1300 MESSRS. J. B. LAWES, J. H. GILBERT, AND M. T. MASTERS, 
associates, but, with the decreasing total herbage somewhat on the decrease in actual 
quantity per acre. 
Briza media, though yielding a less average amount than Anthoxanthum, is never¬ 
theless obviously on the increase, both in percentage and in actual quantity. Avena 
pubescens has contributed a considerable average percentage proportion and actual 
amount on both plots, but on both it has greatly decreased from the first to the fourth 
separation-year. And only now comes in order, and as already observed upon the 
whole decreasing both in percentage and in actual amount, Lolium perenne, which it 
will be remembered was the most prominent grass in the examination made in the 
third year of the experiments (1858). The other grasses, which showed moderate 
prominence in the earlier separations, but which have declined considerably in the 
later, under the unmanured condition, are the more valued and freer-growing grasses, 
Alopecurus pratensis, Avena fiavescens, Poa trivialis, and Dactylis glomerata. 
Looking at the mean results of the four years for each of the two plots, as given in 
the first two columns in the right-hand division of each of the two tables, it will be 
observed that the grasses which are in higher average proportion, and actual amount, 
on the more exhausted plot 3 are Festuca ovina, Agrostis vulgaris, Holcus lanatus, 
Briza media, and Lolium perenne ; whereas those which are more prominent on the 
better-conditioned plot 12 are Avena pubescens, Dactylis glomerata, and Poa trivialis; 
the poorer grasses obviously the more prevailing on the poorer plot. 
On reference to the tables, it cannot fail to be observed that, upon the whole, there 
is surprising general uniformity in the components of the herbage on the duplicate 
unmanured plots ; and the differences which have been referred to, connected as they 
obviously are with some differences in the conditions of the land, are a confirmation of 
the trustworthiness of the results rather than otherwise. 
One remarkable discrepancy between the herbage of the two plots remains, however, 
to be mentioned, viz.: that on the poorer plot 3, scarcely a trace of Festuca pratensis 
was observed at either separation; whilst on plot 12 there was 10 per cent, of it in 
the first, and more than 3 per cent, in the fourth, separation-year. Its very prominent 
occurrence on plot 12 in the earlier years must doubtless have been due to some acci¬ 
dental circumstance, probably connected with the somewhat abnormal condition of the 
land before referred to; but, with the continuous exhaustion, it would seem to be 
rapidly disappearing. 
As already said, of leguminous species four only have been found in the samples from 
the unmanured plots, viz.: Trifolium repens, T. pratense, Lotus comiculatus, and 
Lathyrus pratensis. In the third year of the experiments, 1858, the most prominent 
of these was Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus comiculatus coming second, and Trifolium 
pratense third. 
Trifolium repens has occurred in insignificant proportion and amount on both plots 
in the more complete separations ; irregularly in the different years, becoming gradually 
