Country Life
THE CULT OF GRASS.
The cult of grass—on lawn, green, pitch, but especially farm— is advancing rapidly, not least among men of science. How utterly our conception of grass as a crop has altered was surprisingly emphasized last week by Mr. J. H. Thomas. He said at the opening of the new Research Station of the imperial Chemical Industries at Jealott's Hill that his interest was chiefly due to his belief that employment would be encouraged. Every year since the early 'eighties our farmers have been abused for putting land down to grass. Grass as an alternative to arable has been accepted as the sign and symbol of decay in agriculture, as the chief cause of the fading away of the rural population, as a confession of despair, as a national surrender. To-day we have a Minister Of Unemployment (disguised as Lord Privy Seal) welcoming the cult of grass as a hopeful cause of more work. What is the meaning of it all ? Does the change of view imply political ignorance or a commercial interest, or a new fact ?
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