110 PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY PASTURES 



The 



Management and Improvement 

 of Old Grass Land 



In 1872 there appeared in the Royal Agricultural Society's 

 Journal an account by Mr. R. H. Thompson of a personal 

 inspection of the grass lands of England and Ireland. His 

 laborious journey included visits to the most famous grazing 

 districts, and it was undertaken when farmers were at the 

 height of then* prosperity. The following are his conclu- 

 sions : — 



' 1st. That although very excellent management is to be 



met with in parts of our best grazing districts in 



Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Gloucestershire, 



Somersetshire, and several other counties, this 



must be considered quite exceptional, and the 



treatment of the bulk of the grass lands of the 



country is very unsatisfactory. 



' 2nd. That our grass lands, if properly managed, would 



be easily able to meet the demand made upon 



them for an increased production of meat, even it 



the supply required were greatly in excess of the 



present rate of consumption. 



• 3rd. That money judiciously laid out in improving 



grass land makes a better return than money laid 



out on arable land.' 



These remarkable statements are as worthy of profound 



attention from those who possess old pastures, as from those 



