ON THE MIXED HERBAGE OE PERMANENT MEADOW. 
1381 
increase in the percentage of Graminem, there was general decrease in that of the 
Miscellanese. 
Referring now more to detail, it is first to be noticed that as many as 14 species of 
grasses yielded more than 1 per cent, to the produce in one or other separation-year, 
and this is the same number as came into the list on plot 9. The next point to observe 
is, that no one grass is in anything like the same degree of prominence as was the 
case on plot 5, with ammonia-salts alone, or on plot 4-2, with the ammonia-salts and 
superphosphate of lime. The grass which is the most prominent, and increasing, and 
more so on plot 10 without than on plot 9 with continued supply of potass, is, 
however, Festuca ovina, which was so excessively prominent both with the ammonia- 
salts alone and the ammonia-salts and superphosphate. The next plant in order, 
and increasing on plot 10, is Agrostis vulgaris , which, it will be remembered, was 
also the second on the plot with ammonia alone, and on that with ammonia and 
“ superphosphate.” Succeeding to these, the grass which has gained most in promi¬ 
nence, and which has done so very strikingly on plot 10, is Alopecurus pratensis, 
whilst it has been but very meagrely represented on plot 9. Of the three Arenas , 
A. elatior has increased very much, whilst A. pubescens and A. flavescens, which were 
in large amount at first, have almost disappeared; and the result was very similar on 
plot 9. Of the two Poas, P. pratensis has fluctuated very much ; upon the whole it 
has increased, but it has in the main been less prominent than on plot 9, whilst Poa 
trivialis has become almost extinct on both plots. Dactylis , which increased on plot 9 
with the continuous supply of potass, diminished much on plot 10. The other grasses 
which maintained any degree of prominence are Holcus lanatus, which, however, has 
diminished, and Anihoxanthum odoratum , which has considerably increased ; whilst 
Bromus mollis, Lolium perenne, and Festuca pratensis (occurring in less actual 
amount), have markedly declined. 
Thus, the herbage was very prominently gramineous ; the most prominent grasses 
were the inferior species of the locality, Festuca ovina and Agrostis vulgaris, but a 
considerable number of others contributed a fair proportion. The results show, 
however, curiously varying aptitude to the conditions supplied, among the different 
species of the same genus. This is illustrated in the increase of one, and the great 
decline of two of the Arenas; in the increase of one and the great decline of the 
other species of Poa, and in the very great increase of the one and the decline of the 
other species of Festuca. 
The behaviour of Arena elatior being so strikingly contrasted with that of A. flaves¬ 
cens and of A. pubescens may perhaps suggest the question whether it should really 
be included in this genus, or whether its separation as a distinct genus under the 
name Arrhenatherum, as still maintained by some botanists of authority, is not more 
consistent with what is here elicited as to the physiological endowments of the 
plant, as it certainly is with its structural peculiarities. It is true that the equally 
different behaviour of the two Poas cannot be explained on any similar supposition. 
MDCCCLXXXII. 8 0 
