There are extensive tracts of waste lands in Shropshire. Clun Forest is not, as its name would imply, a wooded tract ; it consists of smooth rounded hills, which were formerly used as sheep-walks ; the greater portion of it is now inclosed. The cultivation of mountain land is on the increase. There are numerous metes between Shrews bury and Drayton, and the county also contains several extensive monies or bogs, such as Bagley Moors, between Shrewsbury and Elles mere. The forest of Wyre lies on the right bank of the Severn, between the towns of Bewdley and Cleobury Mortimer. It is a large tract, covered principally with underwood, which is cut for the pur pose of burning into charcoal to supply the iron-works in the vicinity. Shropshire contains a greater quantity of oak-timber than almost any other county in England.
The Scrern, the chief and only navigable river in Shropshire, enters the county from Montgomeryshire, a short distance below its junction with the Vyruwy. Its course is by Shrewsbury and Bridgenorth. Its entire course through the county is nearly 70 miles, for the whole of which distance it is navigable. (SevenN.] The Teme rises in Radnorshire, and enters Shropshire from Here fordshire a abort distance above the town of Ludlow, whence it flows south to the border of the county, which it separates from Hereford shire and Worcestershire, entering the latter county below Tcnbury, and falling into the Severn near Worcester. Throughout its whole course it flows through rich and picturesque scenery. The Chin and the Onny are feeders of the Teme. The Tern rises in a small pool on the borders of Staffordshire, in the north-eastern district of Shrop shire, and flows south-west past Market-Drayton. It then takes a more southerly course, and is joined on the left bank by the river Meets, which runs near Newport. It runs again westward, and receives the Roden on the right, reaching the Severn between Atcham and Wroxeter. Its whole course is about 30 miles. The Perry, the Meek, the Cound, and the Wart' are tributaries of the Severn. There are two or three streams in the county bearing the name of Ilea, but the principal of them takes its rise in the parish of Ditton Priors, in the northern projection of the Clee Hills, and, running south past Clcobury Mortimer, unites with the Tema at Newnham, below Tenbury in Worseatershire. The Corre takes its rise on the western slope of the same ridge, and flows south-west through Corve-Dale into the Tema at Ludlow.
The fish that frequent that part of the Severn which is in Shrop shire are salmon, trout, grayling, pike, perch, shad, chub, gudgeon, roach, dace, carp, flounder', eels, and a few lampreys. The fish of the other riven and streams are principally trout and grayling.
The lakes, or natural pools of water, are not numerous or extensive. The largest is Ellesmere, near the town of that name. It covers about 110 acres. The smaller are Whitemere, Colemcre, Avesmere, and Mereton pools.
The first canal formed in this county appears to have been a short line commencing at Donniugton Wood, in the parish of Lilleshall, and terminating at Pave Lane near Newport, a distance of about seven miles, with a short branch to the lime-works at Lilleshall. This was continued by the Shropshire Canal, completed in 1792, to the Sevens, at Coalport, below Coalbrookdale. The Shropshire Canal is 76 miles in length ; it has a rise of 120 feet and a fall of 333 feet. It is of the greatest importance in conveying the produce of.the coal, iron, and other works to the Severn. The Shrewsbury Canal starts from the Severn at Shrewsbury, and, after running on the left bank of that river for some distance, turns north-east and joins the Donnington and Shropshire canals a short distance E. by N. from Wellington. The Shrewsbury Canal is 17 miles long ; it has a rise of 154 feet and a fall of 22 feet Inclined planes are used in these canals instead of locks for the ascent and descent of boats. The Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal passes through the north-eastern part of the county, and there is communication between this and the Shrewsbury Canal. The Chester and Ellesmere Canal traverses the north of the county. A branch of it,, known as the Montgomeryshire Canal, passes through the north-west of the county. It was intended to form another line from Hordley, on the Montgomeryshire Canal, to Shrewsbury, but it has not been carried farther than Weston Wharf. The southern part of Shropshire is devoid of water communication.
The principal coach-road in the county is the London and Holyhend road, which enters Shropshire between Wolverhampton and Shiffuall, passes through Shrewsbury, and enters Denbighshire near Mirk. It is 30 feet wide, exclusive of the footpaths. This road was the chief line of communication between London and Dublin before the intro duction of railways. The Bristol, Shrowebury, and Chester road enters Shropshire at Ludlow, passes through Church Strctton to Shrewsbury, and thence northward. There is a branch from this road leading from Ludlow to Bishop's Castle and Montgomery. There arc coach roads from Bridgeuorth to Shrewsbury, Ludlow to Birming ham over the Clee Hills, Ludlow to Wenlock and Coalbrookdale, and from Ludlow to Bridgeuorth. There are also various roads communi cating with Coalbrookdale, Wellington, Drayton, Newport, Ellesmere, Whitchurch, &c.