Agriculture of Shropshire. 10 



of the most important crops to be secured for the profitable 

 management of this description of land ; it affords the oppor- 

 tunity of improving the quality and condition of the land with 

 but little expense. When the crop is consumed on the land, and 

 artificial food given to the sheep with it, the expense of the food 

 is repaid by the stock, and the land is left in better condition. 



The clover crop may well be considered the sheet-anchor 

 for the farmer of this district, and much still remains to be 

 done to manage this crop as it should be. Many farmers do apply 

 dung to their seeds, and they certainly excel their neighbours in 

 consequence : nor is the benefit confined to the clover crop, for a 

 luxuriant growth above-ground entails an equally free develop- 

 ment below, and thus the ground becomes stored with a mass of 

 vegetable matter which decays and gives good support to the 

 succeeding corn crops. When the seeds hold firm, the land is 

 often left unploughed for two years, and the pasturage con- 

 tinues good, as the climate is favourable for the growth of 

 herbage. Sheep and young stock are often kept upon the clover- 

 ley during the early winter months, and have turnips or other 

 food drawn to them ; the ley is then broken for oats : and this 

 brings me to notice — 



Spring Corn. — Oats are generally sown upon a clover ley, 

 for which purpose it is ploughed in the winter, which allows 

 the turf time to decay, whilst the soil also becomes sweetened 

 and prepared to give the oat a good seed-bed. The oats are 

 sown as early in February as the weather will allow ; for early 

 sowing is considered especially desirable upon these soils, whicli 

 are naturally slow in perfecting their crops. It is also very 

 general to sow oats after roots ; and here also the early sowing 

 is desirable. About 4 bushels is the usual quantity of seed 

 whicli is sown, and this is generally done broadcast. The drill 

 is occasionally used, but is by no means general. The chief 

 advantage in sowing broadcast is the greater breadth which can 

 be sown when the land is ready. Much as one may desire to 

 see improvements in agriculture extended, and the drill super- 

 seding the primitive mode of sowing broadcast, yet when the 

 climate and soil are both very treacherous and uncertain, speed 

 becomes an object of considerable importance, and hence the 

 broadcast keeps the lead, and will continue to do so unless in 

 exceptional cases. The land here is often scarcely ready for 

 sowing before the weather changes and rain falls. In sowing 

 broadcast it can generally be sown two or three days earlier than 

 it can be drilled ; and it often happens that this very time 

 decides whether the field shall be sown in good time broadcast, 

 or wait for drilling and have a late sowing. I am well awarr 

 that this will be condemned by many advocates of agricul- 



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