610 
Rej)ort on the Farm-Prize Competition of 1886. 
farm yearly we estimated at over 2000 stones. This, with the 
number of cattle turned over, may seem large for the acreage, and 
no doubt it is ; but when we consider the great crops of roots 
grown, the liberal allowance of cake given, and that rarely any 
bullocks but those of mature age and forward condition are 
bought, the first impression, perhaps a little incredulous, tones 
down. 
At our first visit we found 79 head of cattle, 52 of which 
were in various stages of ripeness. Some had then been sold 
in advance for Christmas beef at 9s. 2d. per stone, to weigh 
when slaughtered at Norwich. A similar class of animals at 
Christmas 1884 were sold in the same way, but at 10s. 6c?. per 
stone. Mr. Learner disposes of many of his bullocks to local 
butchers by weight, attending personally or by deputy at the 
scales to see justice done. Referring to the lot of 52, we were 
subsequently informed that they averaged a little over 80 stones, 
making in cash 37Z. each, and that they cost in the April previous 
20/. 10s., leaving 16Z. 10s. each for six months' keep. 
At our May visit we found in the yards 37 fat bullocks. 
do. in pastures 75 three-year-old do. 
do. do. 10 two-year-old do. 
Total . . 122 
It was evident, however, that a number of these were only 
birds of passage, and probably resting there for a few days 
previous to removal to a marsh farm occupied by Mr. Learner in 
the Lynn neighbourhood. 
In July we found 40 head of very fine bullocks in the pastures, 
getting from 8 to 9 lbs. of mixed cotton- and linseed-cake per 
head per day, — the whole fast approaching maturity for the 
shambles. 
As already intimated, Mr. Learner is most lavish in the use of 
cake for stock-feeding, giving as much as 14 lbs. per djiy to his 
big bullocks while on roots in the yards. The latter he gives 
neat, that is, without admixture, and not in homoeopathic doses, 
but as many as they can consume. Slicing is done, not with a 
turnip-cutting machine, but by the hand with a sickle, he con- 
sidering that they can be cut better and quicker in this way than 
by machine, and any one witnessing the operation as performed by 
his men would come to the same conclusion. Men unaccustomed 
to the work would cut a sorry figure at it, and the practice 
is probably not destined to spread. His method of breaking 
cake for cattle is also primitive, being done with a hammer, 
and into pieces about four inches square. This he prefers to 
