A GREAT FARM 147 



to them by a tram line. When the trenches are full 

 they are earthed up like beet hales in England, in 

 which state the stuff can be stored for a year. Cows 

 are said to like it better than any other food. 



Other places that I visited were the great stables 

 full of numbers of fine horses (there are twenty-five 

 plough teams on this farm), where an engine was at 

 work chopping oat-straw for them to eat, and the 

 machine-shop where repairs of implements, &c., are 

 executed. Here I was shown a specimen of the 

 sugar-beet plough which I had already seen at work 

 from a distance. It is a curious instrument consist- 

 ing of a straight share measuring about 18 inches in 

 length by 12 inches in depth, and fitted with a rising 

 iron tongue which lifts the root from the ground. 

 This plough is used in dry weather when hand-pulling 

 is difficult. I was told that it does its office well, 

 but is only employed in cases of necessity, since 

 having to burrow so deep it is hard on the horses. 

 Moreover, the hand-pulling leaves the land in a 

 better state. 



Another instrument new to me was a kind of 

 revolving cutter fitted with twelve sharp discs which 

 mince old turf sods and weeds after ploughing. 



Here I must close an inadequate account of 

 what, taking it altogether, I think is the finest farm 

 I ever saw. 



Before saying good-bye to that prince among 

 farmers, my most kind host, Mr. Tesdorpf, I put 

 to him my usual question What did he think of 

 State small-holdings? 



His answer was brief and emphatic, and of the 

 exact nature that I expected from a large landowner. 

 He said that he thought they were "all nonsense." 



