1318 
MESSRS. J. B. LAWES, J. H. GILBERT, AND M. T. MASTERS, 
of other species contributing a due proportion. The table shows that in the second 
year only (1877) of the substitution of the mixed mineral manure (including potass) for 
the nitrate, Festuca ovinct had already considerably declined, though still remaining 
the most prominent species; Agrostis vulgaris, on the other hand, had considerably 
gained ground, both in percentage and in actual yield per acre. Of other grasses, 
Holcus lanatus increased very much, both in percentage and in actual quantity, 
under the influence of the change to mineral manure, and Alopecurus pratensis, Arena 
pubescens, and Loliumperenne did so in a less degree; Poa trivialis, Arena flavescens, 
and Bromus mollis, however, declined. 
It should be observed that the difference in proportion and amount of the different 
grasses indicated by the figures by no means represents the whole of the change in 
the herbage, resulting from the change of manure; for, under the influence of the 
mineral manure, there was a much lighter colour, and a much greater tendency to form 
stem and to mature, than under the influence of the nitrate, and the question arises 
whether it may not be owing to this different tendency of growth induced by the 
manure that certain species have yielded a larger proportion and amount. 
Referring to the Leguminosse, Lathyrus pratensis, as already intimated, showed a 
tendency to considerable increase, and it has done so in a very marked degree since. 
It will be seen further on, that this result is quite consistent with that obtained where 
mixed mineral manure, including potass, has been applied every year from the com¬ 
mencement. 
Among the Miscellaneous species, perhaps the most marked change resulting from 
the application of the mineral manure instead of the nitrate is the great increase in 
Ranunculus acris, a recurrence of a large proportion and amount of Rumex Acetosa, 
and a very great diminution in Cerastium tririale, which had, it will be remembered, 
become so remarkably prominent under the influence of the nitrate. Of other 
species, all were more or less discouraged, Achillea Millefolium perhaps the most 
conspicuously so. 
We now turn to the results obtained on plot 17, receiving only half as much nitrate 
of soda as plot 15 ; and, therefore, only half as much nitrogen, and only half as much 
as in the ammonia-salts supplied to plot 5. 
Before going into the detail of the botany of the plot, it is necessary to call to mind 
some of the particulars of production compared with those on plots 5 and 15 
respectively. There was, with the smaller quantity of nitrogen as nitrate, much more 
produce than with double the quantity as ammonia-salts, and very little less than with 
double the quantity as nitrate of soda. There was much more nitrogen taken up in 
the produce than with the double quantity as ammonia, and though a less actual 
amount than with the double quantity as nitrate, a larger proportion of that supplied 
was recovered in the increase. Much more mineral matter was taken up than with the 
