Agriculture of Shropshire. 57 



class quality. They realize good prices for their stock ; for 

 instance, 20/. for a three-months-old heifer calf, and 40 guineas 

 for a yearling heifer. The large number of Hereford calves which 

 are kept for bulls necessarily reduces the number and quality of the 

 steers, for none but the culls are kept for steers. There are 

 times, of course, when a breeder who has to gain reputation 

 makes a sacrifice of one or two good bulls, in order that he may 

 show steers of unusual quality ; when, however, he has gained 

 this position, he is reluctant to make these sacrifices to a greater 

 extent than is absolutely necessary. 



Leaving these first-class Herefords, we find stock of ex- 

 ceedingly useful and valuable character general throughout the 

 district. Here we often meet with Hereford bullocks on poor 

 and exposed farms, showing a quality and condition surprising 

 to those unaccustomed to this breed. On such land the old 

 grey-faced Hereford is preferred, as being more hardy than the 

 less curly-coated red Hereford, From such cold and exposed 

 land I have known steers sold,* at 3 years old, weighing 16 score 

 per quarter, and steers only 21 months old fetch 25/. each. 

 The cross of the Short-horn has been tried in many cases, 

 without such success as justified the repetition. On the colder 

 parts of this district they proved to be decidedly inferior to 

 the Herefords, and did not make equal growth upon the 

 same food. Another agriculturist! gives as his experience, 

 after 30 years' extensive trial, 'That nothing will equal the 

 Hereford for this district for producing fat, early maturity, and 

 hardiness of constitution.' He sells his steers, two-and-a-half 

 years old, for very nearly 30/. each, and, in one instance, he sold 

 a two-year old for 30/., and it weighed 13 score per quarter. 

 Mr. Shirley, of Bawcott, brings his bullocks, at two years old, 

 to average 11 score per quarter, and, for the last two years, he 

 has sold his bullocks at this age for 25/. each. 



Sheep. — The Shropshire Downs take the lead of all other 

 breeds throughout this district ; none can equal them, and few 

 offer any competitive opposition. We have sheep of the highest 

 quality, bred in various parts of this district, and although we 

 find excellent Shropshire Downs in District No. II., yet the best 

 and choicest flocks are found in this, Mr. Henry Smith, of 

 Sutton Maddock, near Shiffnal, has a first-class flock, and has 

 been a very successful exhibitor. The sheep shown at Bir- 

 mingham in Dec. 185G and 1857 are in the highest degree 

 to his credit, especially as a young breeder. His annual sale 



• By Mr. Carter, Manor-house, Alcastoii. 

 t Mr. Taylor, Burleigh-villa, Wellington. 



