Farm Prize Competition^ 1911. 309 



The pastures, through, which u stream runs, with the excep- 

 tion of a new one, are of poor quality. This new one was 

 laid down with lucerne about twelve years ago, and cut green 

 the hrst few years for the cows : afterwards for some years the 

 first crop was made into hay, and the rest fed on the land. 

 It is now the best pasture on the farm for early and late feed. 

 Most of the lucerne has died out, and a splendid bottom has 

 been formed by natural grass and suckling clover which have 

 come of their own accord, from the seeds deposited by cows 

 after eating mixed hay. 



The stock on the farm on the occasion of our visits consisted 

 of:— 



First visit Second visit Third visit 



80 cows, in-milk. 80 cows, in-milk. 72 cows, in-milk. 



20 cows, dry. 6 cows, dry. 12 cows, dry. 



2 bulls. 2 bulls. 2 bulls. 



100 fat hoggets. 4 calves. 1 calf. 



100 store pigs. 121 fat pigs, 110 fat and store pigs. 



12 cart-horses. 1 sow. 1 sow. 



2 colts. 12 cart-horses. 11 cart-horses. 



2 hackneys. 4 colts. 4 colts at marsh. 



2 foals. 2 hackneys. 2 hackneys. 



The farm work is done by about twelve horses, all Shires, 

 bred on the farm. They are fed in summer on lucerne or 

 vetches, and turned out to grass at night. In winter they have 



3 stones of oats and 2 stones of beans per week, with 

 hay and straw chaff, and long hay at night. The hours of 

 work are from 6 to 11 o'clock in the morning and 1.30 to 

 6 o'clock in the afternoon for horsemen and labourers alike. 



The cows vary in number so as to ensure a regular supply 

 of milk all the year. They are bought as required, and about 

 25 per cent, are sold out annually, most of them fat. The best 

 cows are kept and calved down, their calves being sold at one 

 week old. Two pedigree bulls from a good milking strain are 

 kept, with the idea of bringing good heifer calves for the herd. 

 The best milkers receive 2 bushels of roots in two meals, also 

 2 bushels of chaff, half hay and half oat straw, mixed with 

 ^ bushel of pulped mangolds divided over three meals ; also 



4 lb, oat and bean meal and 2 lb. decorticated cotton meal. 

 Fattening cows receive 2 lb. linseed cake and 2 lb. cotton 

 cake extra. The cows all have the chance of taking water when 

 outside, so as not to be limited to the supply indoors. 

 During summer time they come indoors to be milked, and 

 receive their cake at the same time. The milk is sold on yearly 

 contracts in London and Norwich for regular quantities all the 

 year round ; consequently forage crops have to be grown to 

 come in succession, in order that a regular supply of milk may 

 be kept up. 



