1 24 Recent Experiences in laying down Land to Grass. 
There is no record of the rate of progress in fattening ; but 
it is clear enough that, without charging anything for litter, 
attendance, and interest, the cost per week would be about 12s. 
Assuming that this beast made 8 lbs. of meat, what would the 
cost of the dung be ? Thirty shillings per ton, at the least, or 
fully more than the dung has cost in connection with the present 
Woburn experiments. 
It is a good thing for the community that so many people of 
large means are ever ready to take a lead in making experi- 
ments, at their own cost, as to what plans may be followed and 
what may be avoided. There is a vast difference, however, 
between a practical and a merely experimental farm. The 
chief aim of most farmers is to make a profit. This is the 
kind of example and experience we all wish for. Farming of 
various kinds includes a large number of problems, all of which 
have to be worked out separately. Yet, all must work together 
to a great extent, otherwise the business cannot be successfully 
carried on. If this paper should be the means of encouraging 
enquiry amongst young farmers, it will not have been written in 
vain. It appears likely enough that subjects for discussion will 
not be scarce for another century or two, so that those who 
follow us may still have plenty to do before all are agreed on 
any one point. 
VI. — Beccnt Experiences in laying dovn Land to Grass. By 
James A. Caird, Northbrook, Micheldever, Hants. 
Great Britai:n is naturally adapted by climate to the position 
of a grass-growing or pastoral countrj', and in former times, 
before the high prices for wheat caused by the long wars at the 
beginning of the century, it is probable that a very much larger 
proportion of the cleared land was in permanent pasture than is 
now the case. Transport was very difEcult, even so recently as 
a hundred years ago ; therefore we may assume that most of 
the corn grown was used in the immediate neighbourhood, and 
that all the land not required for arable cultivation was in grass. 
Until the population began to increase there was no inducement 
to break up fresh land, experience having taught that a good 
old meadow could not easily be replaced. However, when the 
natural scarcity, caused by long wars and neglected cultivation, 
sent up prices, the temptation was too great, and grass lands 
were ploughed up to grow wheat. 
Unfortunately there are no statistics to prove to what extent 
this was done, but there is no doubt that vast ai'eas of poor down 
and heath land, in the south of England, were converted to 
