Herbs in Pastures. Development Research in Britain, 1850–1984

Certain herbs, in particular chicory (Cichorum intybus), ribgrass (Plantago lanceolata), salad burnet (Poterium sanguisorba), sheep's parsley (Petroselinum crispum) and yarrow (Achillea millefolium), are regarded by farmers as being mineral-rich and deep-rooting, thereby adding essential variety to animal diet and improving soil structure and composition. This historical review of research into and attitudes towards the inclusion of herbs in leys in Britain covers the period from 1850 to the present. Although considerable interest in pasture composition was shown in the late 19th. and early 20th. century, the most notable proponent of the use of herbs in this period being Robert Elliot, serious research into grassland improvement did not get underway until the formation of the Welsh Plant Breeding Institute in 1919 with George Stapledon as Director. In the interwar period workers there found that some herbs were mineral-rich, however, after field trials their direct inclusion in leys was not recommended. Rather, the establishment of a herb strip in pastures was suggested to enrich animal diet. Postwar, the work was taken up at the Cockle Park Farm at Newcastle where the findings of the earlier workers were repeated and extended to include sward- based trials on yield and nutritive value. The latter were unfortunately rather inconclusive. Since the 1950's there is little record of research into herbs in leys, although there is evidence that, ever since the writings of Elliot appeared, some farmers have regarded herbs as essential components of a good grass sward. Suggestions are made as to future research.