(jeneral  Conchtaionit. 
331 
Evidence  of  Chemical  Analysis. — A further  feature  brought 
out  is  tlie  correspondence  found  between  what  chemical 
analysis  indicated  were  the  principal  deficiencies  of  the  soils 
and  what  was  found  bj'  actual  trial  to  be  the  constituent 
needed.  For  instance,  in  only  two  (England’s  Gate,  Field 
No.  13,  and  Hatfield  Peverel)  out  of  the  twelve  cases  in 
which  lime  was  forecasted  as  a probable  remedy,  did  its 
application  fail  to  benefit,  and  in  most  instances  the  benefit 
was  of  a very  striking  character.  On  the  other  hand,  where 
analysis  showed  a sufficiency  of  lime  to  be  present,  its  further 
application  in  practice  never  brought  much  benefit.  Again, 
out  of  ten  cases  in  which  phosphoric  acid  was  found  by 
analysis  of  the  soil  to  be  deficient,  in  every  one  of  these  there 
was  marked  benefit  derived  from  the  use  of  either  basic  slag 
or  mineral  superphosphate.  It  so  happened  that  not  one  of 
the  soils  experimented  on  was  really  deficient  in  potash,  and 
hence  the  results  as  regards  this  constituent  are  not  definite. 
“ Wilkinson’s  Land  ” (Bishop  Auckland)  had  the  lowest  per- 
centage (O' 13  per  cent.),  but  even  that  quantity  seemed  to 
suffice.  Lastly,  as  regards  nitrogen,  it  would  seem  as  if  this 
constituent  did  not  so  largely  enter  into  consideration  in 
respect  of  its  direct  application  as  manure  to  the  land,  since, 
with  the  exce2)tion  of  “Wilkinson’s  Land”  (Bishojj  Auckland), 
which  had  only  0'13  per  cent,  of  nitrogen,  there  was  no 
clear  j)roof  of  the  continued  beneficial  action  of  nitrogenous 
manures.  At  Wilburton  (Experiment  21),  the  nitrogenous 
manure  was  at  once  assimilated  by  the  i)lant,  and  a vigorous 
vegetation  produced.  But  in  the  following  year,  the  stimulus 
of  the  nitrogenous  salts  being  wanting,  the  vegetation  returned 
to  its  normal  conditioh.  While  mentioning  the  non-efficiency 
of  nitrogenous  manures  directly  applied,  it  has,  however,  to 
be  remeJiibered  that  in  almost  every  case  the  i)asture  was 
grazed  by  cattle,  and  so  received  their  nitrogenous  droi^pings. 
Laying  Land  down  to  Pasture. — The  general  conclusions  as 
to  laying  down  of  land  to  pasture  have  been  given  earlier  (see 
Ijage  3111),  and  it  need  only  be  rei)eated  that  it  is  clear  that  had 
land  within  the  last  twenty'  or  even  thirty  years  been  j^ut  down 
with  good  and  tested  seed  mixtures,  such  as  those  used  in 
Experiments  1,  2,  aiul  3,  jnistures  would  not  be  found  in  such 
a had  condition  as  is  now  frequently  the  case.  At  the  same 
time  such  pastures,  even  when  i^roperly'  laid  down,  require 
“ keeping  up  ” by  good  treatment  and  suitable  manuring. 
Ploughing-up  of  Pasture  and  Re-laying. — There  are  some 
cases  where,  ’as  at  Laxton  (Experiment  7)  and  Bodenham 
(Experiments  19  and  20),  the  soil  is  of  a heavy  impenetrable 
character  and  much  affected  by'  drought,  and  the  pasture  has 
been  formed  by  allowing  the  land  to  “ tuml)le  down  ” to  grass. 
