Jigriculture of Shropshire. 45 



hill, so as to intercept the water just before it crops out, a large 

 breadth will be laid dry. 



Farvi Buildings. — The residences and homesteads throughout 

 this district are generally good and. convenient, and adapted 

 for the highly respectable class of men who occupy them. The 

 square is here generally adhered to. With few exceptions, 

 they are substantially built, and afford, ample accommodation 

 for the requirements of their respective farms. The system 

 of straw-yards with open shedding is general. As there is a 

 large fall of rain in this district, it is desirable to prevent as 

 much as possible injury arising therefrom. The drainage from 

 the yard should be carefully economized ; the buildings properly 

 spouted, and the water conveyed away from the dung. The area 

 receiving rain is thus very much decreased, but this desirable 

 object is very generally ne2:lected. 



The Fences are generally kept in fair condition, but the ditches 

 require more attention in the early part of the autumn, before the 

 land gets soaked by an impeded drainage. The fields are gene- 

 rally of convenient size. Although this district is not burthened 

 with the us7ial proportion of hedge-row timber, still even hero 

 there is decidedly too much. The growth of timber upon land 

 of this quality is a perpetual loss both to landlord and tenant. 

 Timber should be grown upon land solely appropriated to its 

 growth. 



Tenure of Land.- — ^ Most farms are held under agreements 

 for yearly tenancies, and are restricted as to the course of cul- 

 tivation and the sale of some of the farm produce, such as 

 fodder, dung, &c. On many estates a regular register is kept, 

 showing the crops and management of every field, and this en- 

 ables the ag:ent to know in some de2:ree how the land is beins: 

 managed, and if fairly dealt with. It is certainly a good plan, 

 and no farmer who is managing his farm well need object to it. 

 The question of security naturally arises, and although instances 

 are exceedingly rare of tenants being ejected from their farms, 

 yet to the prudent calculator it is but a fair subject of inquiry. 

 Landlords have many and just objections to grant leases, and. 

 there is no doubt that a had lease is very hard upon one party 

 or another. The two years' notice, with restriction as to exces- 

 sive cultivation after notice has been given, appears to me (when 

 combined with a fair scale of allowances) to give the requisite 

 security for all true tenants' improvements. If, however, the 

 tenant has to make permanent improvements, this is exceptional, 

 and must be specially stipulated for. The warmest feeling of 

 confidence exists between the landlords and tenantry of this dis- 

 trict, and long may it continue. 



