Report on the Farm-Prize Competition o/*1874. 589 



February of 11 milch cows, 7 heifers, near calving, 6 fat steers, 

 12 two-year-olds, 6 yearlings, 8 calves, and 1 bull. 



The average amount of cake bought during the last three 

 years is 181/. 14^. 8^. In addition to the purchased feeding- 

 stuffs, corn to the value of 500Z. is annually consumed by the 

 stock on the farm. 



The labour-account, considering the proportion of arable land, 

 is small, being only oOs. per acre, 



Mr. Lilley's farming is of a very high class, the hedges being 

 neatly kept, the land remarkably clean, the crops uniformly good, 

 and the stock decidedly above an average ; and although we 

 were unable to award him a prize, he was fully entitled to a high 

 commendation. 



Mr. Phillip's Farm is situated one mile from Woburn, and 

 is held under the Duke of Bedford on a yearly tenancy. It 

 contains 220 acres of arable and 220 acres of grass land.* The 

 house is beautifully situated almost in the centre of the farm, 

 with a capital set of buildings adjoining. 



Mr. Phillips has only been on the farm six years, and has, we 

 hear, much improved its condition in that time. It is now very- 

 clean and in excellent order ; but this year, owing to the nature 

 of the soil (part of which is a light sand and part a sand loam, 

 with a little clay), the crops are rather light, except those on the 

 clay, which are very good. 



A considerable portion of the pasture land is of good quality. 

 The flat meadows, which were originally irrigated, are peaty and 

 boggy, but they grow a deal of rough grass and are a very useful 

 run for young stock, as in the driest seasons they have a plentiful 

 supply of water, which cannot be too highly estimated in a season 

 like the present. 



The four-course system of cropping is adhered to on this farm 

 also, beans, as well as clover, being taken on the stronger land as 

 the third course. 



As a preparation for the root-crop the land is ploughed in the 

 autumn : after being carefully forked over, 16 loads of good 

 farmyard manure are spread and ploughed in as soon as possible. 

 Early in the spring, before the seed is sown, an additional 

 dressing of 4 cwt. of dissolved bones is applied, mixed with 

 ashes, on which liquid manure has been pumped during the 

 winter. 



Mr. Phillips grows carrots on the light-sand land, in preference 

 to either mangold, swedes, or rabi, and for this crop he does not 

 use any manure, the clover-leys being manured for wheat. The 

 carrots are hoed and set out at a cost of 1/. per acre. In a letter 



