584 Report on the Farm-Frize Competition of 1874. 



spread and ploughed in, and the seed drilled as soon afterwards 

 as possible. 



Mr. Howard pays considerable attention to his green crops, a 

 succession of them being absolutely necessary to a ram-breeder. 

 Cabbages for early eating are sown in August and planted out 

 in November, and again early in the spring. Mangolds are 

 drilled about April 10th, and a iew swedes and common turnips 

 shortly afterwards, the lambs being put on the latter in August. 

 The rest of the swedes are sown the latter end of May or 

 beginning of June. 



None of Mr. Howard's roots had missed this year, and the 

 whole were exceedingly well put in and looked very promising 

 when last we saw them, nothing but rain being wanted to insure 

 a good crop. 



Barley is grown after roots, except on the Priory farm, where 

 it is sown after wheat, and farmyard manure applied to this, 

 instead of the root-crop. Hallett's is the only kind used : five 

 pecks are sown per acre, and when the barley is well up it is 

 horsehoed with the steerage-hoe ; the small seeds are afterwards 

 sown broadcast and harrowed in across the drills : 14 lbs. of 

 white and 18 lbs. of red are respectively sown. The seeds at 

 Biddenham are not very good this year, which Mr. Howard 

 attributes to the cold nights in May and June, and the extreme 

 drought subsequently. 



Wheat is sown after seeds, Browick being used entirely : it is 

 drilled eight inches apart, and, like the barley, is horsehoed and 

 harrowed in the spring. 



The average yield of wheat and barley for the last four years 

 on the Priory and Biddenham farms is as follows : — 



Priory. 



Qrs. 



Wheat 5^ 



Barley Ci 



Biddenham. 



Qrs. 



Wheat 4| 



Barley 5J 



Mr. Howard has only occupied the Bromham farm four years^ 

 and in that time has made great alterations and improvements. 

 The greater part of the arable land is now thrown into one large 

 field, ?>\ miles of fences having been taken up, and the whole 

 drained at his own expense, the landlord finding the tiles. A 

 road has been made through the centre of this land and is met 

 by another running at right angles to it, so that the whole can 

 be worked by a " roundabout cultivator," and nothing can be 

 more complete than the arrangements which have been made. 

 One other improvement, however, we might suggest, viz., the 

 removal of a small spinney which runs awkwardly into the arable 

 field, and not only looks bad but must also be a great inconve- 



