CATTLE FOOD FROM ARABLE LAND 33 



more profitably sold. Even in that case the average 

 arable land will produce as much meat per acre as the 

 grass, in addition to the wheat and barley it has to sell. 

 It may be argued that in many districts the prevailing 

 weather is such that the risks attending corn growing 

 make it an unprofitable enterprise ; in that case it has 

 been shown that the cereals can be very largely re- 

 placed by rapidly growing green crops — rape, vetches, 

 etc. — by which means the actual production of cattle 

 food is even greater than when corn crops are grown. 

 Despite the doubled production upon arable as com- 

 pared with the same land in grass, the profit to the 

 farmer may be no greater ; it may even be less if the 

 prices of grain are low and those of labour high. Taking 

 the second case outlined above, the wheat and barley 

 produced on the arable land over and above the meat 

 (which is the same on both the grass and arable land) 

 would be worth about 70s. (wheat at 36s. per quarter, 

 barley at 32s. ) . Against this would have to be set about 

 7s. for artificial manures, 5s. for miscellaneous bills, 8s. 

 for horse hire, and 35s. for labour per acre per annum ; 

 total, 55s. On the other hand, the grazier would have to 

 pay only about 3s. per acre per annum for labour and 

 horse hire, as he will only employ men at the rate of 

 one man per 300 acres as against three men per 100 

 acres required by the arable farmer. Thus the cash 

 difference in favour of the arable farmer only amounts 

 to 18s. per acre, out of which he has to provide for the 

 interest on capital required (an extra £5 per acre, 

 equivalent to 5s. per acre annual charge), the depre- 

 ciation on his implements, and the much greater 

 risks involved in the business as well as the increased 

 labour of supervision. 



