Report on the Farm-Prize Competition o/" 1874. 579 



the land should be prepared and manured in the autumn, which 

 always ensures the germination of the seed. 



Mangolds and rabi are sown the first week in April, 6 lbs. of 

 the former and 4 lbs. of the latter being drilled per acre, 

 27 inches between the ridges. They are both set out 24 inches 

 in the rows, and the work is usually done by the dav. The 

 mangolds are all carted off, and the rabi eaten where grown, 

 without being pitted. From 20 to 30 acres of swedes are sown 

 about the first week in June, with 2 lbs. of seed per acre ; but 

 few are fed off. The Cost of getting up, cleaning, and heaping 

 is 5s. IQd. per acre ; the covering is done by the day. A few 

 winter tares are sown, and eaten on the ground by sheep in 

 the spring. The land is afterwards ploughed and drilled on the 

 flat with rape and common turnips. A few cabbages are grown 

 occasionally, but not as a rule, as Mr. Crouch does not think 

 the land good enough. 



This year, owing to the strike, Mr. Crouch being almost 

 Avithout men for ten weeks, the manure was not spread until 

 some time after it was carted on the land, and the roots were 

 in consequence very late in being put in. The mangolds 

 and rabi this year are patchy, and the swedes (with the 

 exception of one piece in the same field with the mangold, 

 which was a fair plant, but wanting rain) had not yet made 

 their appearance. 



Barley is grown after roots. The land being ploughed as 

 early as possible, three to four inches deep, the seed is then 

 drilled at the rate of 2^ bushels per acre. Seeding is com- 

 menced in the middle of March. The kind of barley called 

 in the locality " Brewers' Delight," has been sown for the last 

 twenty years. The barley is never hoed, but weeded when 

 necessary. 



Seeds. — About 14 lbs. of small seeds are used per acre, two- 

 thirds being red clover and one-third trefoil. Of this mixture, 

 9 lbs. are first drilled with the large drill when the barley is 

 coming up, and 5 lbs. afterwards sown broadcast with the 

 barrow drill. About 15 acres, as a rule, are mown, and the 

 remainder grazed. The seeds were all very good, the land 

 showing no symptoms of clover sickness, which might be 

 expected from red clover being sown every four years. 



Wheat. — About 60 acres after clover. When the land has 

 been ploughed about 4^ inches deep, with an 8-inch furrow, the 

 seed is drilled down the seams at the rate of 2^ bushels per acre. 

 Seeding generally begins in October. The kinds usually grown 

 are the Bristol red, golden drop, and Grace's white. The Avheat, 

 which is this year a very good crop, had not been hoed, but was 

 nevertheless very clean indeed. 



2 P 2 



