which have been recorded, it is not possible to 
discuss them within the limits of this paper. The method of 
experiment which has been described might with advantage be 
still further extended amongst the best grass lands of different 
parts of the kingdom. By this means we should arrive at an 
exact knowledge of the constitution of pasture herbage such as 
we have never yet possessed, and the information would be of 
