FARMING IN LEICESTERSHIRE 57 
hunter which must have not only great powers of endurance, but well up 
to average as a weight carrier, and, in addition, possessed of great speed 
and a clever jumper. ‘The nature of the country and the character of the 
fences necessitate horsemanship of a very high order, and the hunting 
“countries ’ of Leicester may well claim to have provided for many long 
years some of the very best training grounds for cavalry officers and all 
others who desire to excel in that noble art of riding ‘ straight ’ to hounds. 
CEREALS AND POTATOES. 
FO7G 09M g2y. 1925. 1926. IQ3I. 1932. 
Wheat . . 44,404 25,298 19,786 21,126 13,599 14,185 
Barley . St Age ne ORet.) Sete 2 S27 44,004 aeAOU 
Oats : Peo OOO SS EQZO5 E7007. 07 cot.  Le.e7e, Ee bak 
Potatoes . o Laas eg SONG ye AOO . 2hat © Agee or 
Total acreage . 100,296 55,154 47,414 46,511 35,373 33,914 
From the foregoing table it will be seen that the decline in the acreage 
of cereals in the last fifty-six years amounts to very nearly 70,000 acres, 
and that during the last ten years a decrease of no less than 21,000 acres 
has to be recorded. ‘The low prices of cereals during recent years have 
been such that arable farmers have been compelled to limit the acreage, so 
far as they could consistently do so, keeping in mind the requirements of 
the farm so far as the straw for bedding was concerned. Of the three 
cereals a decline of barley and oats was inevitable, and the slight increase 
in the acreage of wheat is undoubtedly due to the stimulating influence 
of the wheat quota. During the last ten years the acreage of potatoes 
has gradually increased, and under the new marketing scheme for potatoes 
it is very probable that the potato acreage in future may increase still 
further. Crops of mangolds and swedes, during recent years, have shown 
a marked tendency to decline in acreage, but this decline has been prac- 
tically met by the increase of crops of marrow-stemmed kale, cabbage, and, 
notably, sugar beet. 
During the last ten years the interest in the growth of sugar beet has 
been steadily increasing ; this crop has the advantage of being one that the 
farmer can turn directly into cash, and, in addition, the tops and crowns 
provide a very useful fodder. Sugar beet growers are also entitled to 
receive a proportional supply of dried beet pulp at a preferential price. 
Dried beet pulp has been proved to be an excellent food for dairy cows 
and other farm live stock. 
PERMANENT GRASS. 
1923. 1925. 1926. 1931. 1932. 
Not for hay . 254,827 265,606 203 -LOm * 2OL.aeo” "27a 200 
For hay . 98,189 95,544 100,948 115,004 107,108 
353,016 361,150 364,048 = 376,224 380,388 
