CHAPTER III 



GRASS BEEF 



IN the previous chapter we dealt with land which, without deep 

 cultivation or other expensive operations, will produce a very 

 large output of plant life. It is on fields of this kind that our 

 famous grass beef is made prime. No other densely populated 

 European country dreams of grazing so large a proportion of 

 its surface in this way; it is doubtful, indeed, whether any have 

 the live-stock to produce the quality of meat which long ex- 

 perience has taught us to expect, and without conceit we may 

 congratulate ourselves that the Britisher and the Irishman have 

 special gifts for carrying on this class of work. For in very few 

 instances does the amateur deceive himself more than when he 

 assumes that anyone can manage a high-class grazing farm. 

 But we will first consider the soil, the fundamental part of the 

 whole subject. 



The soil of almost all the "finishing" land tracts has two 

 qualities that are, unfortunately, rarely given to us by nature 

 in combination ; it is fairly open in texture and at the same time 

 composed of material containing large store-houses of plant- 

 food. But unhappily many soils that are of good texture and 

 composition are very far from being good enough simply 

 because of their water content. Graziers as these summer 

 beef-farmers are called may often be heard, when describing 

 the beauties of their land, to say that such and such a field is 

 44 cool-bottomed." There* is nothing mysterious about this 

 description ; it simply means that the water-table is near enough 

 to the surface for the soil-particles to lift a film in times of 

 drought, and yet sufficiently deep down to allow of the well- 

 textured soil freeing itself of excessive moisture in times of 

 heavy rain in this latter capacity it can and, under some cir- 

 cumstances must, be helped artificially by land-drainage. These 

 qualities are very seldom found in combination, and such land, 

 being very scarce, naturally commands a high rent. Compared 



