PEEMANENT AND TEMPOEAEY 



PASTUEES. 



oj<«o 



The Extension of Pastures. 



The 'Agricultural Eeturns for 1890,' issued by the Board of 

 Agriculture, show that in England alone the ' total of land under 

 all kinds of crops, bare fallow, and grass,' excluding nursery- 

 grounds and woods, is 25,008,147 acres. Of this area, 12,836,200 

 acres are in permanent grass, and 12,171,947 acres are under 

 arable culture ; whereas in 1870 the arable land exceeded the 

 pastures by 4,049,000 acres. 



In Great Britain the total cultivated area is returned as 

 32,768,335 acres, of which 16,017,492 acres are given as pas- 

 ture, and 16,750,843 acres as arable — an increase of permanent 

 grass between 1871 and 1890 inclusive ^ of 3,944,636 acres. 

 During the whole period of twenty years the progress of the 

 movement has been uninterrupted, the highest figure being 

 attained in 1871 with 362,586 acres, and the lowest in 1885 

 with 51,658 acres.^ The a,verage addition per annum is ] 97,232 

 acres, and the following statement shows the advance in each 

 year.* 



' It must unfortunately te admitted that a proportion of this vast acreage has been 

 allowed to ' go to grass ' unaided, in consequence of the inability of owners or occupiers to 

 cultivate the land. 



^ The increase for 1885 is understated ; see pages 13 and 14 of Agricultural Returns 

 for 1886. 



' Perhaps it is scarcely necessary to remark that the advance recorded in each year is 

 the result of sowings made in the preceding season. As a rule, grass seeds are sown upon 

 corn, and in the year of sowing the return is made under wheat, oats, or barley. 



