0N THE MIXED HERBAGE OF PERMANENT MEADOW. 
1185 
and, under the head of “Gramineous herbage, detached leaves, and indeterminate 
stems/’ in one case as little as 15 per cent., and in another more than 53 per cent, of 
the total was recorded. This result at once illustrates both the difficulty of the work, 
and the great difference in the character of growth on the different plots. 
From year to year the plots became more and more characteristic; and in the 
seventh season, 1862, it was decided to undertake much more complete botanical 
separations. To this end it was necessary, not only to expend much more time and 
labour in the work, but to obtain the services of a competent assistant to devote 
attention exclusively to it. Accordingly, we applied to Dr. (now Sir Joseph) 
Hooker, who kindly recommended to us such an assistant; as he has also done on 
three subsequent occasions, at intervals of five years—namely, in 1867, 1872, and 
1877. Thus, the botanical work was superintended in 1862 by Mr. W. Sutherland, 
in 1867 by Mr. Bichard L. Keenan, in 1872 by Mr. W. B. Hemsley, and in 1877 
by Mr. Walter Davis. In each of these four seasons of more complete separations, 
Mr. J. J. Willis, of the Bothamsted Laboratory, assisted whenever able to do so, and 
from the experience thus gained was on each subsequent occasion enabled to afford 
substantial aid to the new comer. Mr. Willis has also, especially in recent years, 
annually made notes, at intervals, on the herbage of the growing crops, and he has 
conducted partial separations on several occasions. On each occasion, whether of more 
complete or of only partial separation, from three to six boys have also been occupied 
in the work. 
The Samples: their botanical analysis .—The mode of taking and treating the 
samples may be briefly described as follows: Eight or ten mowers being put upon 
the experimental plot, the botanical assistant followed, taking small quantities of 
grass immediately after the scythe from each swath, until nearly the whole of the 
plot was down; boys also followed, with hampers or sacks, for the collection of the 
samples so taken. The quantities thus collected amounted to very many times more 
than was required for botanical analysis. They were at once carefully mixed on a 
cloth, so as to shake out seed, or otherwise damage the herbage, as little as possible; 
and from the bulk a sample of 10, 12J, 15, or even 20 lbs., according to circumstances, 
was then immediately weighed. The weighed samples were spread out on cloths, 
at the ordinary temperature, to dry, and were then carefully preserved for future 
examination. 
In the conduct of the separations each worker had a small handful of the mixed 
herbage placed before him, which he separated into its various component species as 
far as he was able. From time to time the superintendent revised each of the so 
separated portions. But there always remained an undetermined residue, which 
varied in amount exceedingly, according as the herbage was simple or complex, 
stemmy or leafy, mature or immature, and so on. These at first undetermined 
residues, after some reduction in the hands of the superintendent, were next separated 
into portions of different character by means of sieves of various gauges, by which the 
examination and the identification of the various components were much facilitated. 
