The Winter of 1885-86. 
397 
foot-and-mouth disease during 1883 and part of 1884. When those restrictions 
were removed, the sheep and cattle were rapidly placed on the market, and 
depression followed. During the autumn of 1885 and the spring of 1886 the 
partial failure of root-crops and other food affected the price to the extent of 
at least 20 per cent., owing to forced sales. 
" 10. The experience of many years has shown me the value of saving 
fodder in an abundant year, so that I may be prepared in some measure 
against such a visitation as that we have recently experienced. When so 
prepared, a little extra expenditure for linseed, and for linseed or other cakes, 
has enabled me to tide over the trouble without loss, and sometimes with 
considerable advantage." 
Mr. J. H. Arkwright (who sends the reports of ten neigh- 
bouring farmers and of himself and his agent), Hampton Court, 
Leominster : 
" 1. Farms neighbouring the valley of the Lugg, Mid Herefordshire. Soil, 
medium clay loam on the Old Red Sandstone formation, the low meadows 
being alluvial on gravel. Rainfall in 1885, 25'03. 
" 2. The summer was warm, autumn wet, winter long and cold, spring cold, 
and from three weeks to a month late ; a very hard time for stock, especially 
the young stock. 
" 3. Swedes and turnips were from two-thirds to three-quafters of a crop. 
Very few mangolds or other roots are grown hereabouts. 
" 4. We fed with roots and hay (which was of exceptionally good quality) 
grown on the premises, and with cotton and oilcake bought. 
" 5. Spring grass, vetches, &c., were from three weeks to a month late. 
Tide Answer 4. 
" 6. No silos in this neighbourhood. 
" 7. Our enclosures being compai atively small, and the fences high, extra 
shelter is not provided in winter, extra food is more to the point. 
" 9. Foreign competition and the collateral depression in other trades. 
" 10. If we had the capital (which is wanting), we would employ more 
labour, and grow more peas, beans, vetches, and other green crops. Use 
fodder economically, and make certain that the quality of purchased food and 
manures is in reahty what it professes to be, and worth the money." 
Mr. H. Simmonds, Bearwood Farm, Wokingham, Berkshire : 
" 1. I farm about 1500 acres for Mr. -John Walter, of Bearwood, Woking- 
ham, Berks, and a considerable quantity of adjoining land for neighbouring 
landowners. The land varies much in quality, much of it being reclaimed 
from the forest, of a wet peaty soil, but other portions are loam on a clay 
subsoil, and being mostly underdrained and chalked, if well farmed, is 
favourable for the growth of corn and roots. 
" 2. The season was generally favourable in 1885, excepting as regards our 
oat, bean, and root-crops, which failed, owing to the continued dry weather. 
Hay, of which we gi-ow largely, was heavy and well got. The long winter 
has been expensive, but does good in making our land work well this spring. 
" 3. Mangolds were a good average crop. Swedes half the usual weight. 
Turnips a total failure, excepting two fields sown very early. 
" 4. We managed to keep our stock without much trouble, the two-tooth 
sheep having been fattened on the swedes, and sold out by Christmas, and the 
tegs in the early spring with mangolds, giving them oilcake, with a few old 
beans. The cattle intended for market were fed on rough hay and straw cut 
up, mixed with mangolds, meal, and cake, and the young stock on hay, 
straw, and a little cake only, and they are doing well on the grass now. My 
