Farming of Leicestersliire. 327 



while of late years the opinions of others have been much 

 modified. 



"A few years ago," says Mr. Bennet,* agent for Lord Car- 

 digan, and for other large estates, " I was an advocate for the 

 breaking up of grass-land of second-rate quality, but lately I 

 have let down a peg, and it is noiu third-rate land, and that only 

 in special cases, that I recommend to be broken up." This may 

 be taken as a fair example of the prevalent opinion on this matter. 



There are, however, many instances where some breaking up 

 would be found of great advantage, viz. on those farms where 

 little or none of the land is in arable, a gi'eat inconvenience, 

 if cattle are wintered at all. 



The beneficial result ensuing from the addition of about one- 

 third of their area of arable would be great. The straw and 

 roots therefrom obtained would enable the occupier to winter 

 his cattle jjetter, in greater numbers, and more cheaply ; and, 

 moreover, breeding and rearing (of which every day's experience 

 confirms the importance) might, to a certain extent, be followed. 



But it is essential that this breaking up should be accom- 

 plished judiciously, and the subsequent cropping based on correct 

 principles. The practice of Lord Berners in this matter, given 

 at page 310, may be safely followed. Injudicious cropping 

 speedily converts what v/as poor grass into poor arable, and 

 transfers a portion of the landlord's capital into the pocket of 

 the tenant. 



Live Stock. 



Cattle. — Many of the rich pastures of Leicestershire are grazed 

 with cattle of first-rate excellence ; but the majority of these 

 were bred in other counties, and though there are many breeding 

 flocks and herds throughout the county producing animals of 

 great excellence, yet the mantle of Bakewell and his distin- 

 guished contemporaries seems to have been inherited by few of 

 their descendants. 



In the grazing districts of our First Division, animals hailing 

 from all parts of the island, and of the most incongruous de- 

 scription, are met v»ith. The Shorthorn, Hereford, Devon, Scot, 

 Welsh Runt, and Kerry cow are all represented, numerically 

 perhaps in the order in which we place them. 



In no other branch of rural economy has there been, since 

 Pitt's Report, so radical a change as in the breeds of live stock. 



The Longhorn, a creation of Bakewell's and once the rage of 



* This gentleman, on some land of bis own, has very successfully laid down 

 several fields to permanent grass. His plan being to inoculate with turf from 

 adjoining pastures, over which some good seeds were sown. The writer Avalked 

 over some land ti'eated in this way, and can vouch for the excellent result. 



