594 Report on the Farm-Prize Competition of 1874. 



quantities are used in alternate years, viz., 12 lbs. of white clover 

 and 14 lbs. of red, with 4 lbs. of trefoil per acre. About 100 

 acres of wheat are usually grown after clover and beans, and 

 this year the crops are very promising-. The yield last year 

 was 38f bushels ; from G to 7 pecks of seed per acre is 

 drilled, the Golden Drop and Langham being the kinds usually 

 preferred. 



With the very small quantity of grass land in his occupation, 

 Mr. Paine is not able to keep any number of cattle during the 

 summer, his stock at that period generally consisting of 3 milch 

 cows, and from 8 to 10 yearlings and calves. To enable him to 

 convert his straw into manure, a number of beasts are purchased 

 in the autumn and resold in the spring ; 25 two-year-olds were 

 bought last year at 14Z. 5^. each, which, after being kept during 

 the winter on straw and chaff, with 4 lbs. of cake and a quart of 

 meal per day, realised this spring 19Z. 5^. each. Besides these, 

 18 older beasts were purchased, and sold fat ; they had during 

 the winter an allowance daily of 7 lbs. of cake, 1 peck of bean, 

 wheat, and barley flour, with chopped straw and pulped man- 

 gold. With this liberal allowance they paid well, and made a 

 quantity of good manure. 



Mr. Paine has a good flock of long-woolled sheep, on which 

 he bestows much attention ; 136 ewes were last year put to 

 the ram, and produced a good lot of lambs, which were very 

 promising. 



There was an excellent lot of feeding and she-tegs on the 

 roots at our first inspection, the former having 4 pecks of beans 

 and 4 pecks of cake daily ; they were clipped and sold early, 

 others being afterwards bought and folded in breaks on the tares ; 

 these were sold, leaving the value of their wool as profit. 



Four breeding sows are kept, and the produce sold fat ; also 

 11 useful working horses. 



£ s. d. 



Average amount of labour yearly .. .. 577 



„ Cake and corn consumed, besides 



48 acres grown on the farm . . . . 434 



Artificial manure 36 10 



Mr. Paine's farm is in every way worthy of a high commenda- 

 tion for its evident fertility, brought about by much energy and 

 perseverance, and also for its general cleanliness and neatness. 

 It is within easy access of Bedford ; and to intending visitors 

 we confidently recommend it for inspection, being assured that 

 they will receive a hearty welcome from its kind and hospitable 

 occupier. 



