1244 
MESSRS. J. B. LAWES, J. H. GILBERT, AND M. T. MASTERS, 
and on one in 1877. Each of the plots on which it was so received ammonia-salts 
and mineral manure together. It was second on one of the same plots in 1867. It 
was third on one ammonia plot in 1862, on one in 1872, and on two in 1877. It has 
thus asserted itself only under the influence of liberal supplies of ammonia, in conjunc¬ 
tion with mineral manure. It yielded 5 per cent, and more to the produce on seven 
plots in 1862, on seven in 1867, on four in 1872, and on five in 1877. The only plots 
on which it has been so far prominent in the two latter separation years are those 
receiving nitrogenous with mineral manures. But the only plots on which it has 
contributed a really large proportion of the herbage are those where the nitrogenous 
manure was in the form of ammonia-salts, and where there was liberal application of 
mineral manure as well. Even on some of these plots the plant has not been so 
prominent in recent years as formerly. Thus, whilst on one of the plots having the 
double amount of ammonia-salts and mineral manure, the Dactylis yielded nearly 40 
per cent, of the produce in 1867 and in 1872 ; on the same plot it only furnished 
17 per cent, in 1877. Again, on the other double-ammonia plot it declined from 
38’3 per cent, in 1867, to 27*23 in 1872, and to 13*38 in 1877. The only plot on 
which it has yielded excessively in the more recent years is the one (13) with ammonia 
salts, mineral manure, and cut wheat straw, where it gave 27*88 per cent, in 1862, 
20*29 per cent, in 1867, 43*05 per cent, in 1872, and 40*75 per cent, in 1877. On 
the other hand, it always occurs in very much less amount, and generally in quite 
insignificant quantity, where the nitrate of soda is used. In a word, it is really 
prominent only with a liberal supply of ammonia, associated with a correspondingly 
liberal supply of mineral constituents, together favouring general luxuriance, much 
stem formation, and tendency to mature. 
Owing to the dense hummocky mode of growth of the Dactylis on plots suitable to 
its development, and to its deep roots, it is a formidable opponent to other grasses, 
where it has once got possession. But it is at a disadvantage in competition with the 
shallow, densely-matted roots of Poa trivialis , and the quick-growing, close stemmed, 
Bromus mollis. On the unmanured plots it is but of weakly habit, and is relatively 
deficient in the mat of roots beneath the surface, and in the dense tufts, which it 
produces under conditions of high manuring. 
Festuca ovina. 
This is a perennial, densely-tufted grass, often provided with numerous fine, creeping, 
underground stolons, by means of which the plant is widely spread, especially where 
the flowering tendency is restricted. The root fibres are very numerous (relatively 
more so than in any other grass on the plots), fine, with but few hairs, branching in all 
directions, and forming a very dense network just beneath the surface, thereby obtain¬ 
ing full possession of the soil to a depth of from 6 to 10 inches, but not usually 
penetrating more deeply. The culms are slender, angular, 6 inches to 2 feet in height, 
