1 oi Becent Experiences in laying down Land to (??yw.<!. 
to grass that would grow it in any sliape ; but it may be ques- 
tioned if we are threatened in such a way. There are signs of 
improvement even now. Rents have been generally reduced, 
and farmers have lowered their scale of expenditure on every 
item to an extent that should render profitable farming possible. 
One thing seems evident : that farmers do not lay land down 
to permanent grass, or, if they do, they do it in the cheapest 
manner. Land-owners do lay down land when they cannot let 
it, or as an inducement to farmers to become their tenants. But 
they are unable to ensure treatment that will make a good pasture, 
so when any change comes that is likely to make arable farming 
more remunerative, they are sure to yield to the desire of the 
tenant to break it up. 
j\Iy statistics, so far as figures can be relied on, tend to show 
that the conversion of arable to pasture has recently been un- 
profitable. I come to the conclusion that the great bulk of the 
land laid down or abandoned during the last ten years may be 
regarded, though it is termed permanent, as merely temporary 
pasture. A rise, though it be not a great one, of prices of corn 
must have the immediate effect of causing all the worst of the 
new pastures on good land to be broken up, and converted again 
to tillage, much to the benefit of the country at large. 
Tables Nos. I., II., and III. are simply statistical facts that 
require no explanation. Table No. IV. may be misleading unless 
it is understood that it is introduced only for purposes of com- 
parison. A unit of value was necessary, so the prices of 1887 
were selected, the object being to find out the difference caused 
by conversion of arable land to pasture, not taking into account 
the fall in prices. It may be objected that the hay cut from the 
increased acreage of pasture, and the milk from the greater 
number of cows, should be put to the credit of the new perma- 
nent grass. Tills has not been done, owing to the difficulty of 
obtaining accuracy. 
I. In Grazing Counties. 
Acres 
Percentage 
of total 
acreage 
Increase of Permanent 
Pasture 1887 over 1877 
'J'otal acreage of 
Pasture in 1877 
Total acreage of 
Pasture in 1887 
Permanent 
Permanent 
7,241,841 
8,257,270 
5G1 
Cl-7 
acres 
1,015,429 
per cent. 
14 
In Corn-growing Counties. 
Total acreage of 
Pasture in 1877 
Total acreage of 
Pasture in 1887 
I'erinanent 
Permanent 
:i,f)10,175 
4,289,2.3.3 
31 7 
.37-2 
G7.S,058 
18G 
