Agriculture of Shropshire. Gl 



firm and thrivlns:. As the spring advances 'some give them 

 ( orn, which has a very marked effect upon their growth and wool. 

 The swedes generally last until the winter or spring vetches are 

 ready, upon which, with the clover, they are generall}- finished 

 and sold in May. Those kept through the summer are dependent 

 upon clover and vetches or else permanent grass, but the propor- 

 tion kept after May is small. 



One of the great evils which we have to contend with amongst 

 our flocks is the foot-rot, and certainly this is a serious difficulty. 

 It is now extending over the bodies of our sheep, and affects those 

 parts of the body which touch the ground. Various remedies 

 liave been tried but none succeed except in very careful hands. 

 There is much that is hidden from our knowledge respecting this 

 disease, and so important is it to the interests of our llockmasters 

 that a searching investigation should be instituted into its nature. 

 I have been very much struck with this fact — which applies 

 equally to other counties as well as Shropshire — that as the use 

 of lime as a manure is decreased so the foot-rot increases. 

 Thus I find that — other circumstances being equal — those 

 farmers who use most lime are least subject to rot. This 

 inference is in some measure supported by the fact, that 

 those who are most successful in curing the foot-rot are in the 

 habit of letting the sheep stand on a floor covered with quick- 

 lime, after the feet have been properly dressed. I always have 

 the feet thoroughly pared where there is a tenderness ; upon the 

 sore I sprinkle some powdered bluestone, and then having put 

 on some tar, I let the sheep walk on this bed of lime, and I am 

 very successful in keeping free from the rot. 



Implements. — Few districts can produce a better collection of 

 improved implements than the one now under notice. There 

 are very few fixed steam-machines connected with homesteads, 

 this description of labour being chiefly done by portable en- 

 gines, of which there are many travelling through the county. 

 Reaping machines are also used, and very much approved of 

 both on the ground of economy and expedition. The best de- 

 scriptions of drills, harrows, ploughs, and rollers, manufactured 

 by the leading implement-makers, are also in frequent use. The 

 chain harrow is much liked, especially for gathering the couch. 



Farm-buildings are exceedingly good in the majority of cases ; 

 and although it is difficult to point out any extensive erections 

 specially arranged for carrying out expensive systems of farming, 

 yet still the homesteads of Shropshire are, as a whole, excelled 

 in few counties. 



Draining. — The greater portion of this district has a natural 

 drainage, but there are small tracts upon it which require arti- 



