The Farm Prize Competitions. 213 



of tufts, largely consisting of Yorkshire fog, the new grass was 

 eaten off almost too close, which seems to afford evidence 

 against Mr. Nunnerley, Senr.'s, opinion that large pastures are 

 advantageous. In this case had the fence been left both pieces 

 of grass could have been better grazed. The large night 

 pasture and all other grass was much better grazed than is 

 usual in the district, but one field distinctly shoAved signs of 

 the bad effect of mowing and grazing in alternate years. With 

 regard to the live-stock, Mr. Nunnerley has nearly 120 cows, 

 mostly home-bred. These were very good, and some splendid 

 old foundation cows were being fed oft" (July), from which 

 nearlj'- all the herd were descended ; the calves looked as 

 promising as the young cows and heifers. The bulls running 

 with the cows seemed hardly up to their quality, but Mr. 

 Nunnerley selects them on the reputation of their mothers as 

 milkers, and whilst this is good, it may be remarked once more 

 that a record is better than a reputation. All the milk is made 

 into cheese, and some 200 pigs are fed to consume the whey. 

 Most of these are bought locally, and their quality is a striking 

 testimony to the excellence of the pigs bred in the district. 

 The fat pigs go to the same market as those of Mr. Nunnerley, 

 Senr. The cheese room was old-fashioned, but fitted with 

 m.odern appliances, and all was very workmanlike and 

 scrupulously clean. The cheese seemed thoroughly well made, 

 and the home-made butter was certainly excellent. It is 

 worthy of note that both father and son are firm believers in 

 the virtue of a large plaster of cow-dung across the loins as a 

 treatment for " garget." It is almost incredible that this can be 

 otherwise than an ancient and a dirty superstition dating back 

 to the days when a preparation from the bowels of a black cat 

 killed when the moon was full was regarded as a certain cure 

 for toothache, but it is always possible that there is something 

 in these practices, such as warmth, or action as a counter- 

 irritant, which does cause them to give some real relief, although 

 the advantage could doubtless be realised more fully and 

 advantageously in other ways. 



The sheep were just a good, useful flock of Shropshires, but 

 the Judges remarked that the horses were exceptionally good. 

 The tenant is willing to bear his share of the cost of permanent 

 improvements, and a new fence, young quicks between wires, 

 planted by him, seemed particularly well cared for. In a word, 

 the whole fanning and management may be described as 

 thoroughly good and resourceful. 



Class II. — Not less than 50 acres, and under 150 acres. 



In this class, for small grazing or dairj' farms, there were 

 five competitors, two in Shropshire, two in Montgomery, and 



