214  The  AfjricuUural  Education  Exhibition,  1904. 
timoth}',  and  the  same  clovers  as  in  Mixture  1 ; 32  lb.  of  seed 
were  sown  at  a cost  of  28s.  Q>d.  per  acre.  For  the  first  two 
years  this  plot  was  not  any  better  than  the  last,  but  it  gradually 
improved  and  is  now  slightly  superior  as  a pasture.  The 
herbage  is  not  so  well  grazed  as  in  the  case  of  Mixture  1. 
Mixture  3. — This  consisted  of  3f  lb.  cocksfoot,  2^  lb. 
timothy,  6 lb.  meadow  fescue,  3 lb.  hard  fescue,  1|  lb.  foxtail, 
2\  lb.  crested  dogstail,  1^  lb.  rough-stalked  meadow  grass,  and 
the  same  clovers  as  before  ; 25^  lb.  seed  were  sown,  the  cost 
being  30s.  6d.  per  acre.  In  this  case  there  was  no  rye  grass. 
The  omission  of  the  rye  grass  increased  the  cost  of  the  mixture, 
and  resulted  in  an  inferior  pasture.  The  ground  is  not  .so 
uniformly  coA  ered  as  in  the  other  cases,  and  there  is  a greater 
quantity  of  rough  grass. 
Mixture  4. — This  consisted  of  a seeding  recommended  by 
Mr.  R.  H.  Elliot,  of  Clifton  Park,  Kelso. ^ The  composition 
was  6 lb.  cocksfoot,  2 lb.  hard  fescue,  .5  IK  meadow  fescue, 
2 lb.  tall  fescue,  \ lb.  rough-stalked  meadow  grass,  2 lb. 
smooth-stalked  meadow  grass,  3 lb.  tall  oat  grass,  ^ lb.  yellow 
oat  grass,  4 lb.  Italian  rye  grass,  2 lb.  cow  grass,  2 lb.  alsike 
clover,  2 lb.  white  cloA’er,  2^  lb.  kidney  A'ctch,  8 lb.  burnet, 
2 lb.  chicory,  1 lb.  sheep’s  parsley,  1 lb.  yarrow.  The  total 
weight  of  seed  was  45^  lb.,  and  the  cost  395.  (5(C  per  acre. 
Tlie  pasture  is  now  much  the  best  of  the  series.  It  is  closely 
covered,  healthy,  strong  growing,  and  is  much  liked  by  the 
stock.  Its  chief  characteristic  is  the  relative  abundance  of 
white  clover. 
A set  of  turfs  from  Wenden  Lofts,  in  Essex,  was  shown 
for  the  ])urpose  of  explaining  the  action  of  basic  slag.  The 
beneficial  action  of  basic  slag  on  most  hea^y  clay  soils  is  well 
known,  and  the  reason  for  this  benefit  is  to  be  found  in  the 
effect  which  slag  produces  upon  white  clover.  In  the  absence 
of  clovers  slag  is  of  no  value  to  pastures  on  heavy  land.  The 
Wenden  Lofts  soil  in  its  natural  state  is  devoid  of  clover  and 
grows  only  weeds  and  some  of  the  poorest  grasses.  In  the 
winter  of  1902-1903  it  was  liberally  dressed  with  (1)  basic  slag  ; 
(2)  basic  slag,  potash,  and  lime  in  combination;  but  the  manures 
did  not  jn’oduce  the  least  effect.  A portion  of  the  land  was 
sown  with  white  clover  seed  in  February  at  the  rate  of  12  lb. 
per  acre.  The  intention  was  to  harrow  the  seed  in,  but  the 
soil  was  so  hard  that  no  imj)ression  of  any  sort  could  be  made 
upon  it,  and  the  seed  was  left  on  the  surface.  In  spite  of 
‘ See  article  in  Journal  R.A.S.E.,  Vol.  58,  1897,  pp.  467-477. 
