ON THE MIXED HERBAGE OF PERMANENT MEADOW. 
1339 
Briza media; whilst those which are the most prominently reduced on plot 8 are 
Festuca ovina, Agrostis vulgaris, Dactylis glomerata, Holcus lanatus, and, in a less 
degree, Arena pubescens, Arena flavescens, Poa pratensis, Poo, trivialis, and Bromus 
mollis. 
On the other hand, as compared with plot 4-1, with superphosphate of lime alone, 
plot 8, with its continuous supply of soda and magnesia, and its residue from previous 
applications of potass, in addition to the superphosphate, yielded, on the average, more, 
and sometimes considerably more, of almost every gramineous species, the excess being 
the most prominent in the case of Festuca ovina and Arena elatior. 
The results of the complete separations show (and the fact is fully borne out by 
observation in other years) that the great reduction in leguminous herbage, consequent 
on the exclusion of the potass, is mainly due to a greatly reduced growth of Lathyrus 
pratensis, but also to a decreased growth of Trifolium pratense and Trifolium repens; 
whilst, though in less amount than without manure, there is on plot 8, compared with, 
plot 7, even a slight increase in the yield of the deep-rooting, self-reliant Lotus 
corniculatus. In fact, it will be found throughout the experiments that the Legu- 
minosse are only specially favoured by purely mineral manures containing potass, and 
that, under the influence of such comparatively superficial supply of potass, it is the 
Lathyrus pratensis which becomes by far the most prominent. 
As has been said, the proportion in the mixed herbage of the collective miscellaneous 
species has been, upon the whole, increased since the exclusion of the potass; but, as 
with the grasses and the Leguminosm, the yield per acre of the Miscellanese has dec lin ed 
compared with plot 7, though there is still an excess compared with plot 3 without 
manure. The miscellaneous species which have maintained the greatest prominence 
throughout are Rumex Acetosa and Achillea Millefolium, Conopodium coming next 
in this respect; but there has been very great fluctuation in the proportion and amount 
of collective and individual miscellaneous species from year to year, according to 
season. In the first separation-year (1862), there was a small proportion and amount 
of the collective Miscellanese, and no one individual species was in marked excess. 
In the second separation-year there was more than three times as high a percentage, 
and more than two and a-half times as much actual yield, of such produce, Rumex 
Acetosa, Conopodium denudatum, and Achillea Millefolium each being in excessive 
amount. In the third separation-year there was less percentage, and only about 
half as much actual yield, as in the second; and now Achillea Millefolium yielded 
nearly half the total miscellaneous herbage, and no other species was very specially 
prominent. Lastly, in the fourth separation-year, with a fair total amount, Rumex 
Acetosa contributed about two-fifths of the whole, Achillea Millefolium about one- 
fifth, and no other species any material amount. Taking the average of the four 
separation-years, the order of prominence in actual yield among the Miscellanese on 
plot 8 was as follows : Rumex Acetosa , Achillea Millefolium, Conopodium denudatum, 
and in much less quantity, Luzula campestris , Pimpinella Saxifraga, Ranunculus repens 
and bulbosus, Plantago lanceolata, and Ranunculus acris. 
