1192 
MESSES. J. B. LAWES, J. H. GILBERT, AND M. T. MASTERS, 
incidental characters of the seasons merely, and those properly attributable to the 
artificial conditions induced by exhaustion, or those supplied by manure. It is pro¬ 
posed, therefore, before entering upon the consideration of the botany of the different 
plots, as illustrated by the results of the detailed botanical separations, to point out 
what were the characters of the seasons themselves in which the separations were 
made, and what was the general character of their influence on the vegetation of the 
different plots. 
The results given in Tables XXXIII. and XXXIV. supply the chief basis for the 
illustrations which follow in relation to these points. 
Table XXXIII., p. 1189, gives the total number of species found, and both the per 
cent, by weight in the total produce, and the lbs. per acre, of the gramineous, the legu¬ 
minous, and the miscellaneous herbage, respectively, in each of the four seasons of com¬ 
plete botanical separation, on each of the five very characteristically differently manured 
plots which were selected for illustration when considering the characters of the seasons 
of the highest and of the lowest productiveness (Part I, Phil. Trans., 1880, p. 399). 
There is also given the total amount of mixed herbage per acre, on each plot, in each 
of the four seasons, and the average for each plot, over the four years of separation 
and over the 20 years 1856-1875 inclusive. From these results some idea can be 
formed of the general and comparative characters of each of the four seasons, so 
far as activity of vegetation or productiveness merely is concerned. It should be 
explained that, for the purposes of this very summary statement of the botanical 
characteristics of the produce of the four different seasons, the “undetermined” 
herbage, if any, that is the amount which could not be referred to individual species, 
has, nevertheless, after careful examination been apportioned by judgment among the 
three main divisions given in the table—namely, the gramineous, the leguminous, and 
the “ miscellaneous ” herbage, 
Table XXXIV., pp. 1190-1191, shows some of the meteorological conditions of the 
four seasons of the complete botanical separations. The same particulars as to rainfall 
and temperature are given, and in the same form, as in the tables illustrating the charac¬ 
ters of the seasons of the highest and of the lowest productiveness (Part I., pp. 400-1). 
They are given for each of the months from July to June separately, and for series of 
months collectively, for the average of the 22 years, 1855-6 to 1876-7 inclusive, and for 
each of the four years (July to June inclusive), 1861-2, 1866-7, 1871-2, and 1876-7. 
The variations of each of the four seasons + or — the average of the 22 are also given. 
Season 1861-2, 
There was a considerable deficiency of rain throughout the autumn of 1861 and the 
winter of 1861-2, excepting in November, when there was a considerable excess. The 
autumn and winter were also warmer than the average, excepting again in November, 
when, with the excess of rain, there were also prevailing low temperatures, the morffh 
