ON THE MIXED HERBAGE OF PERMANENT MEADOW. 
1193 
being generally inclement. The autumn dryness would appear not to have been 
favourable for the second growth of 1861; but there had been a considerable excess 
of rain in June and July, and the second crops were estimated to be rather above 
the average on all the plots, excepting on that with the highest quantity of ammonia- 
salts. Thus, both as to previous growth and measurable meteorological factors, the 
conditions antecedent to spring growth in 1862 would not seem to have been favour¬ 
able to luxuriance. In each of the months of March, April, May, and June, however, 
there was more than the average amount of rain; and the excess was the greatest, 
and considerable, in March, June coming next in this respect, so far favouring both 
an early start and protracted luxuriance. The mean temperatures of March, April, 
and May were also above the average; due in March and April to high minimum 
readings, and in May to both high maximum and minimum readings. In June, 
however, with the excess of rain, there was considerably lower than the average 
maximum, and lower also than the average minimum temperatures, giving, upon the 
whole, a wet and cold month at the time when the mixed herbage should mature. 
Thus, with antecedent conditions certainly not specially favourable, but, on the other 
hand, not specially unfavourable, the period of most active vegetation was, both as to 
moisture and temperature, propitious for luxuriance, whilst the concluding period was 
not suitable for maturation. 
Under these circumstances, the crop of 1862 was considerably over average without 
manure, with mineral manure alone, and with mineral manure and ammonia-salts ; 
but it was below the average with mineral manure and nitrate of soda. 
Without manure the excess was in the largest proportion in the gramineous herbage, 
but partly, also, in that furnished by the leguminous and miscellaneous plants. 
With mixed mineral manure, including potass, the increase over the produce with¬ 
out manure was in the grasses and the Leguminosse, whilst miscellaneous plants were in 
reduced amount, and the increase compared with the average of the four on the same 
plot was entirely in the Leguminosse. 
With the mixed mineral manure and the smaller quantity of ammonia-salts the 
increase was mainly in the grasses, but considerably, also, in miscellaneous herbage, 
especially in Rumex Acetosa. With the mixed mineral manure and the double quantity 
of ammonia-salts the yield of grasses was less than on the average of the four years, 
but, judging from the amount of total produce, probably more than the average of the 
20 years; and there was a considerable excess of miscellaneous plants, and again 
more especially of Rumex. On both these mineral and ammonia-plots Conopodium 
denudatum and Achillea Millefolium were also abundant. 
With the mixed mineral manure and nitrate of soda the deficiency , compared with 
the average, was chiefly in the grasses, the Leguminosce also being in very small amount; 
but the miscellaneous plants were fairly abundant, and here again the chief weed was 
Rumex Acetosa, Conopodium coming next, and Ranunculus (repens and hulbosus) third. 
Thus, especially on. the plots with ammonia, the wet and warm-growing period was 
