1102 



STATISTICS OF AGRICULTURE. 



Part IV. 



sally in a short space of time, when fattening. Experience 

 seems fully to have proved, that these qualities in the caw are 

 necessary to perfection in the ox ; and that when the cow is 

 large and masculine in its character, and heavily loaded with 

 flesh, the ox will be coarse and brawny, and, consequently, 

 unkind and tedious in the process of fattening. It may here 

 be remarked, that there is an extraordinary difference between 

 the weight of a Herefordshire cow and the ox bred from her; 

 perhaps other sorts, eminent for producing fine oxen, are 

 similarly distinguished ; but it is a fact, that a Herefordshire 

 cow wiU not unfrequently be the mother of an ox of nearly 

 three times her own weight. T. A. Knight, who made this 

 observation, recollects no instance of this great disproportion 

 in the weight of the males and females of the long-homed 

 cattle. That gentleman farther observes, that he is unable to 

 discover what advantage the public have derived, or are likely 

 to derive, from a breed of cattle which are neither calculated 

 for the dairy nor for breeding oxen. The difference in the 

 dairy between a good and an indifferent milking cow, on the 

 pasture which is adequate to the keep of the latter, will 

 seldom exceed five pounds, and if the animal be good, a very 

 poor pasture will be sufficient ; but the difference between a 

 eood and bad ox will often exceed twenty pounds, where both 



Save consumed in fattening eaual quantities of food : individu- 



are, therefore, equally and evidt 

 ested in the improvement of the laboring ox. Persons of 



als and the public 



; evidently inter- 



little experience, ICnight adds, in the breeding of cattle, may 

 perhaps think that a sort is obtainable which will unite the 

 two objects ; but experience will convince them, that in en- 

 deavoring to approach two opposite points at the same time, 

 they will never be able to reach either. Where the soil is well 

 calculated for the dairy, every attention should be paid to 

 obtain and improve the best sorts of milking cows ; and where 

 the ox is kept to a proper age as a beast of draught, nothing 

 conducing to his excellence ought to be neglected. A cow 



must, however, give milk'enough to keep its calf fat, or It is 

 disqualified for.breeding a good ox, because the calf would be 

 spoiled before it had acquired the proper age to be weaned. 



Sheep. The provincial oreed, the Hjeland, named from the 

 sandy district in the neighborhood of Ross. They lamb in 

 February and March ; but during winter, and particularly in 

 time of lambing, the store flocks are generally confined by 

 night in a covered building, provincially termed a cot, in which 

 they are sometimes fed with hay and barley straw, but much 

 more frequently with peas-haulm. Some breeders accustom 

 them to the cot only in very severe weather, and in lambing time. 

 The practice was derived from the Flemings, and introduced 

 into England about the year 16C0. A cross has been made 

 between the Ryelands and the new I^icester sorts, to the 

 advantage, perhaps, of the breeder who is situated on good 

 land, b\it certainly to the detriment of the wool. A cross 

 between the Ryeland and real Spanish seems the most probable 

 mode of adding ;to its fineness and value. Dr. Parry's experi- 

 ments have been already related. (6490.) 

 K 12. Rural Economy. 



" If a certain proportion between the price of labor and the 

 average price of wheat, could be fixed by law, so as to render 

 the applications for parochial aid necessary only in cases of a 

 very large family, of unusual illness, of scanty seasons, or any 

 other real emergency ; the measure, it is presumed, would be 

 honorable to the country, would stimulate industry and 

 fidelity, would check dishonesty, and endear to a numerous 

 class their native soil." 

 13. Political Economy. 



Roads formerly bad; now improving; materials, coarse 

 limestone. Gloves, to a small extent, manufactured in Here- 

 ford. An agricultural society established in 1797, which has 

 given many premiums, and done much good. 



7010. SHROPSHIRE. A' surface of 890,000 acres ; in general flat, but with hills of considerable 

 heighten some of its margins. The soil is chiefly clay, but in part light turnip land ; both are devoted to 

 the raising of corn-crops. Breeding and dairying is also practised to a moderate extent. The greatest 

 improver in the county is. the Marquess of Stafford, whose extensive and important operations on the 

 estate of Lilleshall are described at length by Loch, in his Improvements on the Marquis of Stafford's 

 Estates, 1819. {Bishton's Shropshire, 1794. Plymley's Shropshire, 1801. Marshal's Review, 1819.) 



1. Geographical State and Circumstances. 



Climate. Considerable difference according to the soil and 

 surface; more warm on the eastern side than in the middle of 

 the county. E. winds prevail in spring, and W. in autumn. 



Sml. Nearly an equal "quantity of wheat and turnip land, 

 the former rather predominant. S.W. side of the county va- 

 riable ; thin soil upon clay or rock ; extensive tracts of hUls 

 and waste ; and most sorts of soils except chalk and flint. 



Minerals. Lead in granulated quartz very productive. Cop- 

 per ore found but not worked. Coal of excellent quality on 

 the eastern side of the county ; lime, building-stone, chaly- 

 beate, and spa waters, at different places. At Kingly Wick a 

 spring of salt water, used for making, soda at a work esta- 

 blished at Wormbridge. 



" Waters. Twenty -two sorts of fish found 'in the Severn in 

 Shropshire. Salmon in season from Michaelmas to May. 



2. Property. 



Estates of from 10 to 25,000 acres, and an infinite number 

 of freeholders : yeomanry estates of all inferior sizes : much 

 copyhold, but the?lords upon some customary manors have en- 

 franchise! the copyholders upon receiving an equivalent in 

 money. 



3. Buildings. 



Some good new mansions; above eighty of these named 

 in old maps become farm houses. Farm houses generally in 

 villages. '.Excellent new ones on the Marquess of Stafford's 

 estates. (,fig. 784.) 



784 



^S 



Com/brioWe co/tog-e* with gardens much wanted. Some ju- 

 dicious observations by Plymley: prescribes no particular 

 forms, but suggests the impropriety of making them, or in- 

 deed any other object, bear an outward appearance^ intended 

 to contradict their inward use; all castellated or gothicised 

 cottages, all churchlike bams, or fortUkepigstyes,he conceives 

 to be objectionable. They are intended to deceive, and they 



tell you that they are intended to deceive. It Ls not pleasant 

 to encourage any thing like deceit, but in these instances im- 

 position effected is rarely gained ; it amoimts only to imposition 

 attempted; or, could the deceit succeed, it would only pre- 

 sent a prospect with fewer proprieties about it than there really 

 are. Alrnost every species of country building has a goocl 

 effect, if properly placed and neatly executed; and what are 



