XXVIII. Agricultural, botanical, and chemical results of experiments on the mixed herbage of permanent meadow, conducted for more than twenty years in succession on the same land. — Part. II. The botanical results
In Part I. (Phil. Trans., Part I., 1880), under the title of “ The Agricultural Results ,” a general description of the experiments, with full particulars of the conditions of manuring of each of the more than 20 plots, was given. The effects of each condition of manuring on the character of growth of the herbage, as illustrated in the quantities of produce yielded, and in the amounts of nitrogen and of mineral matter taken up, on each plot, were also fully considered. But, so varied were the components of the mixed herbage, both as to the species grown, and as to the character of development of the plants, that, to render the “ Agricultural Results ” sufficiently intelligible, and to prevent misconception, if the element of quantity only were taken into account, it was found necessary to describe, in general terms, the differences— in the botanical composition, in the character of development, and in some points in the chemical composition of the produce also. The object of the present section is to describe and discuss, more in detail, what may be called the botany of the plots ;— that is, to show both the normal botanical composition of the herbage, and the changes induced by the application of the different manuring agents, and by variation in the climatal conditions of the different seasons; and, as far as may be, to ascertain what are the special characters of growth, above-ground or under-ground, normal or induced, by virtue of which the various species have dominated, or have been dominated over, in the struggle which has ensued. The first season of the experiments was 1856. In that year 13 plots, in 1858 four others, in 1865 one, and in 1872 two more, were brought under experiment; thus making 20 in all. But, of these, two have been subdivided, so that the number may now be reckoned as 22.