30 Afjriculture of Shropshire. 



enclosinor a central yard, which is often divided into two or more 

 straw-yards. Additional open shedding is g-eneraliy wanted, for 

 the present sheds are rather cramped, considering the number 

 whicli are to be wintered ; and consequently many of the young 

 store stock are Avintered on the grass-land, which would be better 

 running in a good straw-yard, and having turnips there. Many 

 of the yards are defective as regards the preservation of the 

 liquid manure, for although it may not be considered desirable 

 to go to much expense in using it upon the land, yet we are 

 committing a far greater error by neglecting it and allowing 

 it to be wasted. The most valuable use for it is to pump 

 it upon the dung-heaps as they are fermenting, and this may 

 be done at little cost, and will be a great improvement to 

 the dung. The waste of liquid manure is not confined to 

 the fold, but is generally observable around the dung-heaps. 

 The Management of Dung generally is too much neglected. 

 It is, however, deeply important to the fertility of a farm, 

 and neglect must sooner or later show itself in the condition of 

 the land. For grass-land or for young clover seeds the dung 

 cannot be too rotten, whilst for the tillage-land it will he better 

 used long and not much fermented. This is easily regulated by 

 the manner in which the dung-heap is made. If it is not required 

 for some time and then wanted in a slightly fermented state, this 

 may be done by compressing the heap as much as possible by 

 driving the carts over it, and then cutting back the ends. If, on 

 the other hand, the dung is wanted to be well rotten, it may be 

 made into a heap liqhthj and turned over. If water is near, so 

 that the heap may be moistened after the turning is finished, it 

 will very much improve and promote the fermentation of the 

 dung. The more rotten the dung is required, the more it must 

 be turned and the entrance of air favoured ; whilst if the fermen- 

 tation is to be checked the air must be kept out as much as 

 possible. 



Woodlands. — There is a large quantity of land in this district 

 devoted to the growth of underwood. In some cases the land is 

 entirely devoted to its growth, but it is more frequently grown 

 under and amongst plantations of oak. The oak and ash grow 

 very well throughout this district, and there are many woods 

 containing a good stock of thriving timber, especially around 

 Kinlet. Large quantities have been cut and used for ship build- 

 ing, but still much remains. It is very much to be desired that 

 the growth of timber should be restricted to land devoted to its 

 growth, and that its growth in hedges should be discontinued. 

 The growth of trees here is a severe tax upon the tenant, and the 

 landlord does not realize one-tenth of what the tenant loses, 

 though much of this is paid indirectly hy the landlord, so that 



