OBSERVATIONS ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF POOR PASTURE IN THE WEST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE

SUMMARY. There are large areas of rough hill pasture in the West Riding of Yorkshire which are covered with a fibrous mat of undecomposed vegetable matter 1–3 ins. thick, and whose herbage falls naturally into two types, according to whether Nardus or Agrostis predominates. On such land lime forms an important ameliorative agent, breaking up the mat, decreasing the Nardus , encouraging the finer grasses, and inducing a vigorous growth of clover. It is shown that on reasonably dry land growing from 30–40 per cent, of Nardus stricta , 15–20 per cent, of Festuca ovina , and a conspicuous amount of Galium saxatile, Luzula campestris and Potentilla tormentilla , suitable applications of lime effect a striking improvement, which may be maintained for as long as 60 years; that lime followed by basic slag produces still better results; that basic slag alone has no effect. Where Agrostis predominates the mat is more open in texture and usually thinner than that associated with Nardus . On such land a satisfactory improvement is effected in certain cases by Iime; and in others, where the mat does not exceed 1 1 / 2 ins. in thickness, by basic slag alone. A great change is observed in the quality and palatability of the Agrostis as a result of such treatment. Even on lower‐lying and better‐class pastures in this district most beneficial results may be obtained from dressings of lime.