282 The Agricultural Lessons of " The Eighties." 
Autumn. There has been a slight reaction in favour of relaxing 
the conditions as to cleanness. Good seeds are also more easily 
obtained than formerly, but I do not see that much advance has 
been made in the mode of making pastures. As to rye-grass, 
it was always largely used, and it is largely used now, and pro- 
bably will be in the future. The agitation against this grass, 
inaugurated by Mr. Faunce de Laune in 1882, and the reaction 
in its favour in 1889, have probably had less effect upon the 
ordinary practice of farmers than might have been expected. 
Many of us knew years before Mr. Faunce de Laune first inveighed 
against the use of rye-grass, that it is a useful grass, well worthy 
of a moderate position in all mixtures for permanent pasture ; and 
we know it still. 
The advantages of grass-land are : — 
1. It is suitable to the English climate. 
2. Its produce has maintained its market value. 
3. The expenses are less than in the case of arable land. 
4. The risks are less. 
5. The net profits are larger than on arable land. 
The difficulty in making pastures consists in the length of 
time necessary to accumulate the high percentage of nitrogen 
and available fertilising matter in the soil necessary to make rich 
grass-land. Richland may sometimes be observed to " go down " 
itself to permanent pasturage, without seeds being artificially 
sown. Let any one watch what takes place when pond-cleanings, 
ditch-sconrings, and even road-scrapings, are allowed to remain 
undisturbed for a year. He will see in a few months a thick and 
rich sole of grass covering the entire surface. Even with the 
best management, a few years must elapse before such a sole 
would cover a large field ; but liberal applications of dirt, manure, 
and liquid manure especially, will greatly promote the change. 
Every care should be taken to follow the best methods, but many 
a roadside lesson teaches the observer the paramount importance 
of a high state of fertility. 
5. Fodder and Root Crops. 
The revolution which has led to the withdrawal of over 
3,000,000 acres from a condition of arable cultivation to one of 
pastoral inactivity must be regarded as an indication of the 
increased value of all fodder-crops, including roots. Such an in- 
crease in value has no doubt taken place, but the low price of 
corn has also injuriously affected their cultivation. The prob- 
lem is an exceedingly difficult one. Labour and expenses on 
the root-crop, with the prospect of 1 3/. per acre gross return on 
the succeeding corn-crop, was one thing. Labour on the root- 
