The Improvement of Grass Lands. 
317 
Comparison of the Bainfall in 18G8 with previous years. 
Average. 
1840-9. 1850-9. 
laches. Indies. 
England 33-37 .... 35*66 
Ditto (omitting Scathwaite) 29'44 .... 30-98 
1838. 
liiclus. 
36-07 
The £:veatest rainfall in 1868 was 207-49 inches, at the Stye, a station in 
Cumberland; the least was 15-37 inches, at Witham, in Essex. 
The liaiiifall at the Stations in Staffordshire in 18G8 was — 
Stations. 
Wolverhampton (Oaklands) 
(.Wadham's Hill) 
Stafford (Infirmary) .. 
Burton-on-Trent 
Stoke (Barlaston) .. 
Oakmoor (EUaston) 
Leek (Kudyard) 
Authorities. Inches. 
H. Ward, Esq 28-84 
Rev. E. W. Winter .. 23-61 
P. H. Greaves. Esq. .. 25-18 
J. Matthews, Esq. .. 24- 11 
W. Scott, Esq 29-43 
llev. Sir C. R. Lighten 37-48 
J. Forbes, Esq., C.E. 31-71 
XI. — The Improvement of Grass Lands. By Clement Cable. 
Prize Essay. 
The term " Grass Land " is so comprehensive that, with the 
exception of forests, it describes almost entirely the original and 
natural condition of the soil before the commencement of tillage. 
Grass Land is still to be found in every conceivable position, of 
every description and quality, and on every geological foi'mation. 
All these varying circumstances make it difficult to treat of its 
improvement in an Essay, and any rules laid down or opinions 
expressed will necessarily find dissentients, either from prejudice, 
or from general rules not being applicable to every locality. The 
chief and best remedy for the removal of prejudice is time. Few 
are so wedded to their convictions as not to abandon them after 
having witnessed the successful working of systems to which 
they have been opposed ; and although all general rules for 
farming may sometimes fail, yet it is possible to lay down prin- 
ciples of almost universal application and value. It will, there- 
fore, be my endeavour in the following pages to give my 
personal experience in reference to the subject treated upon, 
coupled with observations made in valuing some hundreds of 
square miles of land, of almost every description, from the 
extensive hill and sheep lands, covered more or less with heath 
and gorse, and worth not more than a rental of ?>s. or 45. per acre, 
to the primest meadow land, capable of feeding out beasts by the 
end of July, without the use of oilcake or other artificial food, 
and producing a rental of from 4/. to 5/. 
