1308 
Messrs, j. b. lawes, j. h. g-ilbert, ard m. t. Masters, 
It will thus be seen that the botany of the plot has varied exceedingly at the 
different periods. In addition to the influence of the manure, this has been due in 
part to the character of the intermediate seasons, and of their vegetation, and in 
part to the characters of the seasons of growth themselves. In further illustration 
of this, it will be observed that, whilst there was a reduction in the total weight of 
gramineous herbage per acre from the first to the third separation-year, there was 
much more than the average weight of such herbage in the fourth. With regard to 
the Miscellanese again, whilst the first of the four years gave more than 500 lbs., the 
second contributed more than 900 lbs., the third less than 400 lbs., and the fourth 
less than 170 lbs. 
Notwithstanding these great fluctuations in the general characters of the herbage 
according to season, an examination of the details relating to the proportion, and the 
amount, of the individual species, not only further illustrates the point, but shows 
clearly a progressive change referable to the condition of manuring. 
It may here be premised that, according to the separations of 1858, Lolium perenne 
and Holcus lanatus were then very prominent grasses, Festuca ovina being about 
equally abundant; Agrostis vulgaris, Dactylis glomerata, and Arena elatior were also 
prominent, but in a less degree. Perhaps the most characteristic feature is the very 
great increase in the percentage of Festuca ovina , and notwithstanding the- reduced 
amount of total produce, a gradually increasing quantity per acre of this individual 
poor grass from year to year. The percentage has increased from under 22 in the 
first, to more than 53 in the fourth separation-year; and the produce of it per acre 
from under 850 lbs. in 1862, to nearly 1,600 lbs. in 1877. 
Next in order of prominence is Agrostis vulgaris, which, excepting in the second 
year (1867), and in a much less degree than Festuca ovina, has also gradually increased 
in percentage proportion; but which, with diminishing yield of total produce per acre 
on the plot, has not itself given an uniformly increased actual amount in the later 
years. 
With the exception of these two inferior grasses, the Festuca maintaining itself in 
competition better under dry, and the Agrostis under wet conditions, every other 
grass, and it may also be said every other plant, has diminished, both in percentage, 
and amount per acre, under the peculiar conditions of manuring of this plot. Holcus 
lanatus, one of the most prominent of the grasses in 1858, has gone down from about 
10 per cent, in the first, to only about 3 per cent, in the fourth separation-year; 
Arena pubescens from more than 7 to a fraction of 1 per cent.; Arena elatior from 
nearly 4, also to a fraction of 1 per cent.; and Lolium perenne, which was first in order 
of prominence in 1858, has gone down from more than 3 per cent, to practically 
nothing in the last separation-year. Anthoxanthum odoratum has also declined, but 
in a less degree; whilst Dactylis glomerata, which was in each of the four years in 
comparatively small amount, had somewhat gained ground in the fourth. The 
decrease in the actual yield per acre of these grasses is more marked than is that of 
