218 The Farm Prize Competitions. 



salt. Besides this the mangold ground -receives about 10 tons 

 of farmyard manare ploughed in during the previous winter, 

 and about 12 tons of farmyard manure are spread on the clover 

 leys between the two hai'vests. As might be expected on a 

 first prize arable farm, the implements were very conspicuously 

 good, and a blacksmith kept on the farm insured their being 

 maintained in good repair and condition. 



The Judges remarked upon the improvement effected on 

 the grass-land, both by grazing cake-fed stock, by application 

 of farmyard manure, and by dressings of basic slag on the peat 

 meadows. On the remainder of the grass Mr. Belcher thinks 

 he gets better results with kainit than with superphosphate. 

 Certainly the grass land seems bursting with fertility, and the 

 only criticism which can be advanced is in the matter of 

 thistles. Mr. Belcher has had some special irons made for 

 dealing with these and with docks, but it was noticeable here 

 as in other places that there is still considerable misunder- 

 standing as to the nature and habits of growth of the different 

 varieties of this pestilential weed. It is only by the recognition 

 of the various kinds, together with a study of their methods of 

 growth and reproduction, that their eradication can effectually 

 be accomplished. 



Mr. Belcher is a very large feeder of cattle. In common 

 with most other people he has experienced the difficulty of 

 getting stores, but this he gets over by rearing a great number 

 of calves on a few cows. His system is to wean them as soon 

 as possible, and from the time they will eat cake, &c,, they are 

 never without it till they leave the farm, some as two-year-olds, 

 but many younger than this. Thus, instead of going into the 

 market for his stores, he takes the rearer's profit right through 

 to the butcher. The sheep stock consists of a flock of 

 Shropshire ewes of the commercial type, together with a flying 

 flock of Kerries ; some fat lamb is produced and the remainder 

 are fed off on the roots as yearlings. 



But the great feature amongst the live-stock on this farm 

 are the shire horses, and Mr. Belcher has one of the best 

 farmers' studs in the country. It is not possible or necessary 

 to enumerate here all the successes that have been gained in 

 the showyard and sale ring, but 'probably few farmers could 

 show a larger collection of cups and other trophies than that 

 which adorns Mr. Belcher's sideboard. One of his most 

 successful mares is Tibberton Forest Queen by Redly nch Forest 

 King. She has won first prizes at Shropshire, West Midland, 

 Staffordshire, Cardiff, Wirrall, and Birkenhead Shows, not to 

 mention local shows, and was third in a strong class at the 

 Shrewsbury Royal Show when four years old and suckling a 

 good filly foal to Norbury Menestrel. In 1912, at the Newport 



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