Agriculture of Shropshire. 53 



Carrots ^re grown freely over the district, but are simply looked 

 upon as an occasional crop, and valued more as suited fur horses 

 or any choice fatting stock, sheep especially, as a change of food, 

 than for any other reason. They are fickle in their growth and 

 <lelicate feeders. When pre])aring for them, we proceed as if for 

 jnangold-wurtzel, with the double ploughing after clearing the 

 land, and then sow with some wood-ashes. This suits them better 

 than any rank manure, and, although I have seen large crops 

 grown with the aid of liquid manure, yet this has always been 

 most successful when supplied freely, but very v-eak, again giving 

 proof of the preference for a mild manure. On the lighter por- 

 tions of this district they may be grown successfully and profitably, 

 and their great value for feeding is a recommendation in their 

 favour. 



Parsnips are not grown largely, but where the land is too strong 

 for carrots they are an excellent substitute, and are of equal if 

 not superior feeding value. Their growth may be advantageously 

 extended. 



Potatoes. — The disease, which has for about ten years con- 

 tinued to attack this crop, has very much limited their growth 

 and tended to render it unprofitable. Early planting of early 

 sorts appears to be the best plan for mitigating its attacks. 

 Autumn planting, 8 or 9 inches deep, has been useful, and, in 

 some cases, very successful, the great point being to protect the 

 young shoots from the spring frosts. Others cut off the haulm, 

 and remove it from the ground as soon as they hear of the disease, 

 and this certainly has been very beneficial. The roots remain 

 and ripen in the soil until the usual time of digging. Under any 

 circumstances an early sale is desirable, for the disease may 

 slumber in the roots, whilst they appear in every respect perfectly 

 sound ; but yet, sooner or later, the disease will appear and the 

 root decay. 



Corn Crops. — When the land has had the roots drawn from it, 

 it is usually sown with spring corn, but sometimes with wheat. 



Barley, of excellent quality, is grown throughout this district : 

 the produce is not large in the west and south-west, in conse- 

 quence of the climate being unfavourable, but throughout the 

 east and north there is a fair produce. Tt is always sown as 

 early as possible, these sowings being found most successful. 

 In preparing the land for barley the ground has two ploughings, 

 and is well worked, for barley likes a fine seed-bed. As early 

 as this can be done (even in February) the barley may be 

 sown. It is almost always drilled, and about 2^ or 3 bushels 

 of seed per acre used. I have known late barley very much 

 accelerated in its growth, and rendered equal to some sown 



