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Grassland in Britain1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

Wm. G. Smith  and
C. B. Crampton
Wm. G. Smith
Affiliation:
(College of Agriculture, Edinburgh)
C. B. Crampton
Affiliation:
(H.M. Geological Survey).
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Extract

Grassland, like any other kind of vegetation, represents a balance between the requirements of certain plants on the one hand, and the conditions of the environment on the other. It is a result of Nature's demand and supply. An examination of the environmental conditions which determine the existence of grassland is therefore necessary if we wish to make it and maintain it, or to improve its production. Experimental work has demonstrated that grassland is capable of being improved as to grazing qualities, but the results so obtained can hardly yet be said to be capable of being safely applied to areas beyond those actually experimented upon. Few can say with confidence that such and such a treatment will succeed here, and another treatment there. In other words, we have no basis for classifying or valuing grasslands. Assuming that our present outlook is too narrow, too economic, it may be that by taking a broader, if more philosophical view, some progress may be made.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 6 , Issue 1 , January 1914 , pp. 1 - 17
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1914

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References

page 3 note 1 These have recently been defined at greater length:—Crampton, C. B., “Geological relations of stable and migratory plant formations” (Scott. Botan. Review, I. 1912).Google Scholar

page 3 note 2 Cp. Smith, R., “Botanical Survey of Scotland—Edinburgh District” (Scott. Geograph. Mag. 1900); also “Forfar and Fife” (ibid. 1904–5); Smith, W. G. and Rankin, W. M., “Vegetation of Yorkshire—Harrogate and Skipton District” (Geograph. Journ. 1903), etc

page 9 note 1 The turbid water from melting glaciers (“glacier-milk“) is highly valued in the Swiss Alps, and is used to irrigate the high pastures (Wiesen) in many parts.

page 13 note 1 Many papers of this kind will be found in the Transactions of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland; they refer to all parts of Scotland and date back to 1799. See also Journal of the Roy. Agric. Society.

page 14 note 1 The numerous published reports are conveniently summarised by Professor W. Somerville (“Influence on the production of mutton of manures applied to pasture,” Journ. Board of Agriculture, XVII. Supp. 5, 1911); for the Rothamsted results consult The Book of the Rothamsted Experiments, by A. D. Hall (London, 1905).

page 15 note 1 Hall, A. D. and Russell, E. J., “On the causes of the high nutritive value and fertility of the fatting pastures of Romney marsh and other marshes in the S.E. of England” (Jour. Agric. Sci. IV. p. 339, 1912).CrossRefGoogle Scholar

page 15 note 2 Witte, H., “On polymorphy of the more important forage grasses”; in Swedish with summary in German (Sveriges Utsüdesförenings Tidskrift, XXII. Häfte 1 and 2, 1912).Google Scholar

page 16 note 1 Methods of botanical analysis, see Rothamsted Memoirs; Armstrong, S. F., Jour. Agric. Sci. II. Part 3, 1910;Google Scholar Stapledon, B. G., ibid. V. Part 2, 1913.