INFLUENCE OF MANURES ON MUTTON. 329 

The effect of adding potash to superphosphate, as shown by 
comparing Plots 5 and 7, is somewhat remarkable. The her- 
bage is distinctly earlier—the plots themselves, as well as the 
gains made by the sheep, show this—then there comes a sudden 
drop, so that the percentage of increase in the second period 
is reduced from 45 per cent. without, to 34 per cent. with 
potash. Finally there is a recovery, and Plot 7 does con- 
siderably better than Plot 5 inthe later months. The great 
fall in the second period on Plot 7 is chiefly noticeable at the . 
second weighing, the sheep doing badly from the middle 
of June till the middle of july. No peculiarity has been 
noticed in the pasture*, and the falling-off may be acci- 
dental, but, as it has been marked both in 1899 and 1900, 
this is not likely. It may be pointed out, as probably more 
than a mere coincidence, that the decrease takes place in the 
month in which meadow hay makes a large part of its growth, 
and that for some reason, as yet undiscovered, potash 
frequently reduces the yield of hay. It has, for example, 
done so on sub-plot 7 of Tree Field (see Table II.), and on the 
meadow hay plots in an adjacent field (Palace Leas). In the 
latter case, both when used alone and when used in combi- 
nation with phosphates and nitrogen, potash has reduced the 
hay crop in thirteen out of sixteen experiments made in the 
past four seasons. In 1899 and 1900, to which the figures in 
the above table refer, the hay crop on the Palace Leas plots 
has, on the average of eight tests, been reduced by 12 per 
cent., and in no instance has it been increased. 
Turning to the effects produced by ground lime, we find a 
very favourable state of matters disclosed by the figures in 
the above table. Not only has the total yield been increased, 
but the rate of increase is well maintained, so that nearly 
one-third of the total gain is made in the fourth and fifth 
months. There is no sudden falling off at any part of the 
season. The mean monthly rate falls from 257 in the first 
to 20°8 in the second, and 16°3 in the third period. The 
practical result of this is tnat the sheep not only weigh well, 

“ This season the pasture was not quite so abundant on Plot 7 ason Plot 5 in 
the month of July, but the quality of the herbage on the former plot was considered 
better. 
