1922.] 



Council of Agriculture for Wales. 



809 



of improvement is evident from the results of experiments, but the area on 

 which any systematic eltort at improvement has been made, is, having regard 

 to the total area involved, deplorably small. 



A comparison between the areas under cultivation in 1871 and 1921 is 

 shown in the table below : — 

 Crojj. 



Wheat ... 

 Barley ... 

 Oats 



1871. 



1921. 



o/o Decrease. 



Acres. 



Acres. 





126,334 



38,750 



69-3 



169,751 



86,716 



48-9 



253,672 



229,464 



9-5 



549,757 



354,930 



35-4 



51,853 



26,152 



49-6 



77,213 



60,351 



21-8 



1,110,170 



774,724 



30-2 



Total Cereals 

 Potatoes 



Turnips, Swedes and Mangolds 

 Arable Land 



We are aware that, while the area under cultivation has decreased, the live 

 stock of the country has increased during that period. We give below a table 

 showing the live stock population under different heads in the years 1871 

 and 1921 :— o/^ increase or 



Class. 1871. 1921. Decrease. 



Cattle 596,588 724,417 + 21*4 



Sheep 2,706,415 3,216,877 + 18-9 



Pigs 225,456 215,362 - 4*5 



It is now generally recognised that, as a rule, the production of food on 

 arable land is largely in excess of what it is on grass land. Although there 

 has been a large increase in cattle and sheep in the period under review, it is, 

 in OUT opinion, doubtful whether the increase that has taken place under these 

 heads is sufficient to compensate for the reduction in the area of land under 

 cultivation during the same period. Having regard to all the circumstances, 

 we have serious doubt as to whether the present production of agricultural 

 land in Wales, taken in terms of actual food values, is equal to what it was in 

 1871. 



We have already drawn attention to the very large acreage of pasture in 

 Wales that is of inferior quality, and this is apparent to everybody. It is true 

 that nmch of the land is naturally poor and that grass of superior quality can- 

 not be expected in these circumstances. We feel sure, however, that a very 

 large proportion of the pasture land in Wales, even though it may be on soil 

 that is naturally poor, can be much improved if proper methods are adopted to 

 that end. The experience of the last twenty years has clearly demonstrated 

 that such manures as basic slag can be used on pastures to enormous advantage. 

 In view of the excellent results obtained in places where this has been tried, it 

 is a matter for surprise, as well as concern, that the application of such man- 

 ures to grass land has not become a much more extensive practice. 



II. Reform of the Land Laws. — We urge the necessity for reform- 

 ing the law as it relates to land so as to ensure to the tenant farmer — 



(1) A fair rent, which, in all cases of dispute, should be fixed by ar- 

 bitration, the right to demand such arbitration being given to both the 

 owner and the tenant, the existing Acts, where necessary, being amended. 



(2) Full compensation for all improvments, the Agricultural Holdings 

 Acts, 1908 to 1921, being so amended as to enable a tenant to carry out 



