ON THE MIXED HERBAGE OE PERMANENT MEADOW. 
1277 
1862, in three in. 1867, in one in 1872, and in one in 1877. In every case it was 
present in extremely insignificant amount. 
Taraxacum officinale .—The root-stock of this plant is very stout, descending deeply 
into the ground, and dividing at the summit into numerous subdivisions, each with its 
tuft of rather broad appressed leaves. The flower-stalks have no leaves, and the 
brilliant yellow flowers are succeeded by light feathery pappus. The common Dande¬ 
lion was found in 1862 in 17 samples, in 1867 in 16 (but observed on one more plot), 
in 1872 in 13, and in 1877 in 10—in a decreasing number, therefore, from period to 
period. In only one case did it contribute more than 1 per cent, to the produce, 
and that was with the larger amount of nitrate of soda alone (plot 15) in the first 
separation-year, after which it nearly disappeared from that plot. In one instance 
it reached to 0’63 per cent., viz. : on the plot with the larger quantity of nitrate of 
soda and mineral manure, and in the last separation-year. This was the only plot on 
which it increased. The other plots on which it was the most frequent were those 
without manure, or with deficient mineral manuring. It was all but absent from the 
plots liberally manured with ammonia-salts. Thus, although in no case was the 
amount large, the only conditions under which this plant increased were those of a 
liberal supply of nitrate of soda and mineral manure; whereas when with the same 
mineral manure the nitrogen was applied as ammonia-salt the plant was practically 
banished. It would seem that the maintenance of its position, though dependent on 
liberal manuring, was also much influenced both by the character of the seasons and by 
association. 
Sonchus oleraceus. —This cornfield weed never occurred in sufficient amount to be 
found in the samples, and was only once observed, viz.: on plot 14, in the third 
separation-year (1872). 
Hieracium Pilosella. —A low-growing perennial, with a tufted stock, and long 
creeping barren shoots, which enable the plant to insinuate itself between others, and 
take possession of vacant spaces. This plant was found in 1862 in three samples, in 
1867 in four, in 1872 in three, and in 1877 iii three (but was also observed in that 
year on one other plot, 1). It was the most frequent and prominent on the unmanured 
plots, but in no case did it yield 0T per cent, of the total produce. 
The foregoing statements show that only three species of the Order Composite have 
maintained any special prominence on the plots, viz.: Centaurea nigra, Achillea Mille¬ 
folium, and Taraxacum officinale; but the conditions under which these plants, 
respectively, have been the most developed, are by no means so uniform as to allow of 
any satisfactory generalisation in regard to the Order as a whole. This, indeed, could 
hardly be expected when the varying habit and organisation of the plants constituting 
this widely-diffused family are considered. 
8 A 
MDCCCLXXXII. 
