On Grass Land. 413 



arable land, in a mere agricultural point of view, without 

 touching on the tithe question, arises, from an alleged in- 

 feriority in the new, when compared to the old herbage; a 

 complaint, which probably originates, either from the im- 

 proper choice of seeds, or from giving them in too small 

 quantities, thus favouring the growth of weeds. That ob- 

 jection however, is now completely obviated, by those im- 

 portant discoveries in regard to pasture grasses, which 

 have been already described, and from which it is evident, 

 that it is possible to lay down an artificial meadow, that will 

 soon rival the most valuable natural pasture, in regard to pro- 

 ductiveness and utility ( 3l8 ). Under judicious management 

 therefore, the finest pastures will be rarely, if ever, injured 

 by the plough. When laid down from tillage into grass, 

 they may not carry, for the first year or two, such heavy 

 cattle as they would afterwards, but they will support more 

 in number, though of a smaller size( 3l9 j, which will bring 

 a greater weight of butcher meat to market. 



It is certainly desirable, in occupations of from 300 to 500 

 acres of arable land, to keep in grass one or two moderate 

 sized inclosures, containing in all from ten to twenty acres, 

 according to the size of the farm, either near, or at no great 

 distance from the residence of the farmer, provided the soil 

 is naturally calculated for that production, and is thorough- 

 ly drained, and improved by manure and cultivation. Such 

 inclosed land may be applied to the following purposes: 

 1. For feeding cattle and sheep, when there is any difficulty 

 in providing other food ; 2. Where ewes may drop their 

 lambs, and where they may be fed with turnips, or any 

 other article in the spring season ; 3. As a resource for the 

 stock to feed on, in case of any spring or summer uncom- 

 monly dry, such as happened in the year 1810, when it was 

 late in the season before the artificial grasses made their ap- 

 pearance, or could be either cut or pastured ; and 4. It is like- 

 wise desirable, to preserve some very rich old meadows, in 

 the dairy districts : But with these exceptions, the retaining 

 of any considerable portion of a farm in old turf, or per- 

 manent pasture, is highly injurious to the landlord, to the 

 farmers, to the labourers in husbandry, and, above all, to 

 the public, more especially at a period like the present, when 

 we are compelled to admit such immense importations of fo- 

 reign corn, and when a large proportion of our agricultural 

 population, are driven to the most desperate courses, from 

 the want of employment. 



