550 Abstract Report of Afiricultiiral Discussions. 



I, however, hold an opinion, confirmed by practical experience, 

 that on all second-rate grass lands sheep have been and can be made 

 far more profitable than cattle ; and in the improved state of such 

 lands by draining, &c., sheep can now flourish and do well, where in 

 former times it would have been folly to have placed them. There 

 is not a greater improvement in farming than an allowance of oilcake 

 to grazing sheep. I have used oilcake largely, both for cattle and 

 sheep on first-rate land, and sold bullocks last year under four years 

 old a,t 45Z. each from grass. Mind you, the land was worth over 

 100/. per acre, and the beasts had 8 lbs. of oilcake per day, and they 

 paid well for their summer grazing. This system only applies, 

 perhaps, to feeding off the cattle or sheep more quickly, and on real 

 good pastures ; on second-rate land young steers are urazed, without 

 the oilcake, mixed with sheep. Now it is here that a vast improve- 

 ment may be made, simply by increasing the number of sheep and 

 lessening the number of cattle — thus, say, instead of having one steer 

 on two acres, and two sheep per acre, we put one steer on four acres, 

 and foiu- to six sheep per acre, and give the sheep oilcake. This 

 opens a large field, and in all tolerably dry districts it can be done 

 to greater profit, as will eventually be found, than the absurd pro- 

 cess of breaking up grass land because it does not improve. Why, 

 how can it do so if farmers won't do anything to it '? This I know 

 too well is often the case in nay own immediate neighbourhood. The 

 next, and perhaps a greater necessity is that of keeping sheep on 

 the cold, strong lands of England — supposing such lands have been 

 well drained, without which it is useless to suggest any improvement of 

 the sort. The drains on grass land need more expense, because they 

 should be as deep, and more close, even than on tillage, which has 

 advantages as to percolation and atmospheric influence from cultiva- 

 tion, especially with the use of the steam plough. 



When the water is thoroughly taken out of grass land, and you 

 dress with almost anything, say common wheat-chafl', cut straw, lime 

 and salt, or, better still, a few crushed and rotten bones, and put on 

 plenty of sheep, with oilcake, the change is magical, (as I could show 

 you on many a score of acres in my own occupation,) this management 

 befitting almost all the second and third rate grass land. I aver that 

 now is the golden opportunity for putting this great — I may say 

 national^experiment in practice ; fewer cattle and more sheep, and 

 larger remuneration for the tenant. 



I have not had very great experience myself in keeping a large 

 number of sheep on cold clay lands, because that is not the character 

 of my farms— I am in a much better position in respect of sheep. 

 I shall, therefore, refer to the practice of Mr. Charles Eandall, who 

 carries it out better than anyone I know ; and I shall speak of his 

 experience in detail, and tell you exactly how things are done on the 

 estate of the Due d'Aumale, at Chadbury, near Worcester. 1st. Where 

 tlic laud is exclusively in grass. 2nd. Where there is some arable 

 land, or where some of the grass land may be broken up. And I 

 shall assume that it is strong land, because there is no need to tell 

 people how to grow food for sheep upon light land. 



