442 Report on Laying down Land to Permanent Pasture. 
case any exceptional circumstances should occasion a deviation from this rule, 
the contractor must apply for the necessary permission in sufBcient time for the 
competent authority to consider the necessity. 
42. A deduction of 1 per cent, to be made on the contract price of the 
works for the benefit of the sick or injured workpeople, to secure to them 
medical assistance in case of need, or of pecuniary help in conformity with th& 
provisions of the Decree of the Minister of the 18th December, 1848, and of 
the Circular of the 22nd October, 1851. 
43. The contractor, besides, to be subject to all the clauses and general con- 
ditions imposed on all whose undertakings are accepted by the Department of 
Eoads and Bridges, as in the paper of charges annexed to the Circular of M. Ifr 
Directeur-General, and dated the 25th August, 1830. 
XVIII.- — Report on Laying down Land to Permanent Pasture. 
By Morgan Evans, of London, and T. Bowstead, of Edea 
Hall, Penrith, Cumberland. 
Introduction. By Morgan Evans, 
The Council of the Royal Agricultural Society determined to 
obtain information on the following question : — " The alteration 
in the cultivation of land caused by the present high prices of 
farm stock, and the increased cost of agricultural labour ; atten- 
tion to be specially called to the laying down of permanent 
pasture, and the extension of time given to artificial grasses on. 
arable farms." Accordingly, Mr. Thomas Bowstead, of Eden 
hall, Penrith, and myself were requested to prepare a report on 
the subject for the Society's ' Journal.' The area included in 
our investigations was confined to England and Wales. Mr. 
Bowstead prosecuted his inquiries in the northern division 
of the country, leaving me to collect materials relating to 
the south. The information obtained by my colleague was 
ultimately placed in my hands ; and at his request I undertook 
to Avrite the introductory remarks, and a few concluding ob- 
servations on the information we were enabled to collect from 
those practical agriculturists who had kindly responded to our 
inquiries. 
It has for many years been apparent that increased atten- 
tion was being directed to the production of grass by the 
farmers of this country. Whilst the price of corn has remained 
almost stationary, or fluctuated but slightly according to the 
seasons, the work of producing it has gradually been rendered 
more costly, from the constantly increasing high rate paid for 
agricultural labour, and the necessity of employing expensive 
machinery in the cultivation of the soil. On the other hand, 
the price of meat has been continually advancing ; and by 
