HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. [99 



To the second best, a piece of plate of the value of <'25. 



To the tenant who shall cultivate and improve in the best man- 

 ner the farm he occupies, consisting of not less than 100 acres, or 

 more than 200, a piece of plate of the value of of 30. 



To the second best, a piece of plate of the value of 15. 



The judges, who are always persons of the first-rate character for 

 their agricultural attainments, and from some other districts, are di- 

 rected in looking over the farms of the claimants, to pay particular 

 attention to the system of cultivation as adapted to the nature and 

 quality of the soil to which it is applied ; to the quantity and de- 

 scription of the several manures made use of (or in reserve), with 

 the application of each ; to the quantity, quality, and management 

 of the stock ; to the degree of cleanliness of the arable, meadow, 

 and pasture land ; and to the best execution and mode of conduct- 

 ing the whole concern. A detailed report of the state of the several 

 farms is given in by the judges, and read by the president to the 

 meeting. 



To gain one of these silver cups is a high agricultural honour, and 

 will no doubt in future times be considered as such by the family of 

 him by whose merits it was gained. 



Besides these, there are the usual premiums given for the various 

 sorts of horned cattle, sheep, and pigs ; and to the person who shall 

 invent and exhibit the best tool or implement of husbandry, found 

 to be better adapted to the intended purpose than any now in use, 

 a premium of <10. 



There are also several premiums offered to day-labourers who 

 have brought up the greatest number of children without parish 

 relief ; and also to those who, producing a good character, shall 

 have continued the greatest number of years upon the same farm. 



The candidates for these premiums are required (in addition to 

 the usual certificates of the persons they have served), to produce 

 one from the Clergyman, or some other respectable householder of 

 the parish in which they reside, not only of good character, but of 

 the cleanly state and condition of the cottage and garden they oc- 

 cupy. The latter stipulation has an excellent effect in encouraging 

 the cottager to attend to those circumstances which administer so 

 much to his own comforts, and which do so much credit to the dis- 

 trict in which they are practised. 



There are also premiums for domestic servants in husbandry, of 

 both sexes, who have continued the greatest number of years in the 

 same service. The certificates produced at the annual meeting of 



