1200 
MESSRS. J. B. LAWES, J. H. GILBERT, ART) M. T. MASTERS, 
plant in any quantity was Lathyrus pratensis. Anthriscus sylvestris was the only really 
prominent weed ; Rumex Acetosa and Conopodium denudatum coming next. 
Thus, by virtue of the characters and results of the intermediate seasons since 1867, 
and especially by the effects of the two years of drought, 1868 and 1870, the distribu¬ 
tion of plants on the different plots had become considerably modified. Among the 
grasses Festuca ovina had become very much more prevalent, especially on the less 
liberally manured plots ; as also had Agrostis vulgaris, and even so with higher 
manuring. Festuca ovina, indeed, which had been first in predominance on only two 
plots in 1862, and on eight in 1867, was so on 13 in 1872; Agrostis vulgaris again, 
which had been second on seven plots in 1862, and on eight in 1867, was so on 
14 in 1872. With mineral manure and ammonia-salts the free-growing Dactylis or Poa 
pratensis, had, how r ever, maintained the first place ; Agrostis vulgaris and some others 
being also prominent, but Festuca ovina much less so. Bromus mollis, which had 
seeded very freely in 1870 and 1871 on the plot with mineral manure and nitrate of 
soda, was again first with that mixture in .1872, Poa trivialis coming second on that 
plot, but having considerably gone down on the deficiently manured and ammonia 
manured plots. A few other moderately good grasses also maintained a place. 
Leguminous herbage had only gained ground materially with mineral manure alone. 
Miscellaneous herbage had been generally reduced. The plants which had maintained 
their ground the most prominently were Rumex Acetosa, Achillea Millefolium (which 
had indeed considerably increased), and Conopodium denudatum. 
To conclude,—with considerably modified floras and vegetation on the differently 
manured plots, due materially to recent seasons of luxuriance or drought, or both, 
and with very variable wmather in the season of separation itself (1872), the greater 
part of the growing period being more favourable for luxuriance than maturation, 
and the ripening weather being late, broken by heavy showers and of short duration, 
we have very variable characteristics of produce, according to the conditions of 
manuring supplied. 
Season 1876-7. 
In the last section it has been shown that the flora and vegetation of the different 
plots had become considerably modified by the characteristics of the seasons prior to 
the separation year of 1872 ; and that the most potent of these influences had been 
the occurrence of seasons of drought and heat; whilst the character of the period of 
growth itself of the first crop of 1872 had been that of variableness, thus differently 
affecting the mixed herbage on the differently manured plots according to the conditions 
which had been induced under the influence of the several preceding seasons. 
As to amount of produce, the first crops of 1872 had been below average with 
defective manuring, but average, or above average, with liberal manuring. After the 
cutting of the first crops there was a considerable amount of rain; the growth was 
somewhat dense, and the second crops were pretty uniformly over average. 
