7 MAY 1948, Page 14

Regretted Tilths We must all welcome the ploughing up of

land with the aim of increasing the supply of home-grown food, but the process may represent a capital levy. Valuable stores of Fertility are used up. Particular objection to the plough on these grounds is, I am told, being raised in the neighbour- hood of Romney Marsh. There seems to be some special quality in the beautiful grass that flourishes there ; hence perhaps the rare perfection of the race of Romney Marsh sheep, which are so highly treasured in some districts to which they are exported that they are illustrated—a perhaps unique tribute to the animal—on the local stamps, as in the Falkland Islands. It is certainly a national obligation to restore our sadly diminished tale of sheep.