Report on the Farm-Prize Competition of 1874. 595 



Commended Farms. 



Me. Henman's Farm of West End, Stagsden, is worthy of 

 commendation for its great cleanliness, the neatness of the fences 

 and the general good management of the arable land. 



It consists now of 178 acres of arable and 108 acres of grass 

 land ; and 35 years ago, when Mr. Henman took the farm at a 

 rent of Ids. per acre, it was nearly all in rough grass, which he 

 has gradually broken up. Three miles of old fences have been 

 grubbed up, two miles of new quicks planted, and the whole of 

 the arable land drained at his own expense. 



The land is a very strong clay, and considering that Mr. 

 Henman entered the farm with a very small capital, and, besides 

 the improvements that he has made, has brought up a large 

 family of thirteen children, great credit is due to him for his 

 industry and perseverance. 



The grass land is very poor, and, with the exception of a very 

 useful flock of a hundred half-bred ewes, the stock does not call 

 for further remark. 



A seven-course system of cropping is adopted, which seems to 

 answer well. The rotation is as follows : — Fallow, generally 

 sown with Rabi ; Barley ; Seeds ; Tares, eaten off with sheep ; 

 Wheat; Beans; Wheat. 



Mr. Leaberry's Farm adjoins the farm last described, and is 

 in the same parish ; the soil is naturally very similar, as is also 

 the management. It contains 200 acres of arable and 45 acres 

 of grass land ; the latter of very bad quality. Mr. Leaberry is, 

 consequently, not able to keep much stock, and we thought him 

 worthy of commendation more especially for the management 

 of his arable land, the goodness of his crops, and the efficient 

 way in which he had drained his land. 



Mr. Lester's Farms come more under the head of market- 

 gardening, especially the one at Kempston, which from good 

 management and a plentiful supply of manure (soot being used 

 to a large extent) is made very productive ; onions and turnip- 

 seed are, as a rule, the most paying crops. 



Owing to the short time the Broughton Farm has been in his 

 occupation, Mr. Lester has not yet been able to get it into that 

 •state of cultivation which we have no doubt he will, if he is 

 spared a few years longer, for it is evident that everything he 

 undertakes he does well. In Mr. Lester we have an instance 

 of what may be done by steady industry and perseverance, as he 

 began life as a labouring boy at dd. per day, and has worked 

 himself up to his present position. 



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