OF MANURE. 179 



state : That such lands, if of the best quality, when in hay, 

 will produce from one and a half to two tons per acre, and 

 foggagc worth 30s. per acre more; or, when in pasture, 

 each acre will graze an ox, producing, in the space of twen- 

 ty weeks, fifteen stone of beef, worth 8s. per stone, or L. 6, 

 to which, if the value of the after-eating is added, the whole 

 will not be much less than L. 7, 10s. of produce^r English 

 acre, from which there are no other expences to be de- 

 ducted, than rent and taxes, and the interest of the capital 

 invested, nor is there that risk of losses, by wind, mildew, 

 &c. as in arable crops : That farmers who are in possession 

 of those old rich grazing pastures, find it their interest to 

 keep them so, as essential for a breeding and grazing stock : 

 That if all such lands were under a four-course system, in 

 a few years the clover crops would become small and uncer- 

 tain, and the quantity of live stock would be considerably 

 reduced ; and that in many parts of the north of England, 

 these old grass lands continue in verdure throughout the 

 whole season, if the weather is open, and upon them, in a 

 great measure, depends the maintenance of many thousand 

 head of Scotch cattle. On the other hand, it is contended* 

 that if the farmers were not compelled to lay their home- 

 made dung on the old grass lands, which are thereby much 

 enriched, whilst the adjoining arable land is excessively 

 impoverished, and robbed of the dung it has been the means 

 of producing, the latter would afford the highest rent : 

 That if the farmers were not constrained to adhere to the 

 grazing plan, they would soon discover, that it was more 

 for their interest to pursue the arable system : That under 

 the convertible system 6f husbandry, properly managed, (if 

 necessary, pasturing the clover the second year), the crops 

 of clover are not small and uncertain ; and that the arable 

 system would certainly produce the greatest quantity of hu- 

 man food. 



