1316 
MESSRS. J. B. LAWES, j. H. GILBERT, AND M. T. MASTERS, 
Phleum pratense, A vena elatior, Cynosurus cristatus, Briza media , and also Poa 
pratensis, were in very insignificant quantities. 
The yield per acre of leguminous herbage was in every case insignificant, but it was 
greater in the second than in either the first or the third year, and the diminution in 
the total yield of such herbage compared with that of the unmanured plot was due to 
a decrease in each of the four species— Trifolium repens , T. pratense , Lotus corniculatus, 
and Lathyrus pratensis. On the nitrate plot, however, Trifolium procumbens occurred, 
but in very small amount, and it was not observed on either the un manured or the 
ammonia plot, although the plant is not uncommon in the neighbourhood. 
Of miscellaneous herbage Rumex Acetosa contributed the largest actual amount, 
much more than without manure, but in each year considerably less than with 
ammonia-salts. Plantago lanceolata also contributed largely in the first and second 
separation-years, but very little in the third; indeed, less in both the second and third 
years than without manure, but in the first and second years considerably more, and 
in the third somewhat more than with ammonia-salts. As already observed, the only 
miscellaneous plant which increased in a marked manner on this nitrate plot was 
Cerastium triviale, which contributed in the third year nearly half the total miscel¬ 
laneous herbage, and in each year, almost the whole was in excess of that yielded 
either without manure or with ammonia-salts. The great abundance of Cerastium 
may perhaps be partially accounted for, amongst other characteristics, by its early and 
free seeding, as already referred to. Centaurea nigra■ yielded practically nothing in 
the first and second separation-years, and less in those years on this plot than either 
without manure or with ammonia-salts, but it gave a fair amount in the third year, 
and then more than either without manure or with ammonia-salts. It should be borne 
in mind, however, that from the size and character of the plant there is some difficulty 
in securing a fair proportion of it in the samples. Achillea Millefolium perhaps came 
next in order of yield to Cerastium , not indeed contributing much, but still con¬ 
siderably more than without manure or with ammonia-salts. Then come the various 
species of Ranunculus collectively, only the more deeply-rooting R. acris increasing, 
and giving more each year than either without manure or with ammonia-salts, while 
the generally shallower rooting R. repens and R. bidbosus decline in yield, and give 
much less than without manure, though still more than with ammonia-salts. The 
only other plant in any noticeable quantity was Galium verum, which was practically 
unrepresented on the unmanured plot, but which in the third separation-year was 
even in larger amount on the ammonia than on the nitrate plot. Like Cerastium 
triviale, Galium is a plant of relatively meagre development, rooting chiefly at, or at a 
short distance beneath, the surface. 
We have then, under the influence of excessive application of nitrate of soda alone, 
a very much more uniformly mixed herbage than with an amount of ammonia-salts 
containing the same quantity of nitrogen. There is not only much more produce, both 
of Graminese and of Miscellanese, but there is a less excessive proportion of the grasses, 
