1266 
MESSRS. J. B. LAWES, J. H. GILBERT, AND M. T. MASTERS, 
salts with, or after farmyard manure), and on plot 5 (ammonia-salts alone). It is 
obvious, therefore, that, on the whole, these plants have only retained a comparatively 
prominent place where the growth of those associated with them has been relatively 
small. 
Ranunculus acris .—This is a tall-growing species, with a thick root-stock, from 
which proceed a number of white, rather fleshy, root-fibres, branching obliquely, and 
horizontally, destitute of root-hairs, and not descending very deeply. It is destitute 
alike of the thickened stem of R. bulbosus and of the creeping shoots of R. repens , 
and has, apart from its constitutional or physiological characteristics, no very obvious 
structural endowments to account for its frequency of occurrence, unless it be its tall 
stature and abundant production of seed, both in the first and second crops, It 
did not attain a first, second, or third position among the miscellaneous herbage on 
any plot; nor did it in any case yield 5 per cent, of the total produce. It was absent, 
or nearly so, wherever ammonia-salts with mineral manures were applied, and where, 
accordingly, there was considerable luxuriance, especially of certain grasses. Thus on 
plot 4-1 (superphosphate only) there is commonly in spring a large quantity of this 
plant, while on plot 4-2, to which ammonia-salts as well as superphosphate are applied, 
there is little or none. It was in small, but nevertheless in larger quantity on the 
unmanured, and on the purely mineral manured plots, on which the herbage generally 
was not luxuriant. It was considerably more prominent on the nitrate of soda plots, 
and was especially so where the smaller quantity of nitrate was used without mineral 
manure, and again on the plot where the larger quantity of nitrate of soda had been 
applied alone up to 1875, and mixed mineral manure afterwards. On the former it 
reached 2'95, and on the latter 3*74 per cent, of the total produce in the fourth 
separation year 1877. 
Ranunculus Ficaria. —This, the lesser Celandine, is alow-growing species, producing 
a number of fleshy root-like tubers, by means of which the plant is propagated, as it 
is also by means of numerous sub-globose thickened buds, formed under certain 
circumstances in the axils of the leaves, whence they detach themselves and, falling to 
the ground, grow into distinct plants. It flowers so early (April) that it is rarely 
noticed in the summer months, and its leaves form no distinguishable part of the 
samples, as the foliage is withered before the hay is cut; or, from the leaves being so 
near the ground, it is passed over by the scythe. It has been noticed on 11 plots, and 
in largest quantity on plot 16 (nitrate of soda and minerals). 
Ranunculus auricomus has the general habit of R. acris, but is not so tall and is 
much more glabrous. Its flowers are rarely, if ever, found in a perfect condition, the 
petals being more or less defective in size or number. It is conjectured that this plant 
does not stand in the same need for insects to insure its fertilization, as do the other 
more conspicuous flowered species. It has been seen on plot 16, and on no other, and, 
like the Celandine, it withers before the crop is cut, and thus forms no part of the 
samples. 
