The Plough-Up Policy and Ley Farming

Abstract

THE alternate husbandry system of farming has been widely practised in the parts of Britain with high and well-distributed rainfall for many years, but its spread to the more southerly parts of the country has been very slow. Until wild white clover seed and basic slag became available in sufficient quantity and at reasonable prices ley farming was not, in fact, suitable for the drier districts, because of the slow establishment of the leys; it must be remembered that it is only during the last twenty years that these commodities have become readily available. There have been many advocates in recent years for the wider spread of alternate husbandry; but the leader in this campaign has undoubtedly been Sir George Stapledon. Now that the movement has suddenly received the great stimulus of the Government subsidy for ploughing up pasture and derelict land, it is only fitting that he should issue a statement of the case for ley farming and a description of the methods necessary for success. This book covers the ground admirably, for not only are the wider aspects discussed but also details of manuring and cultivating, seed mixtures and seed production, even rabbits and moles and all the new problems which present themselves to the farmer adopting alternate husbandry.

The Plough-Up Policy and Ley Farming

By Prof. Sir George Stapledon. Pp. 170. (London: Faber and Faber, Ltd., 1939.) 2s. 6d. net.