Agriculture of Shropshire. 2 1 



poses and the rearino^ of stock. In common with pasture-land 

 in other parts of England, we find neglect very generally manifest 

 in the management of grass-land. In short, it can scarcely be 

 said to have any management, for the feeding of the grass and 

 making some hay embodies nearly all that is done. Weeds 

 and swamps abound where care and good oversight would soon 

 remove them. I am convinced that a better management of the 

 grass-land of this district will be eminently conducive to local 

 prosperity, and there are no opportunities on the tillage-land of 

 obtaining equally remunerative returns. Nature is here ready to 

 co-operate, and this is a valuable help to the farmer. Neglect is 

 tlie evil to be removed, and attention will soon correct many of 

 the worst faults. 



To clear the land from weeds and an excess of water will be 

 a matter of little difficulty when their removal is resolved upon. 

 Unlike tillage land, we can correct these evils in our pastures 

 with far less trouble. Many of these weeds are encouraged by, 

 and depend upon this excess of water for their very existence, and 

 hence a few drains will often coiTect the evil. As to the remainder 

 of the weeds, the judicious use of the scythe, combined with 

 proper feeding, will soon remove them and prevent further 

 trouble. 



The next point to the keeping of the grass-land dry — both by 

 drains and ditches — and free fiom weeds, is the use of manure. 

 The use of farmyard dung is in the majority of cases quite im- 

 possible, as the tillage land claims all that can be made ; but 

 still it must be remembered that grass-land is exceedingly bene- 

 fited by its use. We have, however, artificial manures which, 

 although not equal to the dung-heap, are valuable substitutes 

 and assistants. From a very extensive use of superphosphate 

 of lime, I can speak with much confidence as to its value in 

 encouraging the growth of the clovers and finer-quality grasses. 

 Guano used alone brings a strong growth, but it has not the 

 quality which follows the use of superphosphate. The best 

 mode is to employ them mixed together, and then we secure both 

 quantity and quality. An application of 1 cwt. of guano and 

 2 cwt. superphosphate per acre will have a striking effect upon 

 the crop. 



Bones have long been used in our dairy districts, but I con- 

 sider the use of superphosphate a great improvement, because 

 3'ou get greater advantages with less expenditure. Take, for 

 instance, two pieces of land to be manured with bones and 

 superphosphate respectively. ' Probably the bones would cost 

 8/. or 10/. per acre, and would scarcely act until the second year ; 

 subsequently they would produce very satisfactory and remune- 

 rative results. The superphosphate, however, acts immediately. 



