Afjriculture of Shropshire. 37 



bushels, but in a good season from 30 to 36 bushels. The 

 heaviest crops are thus far below what the quality of the land 

 would lead one to expect, for such land in the east of England 

 would produce from 40 to 48 bushels per acre, but this climate 

 is not favourable for wheat. There is a very strong objection 

 against finishing the land off finely when sown with wheat; the 

 object is rather to leave it as rough as possible, — partly because 

 these clods protect the wheat from the cutting winds which rush 

 up the valley, and also because if the soil is left fine it is disposed 

 to run together, and this causes an unhealthy growth. 



Barley of good quality is grown here, and well liked for malt ; 

 but here also the crop is small, generally varying from 30 to 35 

 bushels per acre, in dry seasons only reaching to 40 bushels. 

 It is always soAvn after roots fed on the ground. March and 

 April are preferred to an earlier time for sowing ; and the latest 

 sown, if followed by a favourable season, often grows the most 

 luxuriantly. 



Oats are not grown largely, and are generally put on the worst 

 land, especially on that towards the sides of the Dale rising to 

 the hills. I doubt, however, whether, even on the best ground, 

 oats would not pay better than wheat. So i^w oats are grown 

 in the bottom land that an opinion cannot be confidently ex- 

 pressed ; but I have known it proved in some trials that were 

 made. Much of course depends upon season ; for in a very 

 good season the wheat might flourish, so as to pay the best, 

 Avhilst in a bad season the reverse would probably happen. It 

 is, I believe, worthy of more general trial ; and in such trials 

 I strongly recommend seed direct from Scotland. The produce 

 of such Scotch seed might be again sown, but then fresh seed 

 should be procured. I have found these white oats far more 

 productive than local seed under the same circumstances ; for 

 when my average growth was from 27 to 30 bushels, I have 

 had, in the same season, from 37 to 40 bushels, and the o\A\ 

 difference was in the seed. The oat is much more hardy than 

 wheat, and more naturalised to moist climates ; thus, where the 

 wheat cannot grow, the oat will flourish luxuriantly. Of all 

 corn crops this is the least liable to failure, and under im- 

 proved management promises to be far more profitable than at 

 the present time. 



Beans and Peas are not largely grown. Wiien the land is 

 tired of clover, these are substituted : but they are most un- 

 certain crops, and are more subject to blight than even in District 

 No. I. : their cultivation therefore leads to many disappoint- 

 ments. 



Seeds. — The remarks already made, Avhen noticing District 

 No. I. (p. 18), are equally applicable to this district. The facts 



