28 Report on the Farm-Prize Competition^ 1878. 
The pasture and arable land are very well managed, and the 
gross returns from the farm are good. 
The accounts are well kept, and on this farm we found a 
profit shown by the keeping of poultry, Mrs. Savage being 
evidently a good manager. 
Some of the land where hay is grown is let to mow, make, 
and stack, by piece-work. This year the price agreed on was 
IO5., and 6 quarts of cider per acre, making a total of II5. 6c?. 
Four horses cultivate the land, and a nag is also kept. 
The dairy cows average 40. These are purchased at three-years- 
old in-calf, the calves being sold within a week after they are 
born, and the cows going at once into the dairy stock. About 
9 of the best heifer-calves are weaned yearly, and we found 9 of 
these on the farm, and 9 a year older. The dairy cows do 
credit to Mr. Savage's judgment in selecting and feeding them. 
Mr. Savage has a hobby in the shape of a water-wheel just 
erected for the purpose of cutting chaff, grinding corn, and other 
farm work. Like most amateur engineers, he has made a few 
mistakes, but is doing his best to rectify them. 
West Leaze Farm, near Swindon, about IJ mile west of 
Swindon, in the county of Wilts, the property of the Governors 
of the Charterhouse, and occupied by Mr. James Beaven, con- 
tains, according to the certificate of entry, 40 acres of arable and 
186 acres of pasture-land ; in all 226 acres. 
Mr. Beaven has held the farm for twelve years, under a lease 
for that term, with a Lady-day entry. The soil is described as 
heavy and the subsoil as clay. There are 5 cottages on the farm, 
a good residence, and moderately good buildings. Five labourers 
are employed, at wages of 15s. per week, with their cottages 
rent-free. Very little money is expended on purchased food for 
the cattle, or artificial manure for the land. At the date of our 
first visit the milk from the cows was sold to the Aylesbury 
Dairy Company ; but when we were there in May, Mr. Beaven 
had recommenced making the produce of his cows into cheese. 
The Live Stock consisted of : — 
Cattle. — At our visit in January, 49 dairy cows, 12 two-year- 
old steers and heifers, 23 yearling ditto, 4 working oxen, and 
a bull. At our visit in May, 43 dairy cows, 23 yearling steers 
and heifers, 4 working oxen, 16 weaning-calves, and a bull. 
The Sheep were, in January, 150 Hampshire Down breeding- 
ewes ; and in May, 64 breeding-ewes, and the same number 
of lambs. 
Swine. — Thirty small pigs had been purchased to consume 
the dairy-refuse after clieese-making was r(;sumed. 
Three cart-horses and a nag are kept on tlie farm. 
