53S 
SPLENIC APOPLEXY. 
vincing proof that although drainage has not been overlooked 
nor cultivation neglected, vet that there is great poverty not 
so much in the quantity as in the quality of the herbage ; and 
this poverty has not so much reference to poorly grown good 
species as in the general absence of these, and the abundant 
presence of the more innutritious kinds. These pastures as 
a whole appear to me to have undergone in past years 
exhaustive treatment, and though now beginning to improve, 
they will yet require a long time to get them to what they 
may become. 
As a summary of the whole subject of my inquiry, I would 
remark in conclusion : 
1st.—That the tart lands of Somerset are situate for the 
most part on poor unmitigated lias clays, which from the 
want of cultivation yield an abundance of poor species of 
fodder plants and a paucity of good kinds. 
2nd.—That drainage by letting water and air through the 
soil would be of benefit in altering the mechanical texture 
of the land; whilst mowing would have the action of en¬ 
couraging the growth of good grasses and discouraging the 
bad. 
3rd.—That though the saline and medicinal waters which 
abound in these meadows may aid in the observed effects 
upon cattle; yet that the basis of the mischief is poor 
herbage. 
4th.—As regards the pastures producing splenic apoplexy 
—these are for the most part in low positions, subject to 
floodings from the river Yeo, and its tributaries. They are 
more or less marshy and stagnant. They contain a mass of 
weeds (e,g. the Ranunculus acris, carices rushes, &c.), oi 
no use, and of grasses so rough or so poor as to be little 
better than weeds. 
5th.—These meadows, where subject to floods, if they 
cannot be controlled, may yet be greatly relieved by such 
drainage as the circumstances will allow. 
6th.—It must be admitted that on Mr. Looks’ farm there 
is a better appearance of things ; the pastures are not so wet, 
and he is trying to introduce better grasses and clovers into 
them, but that even here the mass of the present herbage 
consists of poor innutritious grasses I have no doubt. 
7th and lastly.—I would beg to record the opinion that 
when as much science is brought to bear upon the cultivation 
of pasture as of arable land, these pastures will then be greatly 
improved, and that such improvement will be marked by an 
increase of plants now as it were struggling for existence, and 
a corresponding extermination of such as mark either wet. 
