Report on the Farm-Prize Competition of 1874. 591 



The harvest this year was let to twelve men to cut, cart, and 

 stack, at 13s. per acre, giving use of machine with boys to drive 

 the carts. 



Each man receives 1/. per month in lieu of beer, and the boys 

 are paid in the same proportion. 



We were of opinion that the management of this farm was 

 very creditable to Mr. Phillips, and worthy of a high com- 

 mendation. Froin the accounts shown to us, its productiveness 

 seems to have increased greatly during the short time it has 

 been in his occupation. 



Mr. Street's Farm is also the property of the Duke of 

 Bedford, and is held on lease. It is situated two miles 

 east of the small town of Ampthill and ten from Bedford, 

 and consists of about 120 acres of grass and 360 acres of 

 arable land. 



The house and buildings are conveniently situated, commo- 

 dious, and exceedingly well arranged in every respect. The 

 fields are for the most part large. The whole of the farm is Aery 

 well watered, having on opposite sides two running streams, 

 which never fail. A water-wheel of 5-horse power is driven by 

 one of these, and with this Mr. Street is enabled to do all his 

 threshing, grinding, pulping, 6CC : the whole of the machinery 

 was erected at his own expense. The same stream is utilized in 

 irrigating a large meadow at one extremity of the farm. For 

 some years this had been discontinued, and Mr. Street has, at 

 much trouble and expense, renewed the sluices and water- 

 carriers, relaid the beds, and made the irrigation complete. 



The farm consists entirely of light land, a portion being a 

 blowing sand and a considerable area a light loam on gravelly 

 subsoil, and the rest is peat. 



The system of cropping adopted is similar to that on the pre- 

 ceding farm, as also the mode of cultivation, except that a large 

 quantity of kohl rabi is grown, Mr. Street being of opinion that, 

 with proper management, a good crop may be grown any year, 

 and he prefers it to swedes. About 15 or 16 loads of good farm- 

 yard dung, or 6 cwt. of artificial manure (Procter and Ryland's 

 being preferred) are used for all the root- crops : occasionally 

 2 cwt. of artificial and 10 loads of farmyard manure are substi- 

 tuted for the above. Salt and lime are also applied when 

 required. At our last inspection most of the roots, and espe- 

 cially the rabi, were a good plant, but very much in want 

 of rain ; since the recent showers, however, Mr. Street informs 

 me that the whole of the crop is much improved and promises 

 well. 



