4. Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost and consists of the following:

(Amounts in thousands)		2000				1999
Land	$	27,297			$	18,687
Buildings and improvements		321,789				322,730
Machinery and equipment		157,147				148,651
Idle facilities, net of accumulated depreciation		30,068				23,529
		536,301				513,597
Less accumulated depreciation		(224,234)				(209,663)
	$	312,067			$	303,934

    Idle facilities included closed plants and certain other properties which are not in current use by the Company. There were nine idle plant facilities at the end of fiscal 2000 and seven idle plant facilities at the end of fiscal 1999. During fiscal 2000, one idle facility was activated, another idle facility was sold and four existing facilities were deactivated.
    The carrying value of idle facilities was $30,068,000 at April 30, 2000 and $23,529,000 at April 25, 1999, net of accumulated depreciation of $12,980,000 and $9,951,000, respectively. In the opinion of management, the carrying values of idle facilities are not in excess of net realizable value.