on Permanent Meadow Land. 
255 
the mineral manures and the 800 lbs. of ammoniacal salts were 
used. The proportion of the whole which was in the condition 
of leaf and undeveloped stem, was much the greatest where the 
ammoniacal salts were in relative excess; that is to say, when 
those salts were either used alone, or in the double quantitif tcitk 
the mineral manures. Where farm-yard manure was employed 
the Woolly soft-grass, like the Rye-grass, as mentioned above, 
appeared to be somewhat displaced in its projiortion by the pre- 
dominance of two other grasses (Oat-like grass, and Smooth-stalked 
meadow grass), to which further reference will be made presently. 
Still, by the addition of ammoniacal salts even to farm-yard 
manure, the proportion of the Woolly soft-grass was considerably 
increased. 
This Woolly soft-grass, and the Rye-grass together, constituted 
about one-third of the total produce without manure; they to- 
gether made up more than two-thirds of that by the mineral 
manures and the smaller amount of ammoniacal salts ; and more 
than half of that by the mineral manures and double amount of 
ammoniacal salts.* Upon the whole, it appears that, although 
the Rye-grass is much increased by nitrogenous manures, the 
Woolly soft-grass is even more characteristically so ; the latter, at 
the same time, seems less dependent on a coincidently liberal 
supply of mineral constituents. So far, therefore, as the relative 
development of these two plants is concerned, the character of the 
herbage would be the better when the supply of nitrogen in the 
manure was not excessive, and that of mineral constituents 
liberal. 
It is quite consistent with the character given to the Woolly 
soft-grass — namely, that it tends to usurp the land and is not 
reduced by cultivation — that the manures which give the greatest 
increase in the produce of hay should give so large a proportion 
of this ill-reputed element. If, indeed, this grass be really so 
objectionable as it has been stated to be^ it would appear to be 
very desirable carefully to exclude it from the seed in laying 
down grass-land ; otherwise — soil and other circumstances being 
adapted to its growth — the higher the manuring, and the larger 
the crop, the greater will be the proportion in it of this ill-famed 
plant. 
3. — Arrhcenatlierum avenacevm — Fibrous-rooted, tall Oat-lihe 
Grass. 
The reputed characters of this grass are, that it yields a con- 
siderable quantity of foliage on the culms, which affords a good 
* Undsr this very excessive manurin<r, the Rye-grass appeared to be somewhat 
displaced in its proportion by the rough Cocli's-foot, which on that plot, and on that 
alone, was very luxuriant. 
