140 Agriculture 



acres. In the Isle, however, where there are greater difficulties in growing 

 a good malting sample, the area under barley is now only one-quarter of 

 the pre-war figure. On the lighter and better barley soils it is indeed rare 

 to find a field sown with any other variety but Spratt Archer. On the 

 heavier soils and in the Fens, some choose Plumage Archer. 



The Oat acreage is distributed fairly evenly between the County and the 

 Isle. In the former, the greater part of the oats is autumn-sown, and Grey 

 Winter is a popular choice. Though inclined to "lodge" at times, this 

 variety proves a reliable cropper, and is liked by those who buy for the 

 racing stables at Newmarket. Marvellous and Resistance, often sown in 

 the very early spring, are also widely grown. Spring oats, when sown in 

 March, crop reasonably well as a rule, and are grown on a hmited area. 

 Victory is the variety most in favour. 



Potatoes. Rather more than nine-tenths of the 40,000 acres of potatoes 

 are grown in the Isle (see Fig. 34), where this is one of the principal crops 

 contributing to farm income. The tendency in recent years has been to 

 concentrate potatoes on those soils proved to be best suited to the crop, 

 and to manure more intensively than formerly. Now, too, only a few 

 proved varieties are grown at all widely; recent reports of the Potato 

 Marketing Board indicate that well over 30,000 acres are planted with 

 Majestic and King Edward VII. The cultivation of early varieties is 

 limited to some 3000 acres on the lighter and more silty soils, Eclipse being 

 the most commonly grown. 



The Sugar-beet acreage has increased very considerably since the thirty- 

 nine acres that were grown in 1919. Some two-thirds of the total acreage 

 is now grovrai on the richer fen soils (see Fig. 35), where yields considerably 

 above the average for the country are obtained in most seasons. It is 

 rather remarkable how this new crop has taken its place in the farm rotation 

 without any considerable upheaval in farming practice. It has replaced 

 fodder crops, rotation grasses, mustard for seed, oats, and barley, the latter 

 particularly in the Isle. Its introduction has resulted in busier times in early 

 summer and late autumn. On those farms where it is grown on any exten- 

 sive scale, it is necessary to employ casual labour to assist the regular farm 

 staff. 



Leyers are to be found almost exclusively in the County, where they are 

 a definite feature of the light and heavy land rotations. On chalk soUs, a 

 one year's ley of sainfoin or broad red clover is extremely common, the 

 crops being either folded and seeded, hayed and seeded, or merely folded. 

 Grass and clover mixtures are not now so popular, partly on account of 

 the smaller demand and lower prices for this type of hay in recent years, 

 and partly because the crops which follow appear to yield less well after 



