ON THE MIXED HERBAGE OF PERMANENT MEADOW. 
1287 
Veronica serpyllifolia was observed on one plot only in 1867 and in 1872, and was 
found in two samples in 1877, and then only in small fractional proportion ; otherwise 
not at all. The plots on which it thus occurred were 3, 4-1, 15, and 17 ; that is, 
without manure, with superphosphate alone, with mineral manure after nitrate, and 
with nitrate of soda alone. 
Labiate. 
This large and well-characterised Order contributes but few species to the Botham- 
sted pastures, and the proportion in which they occur is but trifling. 
Prunella vulgaris has procumbent or trailing stems, and from its hardiness, 
exceedingly wide geographical distribution, and frequency of occurrence in the imme¬ 
diate neighbourhood, might have been expected to form a more prominent constituent 
of the herbage of the plots than it does. It was found in three samples in 1862, in 
six in 1867, in six in 1872, and in seven in 1877. In the last-named year it was also 
observed during growth on 12 of the plots. It was met with in each separation-year 
in the samples from the unmanured and the superphosphate plots; though in no case 
did -it contribute O'l per cent, to the herbage. Its amount in any other samples 
was quite insignificant. 
Thymus Serpyllum , the common Wild Thyme, from its perennial duration, hard, 
wiry, procumbent, and much-branched stems, and dense habit, might have been 
expected to occur more frequently on the plots, particularly as it is not uncommon in 
the neighbourhood. It was found only in two samples, those from the unmanured 
plots, in the fourth separation-year (1877). 
Ajuga reptans, the common Bugle, is a pasture plant, occurring throughout the 
whole of Europe and temperate Asia. Its stock produces somewhat fleshy, relatively 
unbranched root-fibres, and dense tufts of leaves, from amid which creeping offsets 
are given off, which root at the nodes, and form distinct plants. It was found in 
three samples in 1862, in five in 1867, in seven in 1872, in 10 in 1877, and was 
observed on one other plot in that year. It occurred most frequently in the samples 
from the unmanured plots, from the plot with superphosphate of lime, and from that 
with the smaller quantity of nitrate of soda. In the samples from the last-named 
plot it reached its highest percentage ; but, like the Prunella , it never contributed as 
much as 0T to the total herbage. 
All three of the above-mentioned Labiates possess in their organisation and 
constitutional characters attributes which would lead us to expect to meet with 
them in larger proportions on the experimental plots; but it is evident they cannot 
surmount the opposition offered by other plants, when these are stimulated by conditions 
of high manuring. 
8 jb 2 
