In  the  face  of  such  testimony  from  all  districts,  the
four-course  system,  so  long  the  mainstay  of  English  arable
farming  is,  naturally,  condemned  in  the  letter  of  Lord
Leicester  to  Mr  Shaw  Lefevre  when  Chairman,  and  by
many  witnesses  who  have  come  before  us.^

If  the  estimates  of  the  cost  of  the  four-course  system
and  of  the  returns  from  roots  and  seeds  are  approximately
correct,  to  make  ends  meet  a  return  from  the  two  corn
crops  is  demanded,  which  is  impossible  at  present  prices.
For  instance,  in  two  careful  estimates  the  cost  of  the  four
years  is  put  at  £\(^  i6s  6d,  and  £\<^  115s,  and  the  value
of  roots  and  seeds  at  £6  in  one  case,  and  £'i^  15s  in  the
other.  In  the  former  case  wheat  and  barley  have  to  make
up  ;^I3  1 6s  6d,  in  the  latter  ^16  per  acre,  between  them,
an  insoluble  problem  at  the  prices  of  the  last  few  years.
The  only  chance  of  economic  recovery  lies  in  the
direction  of  reducing  expenses  by  throwing  land  into
grass,  and  occasionally  breaking  up.  Lord  Leicester  is
able  to  reduce  his  horses  from  thirty-four  to  eighteen,  and
the  labourers  employed  on  his  home  farm  from  twenty-two
to  twelve.  He  also  finds  the  land  so  full  of  nitrogen  after
temporary  pastures  that  two  corn  and  two  root  crops  may
be  taken  without  manuring.^


The  Cost  of  Labour.
