Book VI. IMPROVING GRASS LANDS. 843 



a view to an abundant supply of corn for the wants of a rapidly increasing population, 

 seems, therefore, not to liave been well directed. Instead of devoting a large portion of 

 their volumes to the instruction of farmers, regarding the best method of bringing grass 

 lands into tillage, and restoring them again to meadow or pasture, without deterioration ; 

 the first thing required was, to attempt removing the almost insuperable obstruction of 

 tithes, by proposing to the legislature an equitable plan of commutation. If some bene- 

 ficial arrangement were adopted on this head, there is no reason to doubt, that individual 

 interest would soon operate the wished-for change j and that all grass lands capable of 

 yielding more rent and profit under tillage than under pasture, would be subjected to the 

 plough, as fast as the demands of the population might require. {Sup. E. B. art. Agr.) 



5264. In giving the essence of the information collected by the Hoard, we shall first 

 state the opinions as to such grass lands as should not be broken up, and next the direc- 

 tions for breaking up and laying down the others. 



SuBSECT. 1 . Of Grass Lands that ought not to be broken up by the Plough. 



5265. There are various sorts of grass lands that ought not to be broken up ; as water 

 meadows ; salt marshes ; lands apt to be overflowed ; lands near large populous towns, 

 where the produce of grass land is always in demand, and consequently dear ; and low 

 lying tracts, in the valleys of mountainous countries, particularly in chalky districts 

 where old meadow land is scarce, and where a portion of it, to raise early and late food 

 for stock, gives a great additional value to the adjoining upland. But whether rich 

 lands, which have long remained in grass, and continue productive, should ever be 

 converted into tillage, is a question respecting which a great diversity of opinion has 

 been entertained. 



5266. The lands considered as best adapted for permanent pasture, are of three kinds : 

 strong tenacious clays, unfit for turnips, or barley, wliich are said to improve the more, 

 the longer they are kept under a judicious system in grass ; soft clayey loams, with a 

 clayey or marly bottom or substratum ; and, rich sound deep-soiled land, or vale land, 

 enriched by nature at the expense of the higher grounds, generally lying in a situation 

 favorable with respect to climate. 



5267. The advantages of such pastures are represented in the strongest light. It is 

 aflfirmed that they feed cattle to a greater weight ; that they are not so easily scorched by 

 the summer's drought ; that the grasses are more nutritive both for sheep and cattle ; that 

 milch cows fed upon them give richer milk, and more butter and cheese ; that the 

 hoofs of all animals pastured on them are much better preserved ; that they produce a 

 greater variety of grasses ; that when properly laid down, they yield a succession of 

 pasture throughout the whole season; that the herbage is sweeter, and more easily 

 digested ; and that they return an immense produce at a trifling expense. 



5268. To break vp lands possessing these advantages, it is said, can only be justified 

 by the most urgent public necessity, and to prevent the horrors of famine. The real 

 value of such lands will appear, by considering their rent and produce. The grass lands 

 in Lincolnshire are accounted the richest in the kingdom. The rents are various, from 

 ]/. 15s. to 3/. per acre, and the value of the produce from Si. per acre to 10/. This 

 produce arises from beef, mutton, and wool, and is obtained, subject to little variation 

 from the nature of the seasons, and at a trifling expense. The stock maintained per 

 acre on the best grazing lands, surpasses what could be fed by any arable produce. It 

 is not at all uncommon to feed at the rate of from six to seven sheep in summer ; and 

 about two sheep in winter. The sheep when put on the grass may weigh from 1 8 lbs. 

 to 20 lbs. per quarter, and the increase of weight would be at the rate of 4 lbs. per 

 quarter, or 16 lbs. per sheep. But suppose in all only 100 lbs. at 8rf. per pound, that 

 would amount to 31. 17s. lOd. The wool would be worth about two guineas more, 

 besides the value of the winter keep, and the total may be stated at about seven pounds 

 per acre, got at little expense. Such lands, it is evident, cannot be better employed 

 than in feeding stock. 



5269. Grass land on tenacious clays and heavy loams, when brought in a succession of 

 years, or perhaps of ages, into a state of great productiveness, cannot be ploughed without 

 the risk of great injury, and are more profitable in the production of herbage than they 

 could be in the production of grain. 



5270. Grass on deep-soiled sound vale lands, would be productive of corn if ploughed 

 but would probably be injured by cultivation; from their texture being altered, and 

 rendered unduly loose and open by tillage ; from the native plants being more or less- 

 destroyed or enfeebled ; and from the great decomposition and waste of the principles 

 of fertility resident in the soil. 



5271. The extent of these descriptions of land, however, is not so great, that the 

 advantages of breaking them up could probably ever be a national object, or worth the 

 risk of injuring their future productiveness in grass. But there are pasture lands of aa 

 inferior sort which are too apt to be confounded with those already described, and res- 



