Agriculture of Shropshire. 49 



five or six sowings. The seed is drilled at the rate of three 

 bushels per acre, and the sowings extend through October and 

 November. Where no dung is used the succession of the 

 sowings is not delayed so long, for land with dung will be 

 quite two weeks sooner ready for feeding. Amongst the early 

 sowing it is very common to intermix some oats or rye, to give 

 the vetches an earlier start in the spring. A good crop of 

 vetches often leaves the ground very puffy and loose, so much 

 so as to be unfavourable to the growth of roots ; and I have 

 seen great advantage resulting from the ground being thoroughly 

 rolled and compressed before the roots are sown. 



Tri folium. — The French or crimson clover has been tried with 

 success, but its culture has not been extensive. Many failures 

 have arisen in its growth from giving the land too much prepara- 

 tion. It is by far the best plan to sov/ 15 or 18 lbs. of the clean 

 seed on a clean stubble without any preparation, harrow it very 

 lightly, and then roll it as firm as possible. It gives valuable 

 fodder, and its growth should be extended. 



Bge is sometimes grown for very early feed for ewes and 

 lambs, and for such it certainly is very useful indeed, being the 

 earliest of our spring crops and consequently welcomed by our 

 shepherds. 



Saintfoin is grown in the south-west portion of this district, 

 and where a calcareous soil exists it answers very well. Although 

 useful as a spring food it is not here that its value ends, for, as 

 the crop remains for two and sometimes three years, it in a great 

 degree takes the place of the clover plant, and especially where 

 the latter is found to fail. 



Lucerne. — This is a crop which is very much neglected, but 

 deserving of greater attention and more frequent cultivation. It 

 is especially suited to soils which contain lime, and will not 

 flourish when this is absent from the soil. Its natural district is 

 therefore on the soils formed from the limestone rocks, but still 

 it is capable of remunerative growth where the supply of lime is 

 near and cheap. The suitability of the soil is a great element of 

 success, and must not be overlooked. The preparation of the 

 land should be deep, and if it follows a well-cultivated root crop 

 this will be sufficient. After the roots are removed or consumed 

 the land should be laid up rough for the winter, and being 

 broken down and well worked in the spring the seed may be 

 drilled in April about 9 inches wide. From 12 to 16 lbs. of 

 good seed should be allowed to each acre to insure a thick plant. 

 It will last for several years, and may be mown three or some- 

 times four times a year. Every autumn it should have a dressing 

 of short dung, which will nourish and protect the plant. When 

 the plant shows a tendency to weakness, fold sheep upon it ; and 

 VOL. XIX. E 



