Prizes for Essays and Reports. xxxix 



9. Water-meadows and Upland Pastures. — 1844. 



Twenty Sovereigns, or a Piece of Plate of that value, will be given 

 for the best Account of the Comparative Value of Water-meadows and 

 Uplands generally for Cattle, Sheep, and Horses, but especially for 

 Milch Cows. 



Competitors will be required to state the following particulars in 

 reference to the trials instituted for the purpose of obtaining practical 

 results on this subject : — 



1. The nature of the soil and its state of drainage to be described ; and 



equal portions of upland and water meadow to be selected. 



2. Equal numbers of cows of the same age and breed (not less than 



four in number) to be separately fed in pairs, on each different 

 kind of grass, and to be changed once from one kind of grass to 

 the other ; and the quantity,^ as well as the quality, of the milk 

 from such cows to be ascertained by the lactometer. 



3. If made into hay, the quantity of each sort produced on the land, 



and the quantity, as well as quality, of the milk which has been 

 produced, to be ascertained in a similar manner. 



4. The value of spring food and grass, whether in rowen or pastvire. 



5. The same conditions to be applicable to the feeding of sheep-stock ; 



stating the numbers which the same quantity of each land have 

 separately maintained during a certain period ; and whether or not 

 subject to the rot by the flooding. 



6. In regard to irrigating the land : the primary cost, whether of catch- 



water or flow-meadow, of its formation, and the annual expense of 

 management, including the repair of sluices ; together with the 

 former and present rent or value. 



[Competitors are also requested to state, as far as their observation 

 may have extended, the comparative value of the grasses of water- 

 meadows and uplands, when cut into hay, and consumed as fodder.] 



10. Production of Fat and Muscle. 



Twenty Sovereigns, or a Piece of Plate of that value, will be given 

 for the best Explanation of the Causes which appear to determine the 

 Production of Fat and Muscle respectively, according to the present 

 state of our knowledge of Animal Physiology. 



Competitors will be required to point out — 



1. The connection between certain recognised signs of early maturity, 



as smallness of bone, shape of the ears, mellowness of skin, &c., 

 with the determination of the animal frame to produce fat or 

 muscle. 



2. The tendency of certain articles of food to fatten stock, and the 



adaptation of others to maintain the general frame in a growing 

 state. 



3. The disposition of certain breeds to secrete fat externally, and of 



others internally. 



4. The mode in which beans and acorns occasion hardness of flesh in 



the animals fed on them. 



These Essays, except No. 9, must be sent to the Secretary , at 12, Hanover 

 Square, on or before March 1st, 1843. 



VOL. III. 



