Agriculture of Shropshire. 13 



spring will have considerable influence in extendinfi;' or lessening 

 the growth of these crops ; to be done successfully it is neces- 

 sary to be able to turn in a full force ; not commencing too soon, 

 and thus injuring the winter's pulverization of the land, but im- 

 mediately the fitting moment arrives to be able to concentrate 

 more than an ordinary strength. This is no insurmountable 

 objection, for, as we shall see subsequently, the circumstances of 

 the neighbourhood allow it to be done. 



The Culture of Root Crops. — At the present time probably 

 one-third of the fallow ground is devoted to the growth of roots. 

 A larger proportion has been grown than is now done, but this 

 increase of growth has not been found desirable under present 

 circumstances. The tillage is commenced as if for bare fallowing, 

 but the dryest and cleanest land is selected for roots, whilst the 

 heavy and foul pieces are left for fallow. Land selected for 

 roots would, as a general rule, be ploughed before the fallow 

 land, and also receive more prompt attention in the spring. The 

 land having been cleaned in the dry weather of March and April, 

 as opportunity may offer, is prepared for swedes as near the 

 middle of May as possible. We do not find as much farmyard 

 manui'e used for swedes as is desirable. Some draw it on the 

 land, and plough it in before winter, whilst others adopt the 

 plan of spreading it on the land after the working is finished, 

 and then throw the land into ridges from 20 to 30 inches wide. 

 When no dung is used, 3 cwt, guano is generally substituted, 

 and this is sown broadcast mixed with an equal weight of salt 

 just ])efore the land is ridged up. During the last season, in 

 consequence of the scarcity of guano, considerable quantities of 

 superphosphate of lime were used, and it was found to answer 

 very well ; but a mixture is found to be better than either alone. 

 By sowing the guano broadcast they avoid any injury to the 

 seed from its caustic character ; and by drilling the super- 

 phosphate with some ashes the young plant is pushed rapidly 

 into rough leaf, I observe that salt is almost always used with 

 guano in equal quantities, and it is always mixed for a few days 

 before using. It is not used with any idea of fixing the ammonia, 

 as has frequently been done, but simply because the humid 

 character of the salt gives a density to the guano, and thus 

 prevents much being blown away when sown broadcast ; and 

 besides this its moisture favours its subsequent action in the soil. 

 Some farmers, in addition to the 3 cwt, guano, use also 3 cwt. of 

 superphosphate : this, however, is quite exceptional. When the 

 held has had dung, one half the usual quantity of artificial 

 manure would be used. The usual time to commence sowing 

 swedes is the 14th of May, and all should be sown by June 1st. 

 It is a common saying that " None beat their first days' sowing 



