20 Agriculture of Shr-opshire. 



tural prog^ress, but I am convinced of its practical importance : 

 and this is the truest standard. The general use of the drill 

 for spring corn would prevent one-half of the present breadth 

 being sown in good time, and would considerably diminish the 

 produce per acre. The Poland oat is very generally grown ; 

 and, after a clover ley, I consider 30 to 35 bushels the average 

 produce, but after roots it may be calculated at from 35 to 

 40 bushels. When oats have been grown on clover ley the 

 land is generally fallowed afterwards ; but when sown after roots 

 it would be seeded out. 



Sprinr/ IfJieat is not generally grown except upon the best 

 land ; and these instances are by no means frequent. As a rule, 

 the oat is the more profitable crop, and better suited to the soil 

 and climate. The red Russian wheat appears to answer best. 

 The seeds grown under spring wheat are decidedly superior to 

 those sown with barley or oats. 



Barley is grown much more freely than spring wheat, but is 

 far from being so general as oats. The drier and best portions 

 alone are suitable for its growth. The " Early " barley is the 

 general favourite. The Chevalier is sometimes gi'ovvn, but is 

 not so well liked. The barley requires very early sowing ; it 

 is often done with success in January and February ; the sooner 

 the land will allow it to be sown after the beginning of February, 

 the better is the prospect ol a crop. The quality is not of first- 

 class character ; and although one-half may be sold for malting, 

 yet the maltsters are shy buyers when they know the district 

 producing it. It is but just to say that this opinion is rather 

 decreasing ; and whether it is based upon any difference in the 

 composition of the grain 1 am not able to determine ; but pos- 

 sibly this barley may have superior feeding qualities, and henco 

 would be of less proportionate value for malting. When such 

 a general opinion pervades a class of men it is scarcely fair to 

 consider it only prejudice. It is certain that this is not a de- 

 scription of soil especially favourable for the growth of barley, 

 and hence it is probable that tlie produce has higher nutritive 

 than malting properties. The average produce may be taken at 

 about 30 bushels per acre. 



The Manarjement of Grass-Land now claims our notice. In 

 this district probably 40,000 acres are under grass, and certainly 

 are not managed as advantageously as they might be. If the cli- 

 mate here is unfavourable to corn crops, it is in the same degree 

 favourable for the growth of grass. The chief employment of the 

 grass-land is for dairy purposes, for which the locality offers 

 many inducements. The quality of the grass is, with iew ex- 

 ceptions, scarcely good enough to graze bullocks for the butcher, 

 and, therefore, it cannot be better employed than for dairy pur- 



