[ 72 | 
The introduétion of artificial graffes has made 
meadow and pafture land lefs valuable, in proportion 
to arable, than it was in the laft century; when they 
were obliged to truft to grafs land only for the fup- 
port of their ftock. It has been remarked, that 
moft of the improvements in the prefent century have — 
been made by the plough.—If we except fmall quan- 
tities of grafs land improved by irrigation, or by 
draining, and that which lies very near to towns, 
where population increafes, the price of grafs land 
has not in faét advanced in proportion to that of 
arable; and very fhort indeed of the proportion in . 
which butter has advanced, which, within half a 
century, has in moft places doubled, and in fome 
places trebled.* 
If it be proper to fix on any ftandard for regula- 
ting the rents of the tithe of grafs Jand, diftinét from 
arable, it does not feem then that butter is an article 
well adapted for the purpofe. I am not, however, 
convinced either of the neceffity or propriety of fuch 
diftinétion. The converfion of grafs land to arable, 
and arable to grafs, which is conftantly taking place, 
would probably make this complicated diftin&tion, if 
equitable at prefent, not foin future; and the mixed 
claims which the re&tor and vicar frequently have 
upon the fame land, is an additional reafon for fim- 
plifying the ftandard as much as poffible. 
* Mr. Bisuton’s Survey of Shropfhire. 
Tam 
