APPENDIX. 297 



they put on condition in a wonderfully short space of 

 time. The sheep are fattened by folding, as already 

 described. Plenty of hay is supplied in racks, together 

 with \ lb. cake each. No ewes are retained for breeding 

 after they have reached the age of four or five years. 

 Sixty draft ewes are fattened out in August and Sep- 

 tember, and their place supplied by the same number 

 of the most suitable hoggets for breeding. Four rams 

 (Shropshire Downs) are kept — that is one ram for every 

 fifty ewes. 



The farm ofiices, though somewhat elaborate, are 

 rather disconnected. But the land may be apportioned 

 amongst tenants at some future time, and it would not, 

 therefore, answer to have the buildings concentrated in 

 one block. There is a mill worked by a three-quarter 

 shot water-wheel, which economises an enormous amount 

 of labour in sawing timber, which grows on the estate, 

 Mr. Jones being very fond of shedding of all kinds ; 

 there is also an apparatus for grinding corn, and another 

 for crushing bones. The latter are bought up exten- 

 sively for manuring at £5 per ton. 



A large number of labourers are constantly employed 

 on the land, reclaiming, fencing, etc. The farm labour 

 bill alone amounts to £400 per annum. Land which 

 was bought in fee at 5s. or 6s. per acre (some, indeed, 

 we were informed, was purchased long ago at Id. per 

 acre) would now let freely at from £1 to £2 per acre 

 per annum. The labourers are all furnished with com- 

 fortable cottages, and, besides land for potatoes, they 

 receive 9s. per week and upwards, many 12s. We ob- 

 tained this information from the labourers themselves. 

 The rate of remuneration is excellent for the district, 

 but they are required to work industriously. In summer 



