On the Importance and Extent of Pasturages, S^c. 273 



number of cattle, but the animals are also finer, and their flesh 

 is of better quality ; so that the inhabitant of England may em- 

 ploy for his food a quantity of animal substance nearly double 

 that which France supplies to each of its inhabitants, and has 

 the further advantage of having it of better quality. 



From the very numerous facts contained in his memoir, M. 

 Moreau de Jonnes draws the following conclusions : — 



1. That the pasturages, being the condition of existence of 

 cattle and sheep, are one of the necessary elements of the well- 

 being of men, the agricultural and commercial riches of states, 

 and the civilization of nations. 



2. That they become eminently productive, only through 

 the assiduous and persevering cares of human industry ; and 

 that they abound in species adapted for pasturing animals only 

 by their conversion into artificial meadows, or by the destruc- 

 tion of useless or pernicious plants, which in all countries over- 

 run the natural meadows. 



3. That when these means of prosperity are not employed, 

 there is a loss of three-fourths in the development and fat of 

 pasturing animals, and that then, as in the provinces of France, 

 the mean quality of flesh furnished for consumption by a hec- 

 tare of pasturage, does not exceed 98 lb. in place of rising to 

 4001b. 



4. That, on the contrary, by the use of these means, 300 lb. 

 of animal food are obtained from a hectare of improved na- 

 tural meadows, and 400 lb. from the same extent of artificial 

 meadows. 



5. That calculating only at the rate of 30 per cent, the pound 

 of flesh, and the products of cattle and sheep, hides, wool, but- 

 ter, milk, and cheese, the revenue of the hectare is 49 francs 

 when in unreclaimed pasture, 150 francs when in improved pas- 

 ture, and 200 francs when in artificial pasture. 



6. That, consequently, the 5,775,000 hectares at present 

 abandoned in France to pasturing animals, produces only a nett 

 revenue of 282,000,000 francs, while, if they were converted 

 into improved meadows, they would yield 863,000,000, and 

 into artificial meadows, a third more. 



7. That such an increase of revenue, rendered attainable by 

 altention to the pasturage, raises to the first rank of economical 



