chiefly as regards the Production of Meat. 407 



preparation for the shambles, especially in a district like Cum- 

 berland, where both roots and grass are extremely scarce in April 

 and May. Not a few farmers have adopted the system of running 

 their feeding sheep upon a piece of clean lea, in the month of 

 April, and supplying sliced mangolds in troughs. This food, in 

 conjunction with a little cake or corn, fattens quickly, at the very 

 time of the year when sheep are apt to fail under ordinary cir- 

 cumstances. 



Since the year 1866, the breadth of bare fallow has been 

 materially lessened. Indeed the acreage of last year was barely 

 one-half of the extent of that of 1868. Fallow at one time was 

 considered essential, not only to facilitate the eradication of 

 weeds during the summer months, but also to restore the fertility 

 of the soil, in order that a better crop of wheat might be grown 

 in the following summer. Autumn cultivation and improved 

 agricultural implements now, however, enable farmers to free 

 the land from weeds without putting it down in fallow during the 

 summer months, and the use of extraneous foods and artificial 

 manures enables them to keep the land in sufficient heart to pro- 

 duce a good crop of wheat. Indeed, many practical men aver that, 

 after judicious management and generous treatment, the land 

 produces as good a crop of wheat after turnips as it does after 

 bare fallow ; while others of the old school never exactly fall 

 into the system of cropping continuously. I may also notice 

 that, at the present day, the majority of skilled agriculturists do 

 not go in solely for producing wheat ; they would much rather sow 

 the land with oats or barley than forego the turnip crop, which 

 is now looked on as the mainstay of arable farming. 



While the above Returns do not show that the breadth of land 

 devoted to grass has increased so much as many are led to believe, 

 yet it is generally conceded that it is to the improvement effected 

 in the pastures, rather than to any perceptible increase in their 

 acreage, tliat more stock is kept. Some of the best class of 

 land has been permanently laid down to grass, while common 

 lands and the rougher pastures have been brought under the 

 plough, thus keeping up the breadth of arable ground, and the 

 quality of the grazing land has been ameliorated by better soils 

 being devoted to the growth of grass. For example, there are 

 many farms, which I could mention, where the soil is deep and 

 possessed of good body, that a few years ago were heavily cropped 

 under a sort of hand-to-mouth system, and grew little more 

 produce than sufficient to pay rent, rates, and taxes, with a sort 

 of precarious livelihood for the occupier. These have since 

 been taken in hand by the respective landlords, well-drained, 

 thoroughly cleaned, boned and manured, and finally laid down to 

 grass, the best seeds being used. Such lands are now annually 

 producing large quantities of beef and mutton in place of being 



