1186 
MESSRS. J. B. LAWES, J. H. GILBERT, AND M. T. MASTERS, 
Still, these further separations were always very tedious and laborious ; and, as will he 
seen hereafter, the amount of finally undetermined residue varied very considerably 
according to the description, and the character of development, of the herbage. It will 
be readily understood that a very luxuriant and stemmy gramineous produce would be 
much more easily separated into its components than a mass consisting chiefly of fine 
leafy matter. To quote an extreme case in illustration of the difference in the 
character of the herbage, and of the difference in the degree of difficulty of separation 
accordingly, it may be mentioned that whilst a sample of 20 lbs. from one plot in 1872 
only occupied from four to five days in botanical analysis, a sample of equal weight 
from another plot in the same year occupied 30 days. 
In further explanation of the mode of procedure it may be stated that, in addition 
to the examination of the growing plants at intervals during the season, prior 
to the cutting of the crops the botanical assistant, after spending some days on 
the ground to become acquainted with the character of the plots, made systematic 
notes upon them. The instructions given to him were—to enumerate, in the order of 
their apparent predominance on each plot, 1, the Gramineous species; 2, the Legu¬ 
minous species 3, the species of other Orders*—classed together for convenience as 
“Miscellaneous” species; to estimate, as far as practicable, the probable proportion in 
which the most prominent species occurred, stating, at the same time, on what basis 
the estimate of relative predominance was formed—whether merely on the quantity 
of flower stems or of probable total plant, &c., noting the circumstances probably 
affecting the degree of accuracy of the estimate ; also to state the general characteristics 
of the distribution, and of the growth, on each plot—what plants were flowering or 
showing greater or less flowering and seeding tendency, the order of forwardness, &c., 
and also any special point observable. 
After thus describing the herbage on each plot, the next point was to consider the 
normal characteristics of growth of each important species, and to compare its pre¬ 
dominance, and its distinctive characters of development, if any, on the different plots ; 
especially noting differences in tendency to form more leaf, more stem, &c.; also 
differences in colour, degree of forwardness, fertility, barrenness, and the like. Careful 
observations were also to be made as to what particular “ Natural Orders,” if any, 
seemed to be characteristic of the herbage of the different plots. 
Then, within a few days of the time of cutting, the general order of ripeness of the 
components of each plot was noted, stating particularly what plants—gramineous, 
leguminous, or miscellaneous—were flowering or seeding, and especially which would 
probably self-sow the ground. 
Again, at the time of and after mowing, further observations were made with a view 
to the confirmation or correction of the notes previously recorded; and also to ascer¬ 
tain what plants, if any, occurred which had not been previously observed. 
Lastly, after the removal of the first crops, and during the growth of the second 
crops, and especially just before these were cut or fed, as the case might be, notes were 
made on the progress and character of growth on the different plots ; and sometimes, 
