Tlie Winter of 1885-86. 
387 
•of roots ; but tlie price of beef has beeu kept dnwn continually, so that must 
have been caused by great importations. 
" 10. There was nor, such a shortness of food altogether as to make much 
difference in future uiauagement." 
Mr. C, R. Wainwright, jun. (land agent), Shepton Mallet: 
" 1. I allude more esjieciaily to several farms in West Berks which have 
been thrown on my firm's hands to manage. I'he soil is cliiefly of a clay 
loam, with a chalky subsoil, and situated at an elevation of about 550 to 
■600 feet above the sea, and the climate somewhat cold. 
"2. The summer of 1885 was exceedingly dry and warm, and very favour- 
able for harvesting crops, which, on the wht)le, were good. The autumn was 
favourable for sowing winter crops. The winter was, on the whole, dry but 
long, and the spring unusually severe, resulting Irom the continued east 
■winds and late frosts, delaying in consequence the cultivation of the land 
for spring crops. 
" 3. Generally speaking, the whole of the root crops were more or less a 
failure, owing to the continued drou'^ht of the previous summer. 
"4. Owing to the drought of the previous .'-ummer sheep and cattle were 
kept on dry food only, it being impossible to obtain succulent food, owing 
■to the faiku'c of the root crops. 
" 5. Yes. Sheep and cattle were fed on hay and strav.'-chafr,, and a con- 
:siderable outlay was necessary in providing cake and corn to make up for 
the deficiency of the roots. 
"6. No. 
"7. Shelter is never provided for sheep in this district (West Berks), 
except during the lambing season, when protection to the folds is made by 
the shepherds, and the experience of the past winter shows that no further 
shelter is required when sheei) are well looked after and carefully fed. 
" 9. Owing to the failure of the root crops and the consequent shortness 
of food, sheep only half fat were sold to avoid the cost of winter keep, 
■which, when well done, amounted to 1?. pe" head. The forced sales of these 
animals accounted for the low prices of mutton. 
" 10. The present low prices of corn lead me to suggest that poor arable 
land in the high regions sliould be sown dnwn either to sainfoin or other lay 
grasses, and not overstock your farm ; thus, b}^ growing less corn we reduce 
the cost of labour, and by not overstocking minimise the losses consequent 
■ on the wholesale sacrifice of stock, should a failure in the root crop occur." 
Mr. Martin Sutton, Dyson's Wood, Kidinore, near Reading : 
" 1. A small farm of 130 acres on the lower slopes of the Cliiitern Hills. 
: Soil, a gravel on chalk. 
" 2. Summer of 1885. Wheat crop averaged 6 qrs. to the acre. Aftermath 
of grass, ?ii7, through drought and east wind. Spring corn very light from 
the same cause. Autumn : cold and ungenial, wheat lying long in the 
ground before it germinated, and unable to resist the severe frosts which com- 
menced at Christmas and continued almost without intermission till the 
middle of March, a great part of the time without sufficient snow to shelter 
the plant. Spring of 188(5 : cold and ungenial, with hardly a spring-like day, 
and a remarkable absence of sun. Drought until the middle of May, then 
€xcessive rainfall with low temperature to the end of the month, seriously 
throwing back all white crops except oats. 
" 3. Turnips and swedes a complete failure through drought. Cabbage 
very good and extremely valuable. Mangolds half a crop. 
" 4. Chaffed cabbage with barley-straw, sprinkled with malt-dust and salt. 
Each fatting bullock was allowed in addition 4 to 6 lbs. of wheat meal, with 
