196 
On Breaking up Grass Lands. 
From 
Dielrichsen 
and- Hannay' s Roijal Almanac for 1846. 
Aral)le 
Meadow 
W.ist e s 
Incapable 
and 
Pasture and 
capable of 
of 
Garden. 
Garden. 
Iraiirovemcnt. 
Improvement 
Acres. 
.^cros. 
Acres. 
Acres. 
England 
10,2.52,800 
15,379,200 
3,451.000 
3,256,400 
Wales . . . 
S90,.570 
2,226,430 
53o,noo 
1,105,000 
Scotlaiiil . 
2,493,950 
2,771,650 
5,950,000 
8,523,930 
British Isles 
109,030 
274,060 
166,000 
569,469 
13,746,950 
20,650,740 
10,500,000 
13,454,799 
From the second statement it appears that the pasture land was 
considered to be the same in quantity as in 1804, but there had 
been an addition to the arable of 780,000 acres, and a deduction 
from the lands fallowed of 450,000 acres. 
Many of those items have varied very much since 1804, much 
more than is indicated by Mr. M-Culloch in 1842. The hop- 
grounds have nearly doubled, and roads, railways, and canals 
have increased their extent by several thousands of acres ; but, on 
the other hand, the quantity of common and waste has diminished 
to a greater extent. There has also been a considerable quantity 
broken up, and some returned to permanent grass again. The 
high prices which prevailed during the period from 1815 to 1820 
induced farmers and landowners to break up a large quantity of 
pasture, but to what extent I am unable to ascertain, and am also 
left to conjecture as regards the quantity returned to grass again. 
For the last twenty-five years I have carefully observed what has 
been taking place in many parts of England, and am certain that 
the quantity of arable has increased, or, which is the same thing, 
the pasture has decreased probably by more than 1,000,000 acres, 
without reckoning that which may have been enclosed from com- 
mons and wastes under Acts of Parliament, and broken up. I 
am inclined to think that there are now left somewhere about 
16,000,000 in pasture. Assuming this to be correct, and that 
one-fourth only may be safely spared, we shall have 4,000,000 
of acres at 8.9. per acre, which will amount to 1,600,000/. This, 
then, would be the annual gain to landowners and farmers by 
breaking up generally, in England and Wales, that small portion 
only which I have presumed to recommend to be broken up — 
not exceeding that limit until the result of advancing thus far 
shall become known. This sum might be divided between the 
landowner and occupier as they best could arrange the matter ; 
but, should it be necessary, I have no doubt of the landowners 
being willing to give up their claim. In such case, the most 
active, intelligent, and persevering tenants would obtain the 
greatest share ; and who is there that would not rejoice on finding 
that zeal and activity, talent and industrv, met with their just 
reward ? To show, from plain and dispassionate reasoning, that 
more than 1,500,000/. of increased income is within the com- 
