Prize Competition, 1885. 
147 
4Z. I65. ; potatoes, 110 packs, 16/. IO5. ; total, 651/. IO5. Id. — 
61. 14s. 3d. per acre. 
The natural produce of the land is maintained at its utmost 
by good farming. In 1884, in addition to the large quantity 
of home-made manure from the enormous consumption of food 
— carefully collected both in tank and under cover — 102 tons of 
farmyard-manure and 52 tons of town manure, and 4 tons of 
bones and 12 tons of shoddy manure had been purchased at 
a cost of 60/. 18s. 9rf. Large quantities of sawdust also are 
purchased for use as litter. 
The labour of the farm is done by 2 men, at 24/. and 20/. 
apiece, with board ; one man at 7s. a week and board ; 2 boys, 16/. 
with board ; and 2 girls, 14/., and 15/. respectively with board ; 
with also about 40/. of extra labour, whether at hay time or 
during winter in draining, fencing, &c. In all, the money 
payment for labour is 147/. ; but the board, which is very 
liberal, four meals a day, with meat at least at one of them, 
adds of course materially, probably to the amount of at least 80/. 
a year. The day begins at 4 30, milking is finished by 6, and 
the milk delivered at Preston between 7 and 8, four miles off. 
The rent paid for 80 acres, on which 20 cows were all that 
could be kept during the first year, is 252/. 12s. In addition to 
this, the outlying 18 acres commands a rent of 50/. The rates 
in addition, of all kinds, come to 35/. a year, and the total 
rent for 98 acres is 338/. 8s. 6^d. Lightfoot Farm, however, 
is not merely a farm, it is a manufactory — it is a milk and 
butter factory — a place also where a small but good business 
in horse-dealing is carried on. The Manager is thoroughly 
capable on all sides of his work. He knows how to manage 
land and stock, and how to buy and sell. He employs his own 
good judgment and a large capital for the extent he occupies, 
and labour to the extent probably of 21. an acre, without 
counting his own most efficient assistance. He does his buying 
and selling safely, wisely, skilfully, and he reaps a profit not- 
withstanding his enormous rent. Does anybody say that this is 
rather a commercial than an agricultural concern — that this 
was not the business contemplated in the offer of the prize 
which has been awarded to it ? We say that it is not only a 
remarkable example of good farm management, but a praise- 
worthy instance of a kind which deserves especial recognition 
now. The commercial side of farming is one of the most 
important of the conditions on which agricultural success 
depends. And Mr. Hothersall's position is due not only to 
field and live-stock management, but to his careful personal 
attention to both buying and selling, on both of which the 
success of farm management very largely depends. The farm 
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