58 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF LEICESTER AND DISTRICT 
With the gradual decline of the arable acreage it is natural to expect 
that such decline would be reflected in the increase of grassland, and 
from the above table it will be seen that a steady increase in the permanent 
grass acreage has taken place during the last ten years, and, in addition, 
there has been a gradually increasing area mown each year for hay, this 
being necessary for the increased number of dairy cattle which have to 
be wintered indoors, with the consequent need for more bulky fodder. 
The acreage under permanent grazing has not only increased, but during 
the last ten years there has been a decided advance in the management of 
grassland. Surface cultivation coupled with liberal phosphatic manuring 
has done much to increase the stock-carrying capacity of the pastures. 
The use of fertilisers has also assured heavier crops of hay of a superior 
feeding value, the value of a high quality hay being now more fully 
recognised by progressive dairy farmers. The soil and climatic conditions 
of the county are extremely favourable for the development of good grass- 
land, and these natural advantages are being more fully utilised each year. 
Total Number of Agricultural Holdings. 
1922. 4 ; . . 6,526 
L925... > é : . 6,460 
1926 . e : : »f 1105380 
E31}... s ; : . 6,050 
1932... " ‘ ; . 6,008 
Holdings above 1 Acre and not Exceeding 50 Acres. 
ge), ; : : Lo hao 
rg25- * : : é IM 4.765 
1926 . : : ‘ § 92050 
IQ3I_ . ’ é s #f Bare 
RG3ar : : ; aA eAG 
During the last ten years there has been a decline in the number of 
agricultural holdings to the extent of slightly over 500. It is not possible 
to analyse fully all the causes of this decline but doubtless the demands 
for building sites of various kinds and public improvements have played 
an important part. 
It will be noticed that there has been a decline in the number of small 
holdings, and whilst there has been much said in recent years about the 
necessity of small holdings, it will be seen that during the last ten years 
there has been a decline in the number of holdings above 1 acre and under 
50 acres of no less than 586 holdings in this county. 
This result would seem to support the idea that there cannot be a real 
and substantial reason for increasing the number of such holdings. It 
may well be that this result is due to the difficult times which agriculture 
has experienced during the last few years. Better times may possibly 
stem this unfortunate decline, for it is admitted on all hands that the finest 
asset a nation can possess is a healthy, numerous, and rural population, a 
virile and prosperous countryside. It should be noted that no less than 
