Agriculture of Shropshire. 11 



previous ideas on the subject. The same investigation gives 

 examples: "Take for instance soil No. 17 (soil of the London 

 clay, from between Farnham and Guildford, 3^ feet. below the 

 surface), and No. 15 (the surface soil above No. 17), and we 

 find, that in either case, ammonia to the extent of three tons per 

 acre, equal to 20 tons of guano, would be absorbed before the 

 power to absorb it ceased. But a further suggestion is conveyed 

 by the result of these experiments ; lime is capable of liberating 

 one half of the ammonia contained in a soil. Is it now possible 

 that for profitable agricultural use the ammonia of the soil is too 

 tightly locked up in it?" "Lime may be the remedy at the 

 command of the farraer — his means of rendering immediately 

 available stores of wealth, which can otherwise only slowly be 

 brought into use." It would therefore appear, that the lime 

 acted as a liberator of the ammonia of the soil, and therefore is an 

 equivalent for the use of an ammoniacal manure. I he evidence 

 of this district is very decided, that they may be considered 

 as substitutes ; and 1 believe these opinions may be explained on 

 the principles named above. Successful practice does not con- 

 tradict the laws of science, but shows a degree of harmony of 

 which we become more fully cognizant, as our knowledge of the 

 laws of nature increases. 



The process of fallowing having been completed, the fields are 

 thrown up into narrow ridges, and are then ready for receiving the 

 autumn corn. The width is generally regulated by the width of 

 the implements used, the object being to keep the horses in the 

 furrows, and thus they do not tread the lands between. This is 

 very desirable, as the land is thus rendered sufficiently firm for 

 the wheat to thrive, without having those impervious cups which 

 the horses^ feet so generally leave on strong land. 



Fallow crops. — A portion of the land under fallow is 

 devoted to the growth of fallow crops ; these may be vetches, 

 rape, or roots. The growth of vetches and rape is seldom 

 attempted ; in some iew instances they have been tried, and when 

 the land has been properly prepared they have succeeded. 

 These are crops peculiarly desirable for this district, because 

 they can be consumed on the land without injury to the ground 

 or the stock. I should not advise their growth on the poorest 

 portions of the district, but they may certainly be grown on the 

 intermediate quality land. The spring vetch is decidedly the 

 best variety for this part ; the most successful mode of growth is 

 to clean the land in the autumn, and having laid on some dung, 

 to plough it rough for the winter. If vetches are to be grown, 

 there must be sufficient condition in the land to ensure a good 

 crop ; and if the field requires it, dung or some equivalent must 

 be given to it. A good crop of vetches will smother weeds, but 



