22 Agriculture of Shropshire. 



especially if mixed with guano. Supposing 2 cwt. of super- 

 phosphate and 1 cwt, of guano applied at the cost of 21. per 

 acre, we have an outlay scarcely exceeding the interest which the 

 tenant would fairly expect from the outlay on bones. The in- 

 crease of produce, however, repays the outlay for superphosphate 

 before the end of the second year, and he has improved his 

 pasture, got his capital returned and ready for re-investment, just 

 when the bones are beginning to pay. This is very important 

 to a tenant-farmer. He does not want his money to be slowly 

 returning from the soil, but with promptitude, and thus the use 

 of superphosphate especially meets his case. Besides this, many 

 men, who could not invest 8/. or 10/. per acre for bones, and 

 wait for the return, might spare 2/. per acre with the prospect of 

 a quick return, and this is more especially the case where there 

 is no security for a long tenure. The use of farmyard manure 

 will be found valuable for improving the quality of the grass ; 

 but, when this cannot be spared, we have in the superphosphate 

 and guano excellent substitutes, which will soon repay the outlay 

 with considerable profits. 



These manures will improve and increase the produce ; but I 

 must briefly hint at one or two points respecting the use of the 

 produce. In consuming the grass with dairy cows, or any other 

 stock, it is desirable to feed the ground in regular succession. 

 In doing so, rather concentrate the stock, and, having fed down 

 the grass, give it a period for rest and purification, instead 

 of allowing the stock to continue grazing irregularly over the 

 whole ground. This may appear of small importance, but 

 those who have tried both plans can testify to the manifest dif- 

 ference in the produce both as to quantity and quality. Early in 

 the season care must be taken not to graze too closely, but in the 

 autumn it will be improved by close cropping. This concentra- 

 tion of stock becomes even more important as the stock increases 

 in number. 



In making hay there is room for great improvement. Much 

 of it is overgrown and tough in its character; this is a sure 

 sign of bad management. The grass should be cut when it 

 is most full of nutriment, and that has been shown to be when it 

 is in blossom. It should not be allowed to stand under pretext of 

 there not being burthen enough, for if so the grass will have 

 passed its best, and mucli of the goodness of the sap changed 

 into woody matter, giving strength and firmness to the grass at 

 the expense of its fattening and nutritive character. The next 

 point is to be careful that in making it into hay its quality is not 

 lost by this process ; this must be done with as little exposure 

 to the sun as possible. The grass, when cut, should be well 

 spread out, if the weather promises to be favourable ; but if not 



