On Grass Land. 437 



lie, as the other three-fourths would be better manured, more 

 easily cultivated, and would produce as much for consumption, 

 as the whole now does. The failure of new crops of grass, is 

 in a great measure owing, either to a deficiency of seed, or to 

 the land being sown, when out of condition, and without an 

 adequate supply of manure ; and great tracts have, in these 

 circumstances, been continued under a course of aration, to 

 the impoverishment of the occupiers, and the loss of the pub- 

 lic ( a86 ); whereas improved rotations, and in particular, a 

 greater number of green crops, would enrich any poor, or 

 exhausted arable land. 



The laying down a portion of the arable land of the 

 country into grass, is a subject of great importance, which 

 may essentially contribute to prevent any apprehension of 

 scarcity. Indeed nothing would give so much relief to any 

 difficulty with respect to grain, as to increase the number of 

 cows. Milk, used with rice, bread, biscuit, or with pot- 

 barley boiled like rice, or meal or flour, would save a large 

 proportion of the consumption of those articles. Nothing 

 can be substituted so quickly, or so cheaply. Each cow, so 

 used, would save one load of wheat per annum ( 387 ). 



Where the land is laid down to grass in good order, and 

 is worth, in meadow, from 40s. to 50s. per acre, it will keep 

 a cow on two acres and a half. Each cow will give from 

 two to three gallons of milk per day, for twelve, out of thir- 

 teen months, allowing one to be dry. The produce may be 

 stated at from L.20 to L.30 per annum, which is more than 

 the land would yield, if in an exhausted state, under corn, 

 and at less expense. After however recruiting its strength 

 in this way, it may be again returned with advantage to 

 arable culture. 



But, in general, arable land is converted into pasture, for 

 the purpose of feeding sheep. Various plans have been 

 adopted for that purpose. In Rutlandshire, on dry loams, 

 the following course has been adopted with success : 1. Tur- 

 nips, or white pease; 2. Barley; 3. Clover; 4. Wheat; 

 5. Turnips ; 6. Barley ; and then grass for three or more 

 years. Others recommend, as a more speedy and more pro- 

 fitable system; 1. Tares, and then turnips; 2. Wheat; 3. 

 Clover ; 4. Oats ; and after a crop of tares and turnips, 

 wheat with grass-seeds for sheep pasture. Such lands are, by 

 these means, much recruited, and will, after a term of years, 

 enrich the occupier, by the superior corn crops which five 

 or six, or even three or four years of sheep-feeding, will 

 enable them to produce ( 381 ). 



