28 Agriculture of Shropshire. 



from which nearly all the best Devons are descended, Avas 

 purchased by the late Mr. Child, of Kinlet ; and it appears that 

 the stock descended from him in Shropshire were as remarkable 

 for their beautiful symmetry and high feeding character as those 

 which remained behind in Devon, It is a sad loss to the county 

 that the herd Mr. Child brought to so high a degree of perfection 

 should have been scattered at his death in 1824. Great judg- 

 ment was shown in bringing them to excellence, and considerable 

 benefit would have resulted by the continued distribution through 

 this district of stock from tliis valuable breed. They were 

 eminently suited for the locality, being better milkers than the 

 Herefords, equally naturalized to the climate, and more productive 

 of profit than others which have succeeded them. Their place 

 at Kinlet has been occupied by the Ayrshires, and more recently 

 by the Herefords, but neither have been as remunerative as the 

 Devons were. 



Some of the Highland Scots have been tried on the poor hilly 

 grass-lands with success. These thrive when nothing else will, 

 and, when crossed with a Short-horn bull, breed stock of first- 

 class feeding character and of excellent quality. On the poorest 

 and most exposed tracts there is no class of stock which will pay 

 more money, for they will often more than double their value in 

 one year. I have myself known stock costing 6/. per head worth 

 at the end of the same year 13/. or 14/., and the increase is just 

 as great when they calve down. 



Sheep.— This is not much of a sheep district, and only a small 

 number are kept. These are frequently inferior Shropshire 

 j^owns, but more generally Welsh ewes. They are generally 

 purchased in the autumn, and lambed down, botli the ewes and 

 the lambs being fattened off after. The district is generally un- 

 sound for sheep, and hence permanent ilocks are seldom kept, 

 Tlie present system is more profitable than a permanent flock 

 would be in this district, even supposing tlie land to be sound 

 for them. 



Pigs. — These animals are very much neglected in this district, 

 which is surprising, as much of the profit of a dairy farm 

 depends upon their proper management. The majority are coarse 

 and of inferior quality, and they are not kept in sufficient order 

 to be remunerative. As regards coarseness in a pig, this should 

 be confined to the sow. In a breeding sow for a dair;/ farm., a 

 moderate degree of coarseness is rather desirable, and with this 

 we should have a disposition to throw large fari'ows and a good 

 supply of milk : such a sow is sure to be a good breeder and 

 nurse. Tlie boar to be used in this case should be of the very 

 best cjuality — a second-rate is not good enough ; and the progeny 

 will be numerous, hardy in their nature, with a disposition for 



