Note on the Farm-Prize Competition of 1885. 
565 
XXI. — Note on the Farm-Prize Competition of 1885. 
Lord Sefton having taken exception, as against a portion of 
the Preston Farm Judges' Report of 1885 [Journal of the Rojal 
Agricultural Society of England, vol. xxi. p. 580], the Journal 
Committee, under date April 8, 1886, addressed his Lordship 
as follows : — 
" Tlie Secretary to the Earl of Sefton, K.G. 
" I am instructed by the Journal Committee to express to your Lordship 
their great regret that the Report of the Judges at the last Farm-prize Com- 
petition has appeared unsatisfactory to you, as, in your opinion, it seemed to 
reflect upon the relationship which exists between your tenantry and yourself. 
With a view to avoid any such difficulty in future the Committee will care- 
fully reconsider the instructions which tbey issue to the Judges of Farms; 
but as matters stand at present the Judges are desired to verify the state- 
ments that they may receive from the competitors. With regard to the 
Preston Competition, the Committee desire me to say that they will be happy 
to submit to the favourable consideration of the Council any correction of 
matters of fact which you may desire to send to me ; but it is impossible to 
open the pages of the Society's ' Journal ' to controversy." 
The following ex parte statement is published accordingly: — 
" In the Report upon this farm, of which Lord Sefton is the landlord, it is 
stated that the agreement is 'tight' It implies that, previous to the Act of 
1883, the tenant had no security for permanent improvements — that the rent 
appeared to have been raised since 1866 at different times, and that an increase 
of 98Z. 10s. Od. was made for an outlay of about 2000?. and for an addition of 
8 acres of land hardly worth having. 
"The 'Facts' are: that the agreement g'ves perfect freedom of cultiva- 
tion, unrestricted sale of produce, and twelve months' notice. Further, it was 
drawn up with the express view of securing the tenants' compensation in con- 
formity with the spirit of the Act of 1875, though it contracts out of the Act. 
"If the tenants noiu depend on the Act of 1883, it is not because they had 
no security before, but because the Act of 1883 overrides any agreement 
between landlords and tenants. 
" The agreement was framed, not by Lord Sefton or his agent alone, but five 
tenant farmers were taken into consultation, who discussed and approved of 
every clause, before it was issued for use on the estate. 
" Mark Wright has been on the Gill Moss farm for 80 years, and the rent 
of the farm, with the house and buildings and two cottages, originally let 
to him, has never been raised. 
" Once the rent has been increased as stated, 98Z. lOs. 0'^., that is 56?. as 
mutually agreed uj^on for an entirely new set of farm buddings, and a new 
house, which cost 2400?. ; and 42?. 10s. Od. for 15a. Ir. 3p. (not 8 acres) of 
land added — out of condition, but for which the previous tenant had paid 
70s. per statute acre. 
"The tenant also took two more cottages, at a rent of 2s. per week, 
shortly afterwards. 
"The rent for the farm, with 4 cottages included, is 452?. 18s. Qd. per 
annum, so that when the value of the cottages is deducted it is under 2?. per 
statute acre. It lies within 5 miles of Liverpool ; and the tenant enjoys 
certain advantages, as his landlord keeps an occupation road and some 2 miles 
of fences in repair." 
