326 Fanning of Leicestershire. 



But, doubtless, these remarks were intended to apply retro- 

 spectively, for though few will dispute that the improvement 

 in the management of grass has not kept pace with that of 

 the arable, yet those old enough to remember, and perceptive 

 enough to remark, date from 1833-5 the general progressive 

 movement which since then has been in operation throughout 

 the county. 



True, we look in vain for that very liberal treatment which has 

 effected results so important on the second-rate lands of some 

 other counties ; indeed, to many farms, Gisborne's description of 

 his view from Robin-a-Tiptoes may yet be applied with much 

 justice; yet this does not affect the fact that the little leaven of 

 improvement first apparent about the aforesaid date has been 

 gradually increasing and quietly making its way, so that no 

 doubt it will ultimately "leaven the whole lump." 



Drainage, admittedly the greatest of all fertilisers, has in some 

 instances, where followed by top-dressing, increased the value of 

 the grass-land by 50 per cent. 



The consumption of cake by the animals grazing thereon has 

 of late years been largely on the increase, its effect being to 

 produce better grass and more of it. The best graziers., by 

 waging, as it were, eternal war, have reduced to a ininimum 

 thistles and other worthless and noxious plants. So also with 

 ant-hills, the pest of the poor land of the county, and to the 

 hassock (aira ccBspitosa), the pest of its damp furrows. 



The care exercised in the removal of the dung, as already 

 detailed, must complete our catalogue of effected improvements. 



But on the other hand, there yet remains much land that 

 loudly calls for drainage. There are thousands of acres of a 

 second-rate quality which liberal and judicious manuring would 

 convert into pastures of fair fattening quality. There are hun- 

 dreds of acres so covered with ant-hills as to be almost worthless. 

 On some farms hassocks, thistles, «Scc. are allowed to run riot. 



Much is taken from all the meadow-land mown, only a little 

 being returned by few, and nothing by many, the inevitable 

 result of which must be deterioration. In short, though much 

 improvement has during the last thirty years been effected, 

 much, very much, yet remains to be done. 



If we look back twenty years, we find evidence of much grass- 

 land being converted into tillage ; but during the last five or six 

 years little has been broken up. Influenced, doubtless, by the 

 low price of grain, the tide of opinion seems to have turned, 

 and there are several instances where arable has been seeded 

 down to permanent grass. 



The Duke of Rutland and some of the principal landowners 

 have declared against breaking up under any circumstances, 



