Report on the Farm-Prize Competition of 188G. 611 
having it reduced smaller by a crusher. For sheep he crushes 
to the usual size by machine. 
Sheep. — At our November visit, 100 hoggets, a cross between 
the Down ewe and Longwool ram, were running on the clover 
layers, having \ turnips thrown down to them, and eating 
besides 1 lb. of cake each per day. These had been purchased 
in June. None were bred on the farm ; and all had been caked 
throughout the summer ; some of them were fit for market, and 
by the end of December they had all gone. In May no sheep 
were on the farm, but in June 200 lambs had been purchased, 
shortly before our visit ; they were an excellent lot, and bred in 
the same way as those above described, and would be similarly 
treated and sold fat after six months' sojourn, weighing, 
!Mr. Learner estimated, from 21 to 22 lbs. per quarter. 
Certainly a big weight for lambs of that age. 
Cart Horses. — Twelve are kept to work the farm, of a good 
useful stamp, doing no discredit to the other excellent stock on it, 
A foal or two are annually bred, a mare being the only breeding 
quadruped tolerated on the farm. The feeding of the horses is 
peculiar ; as Dr. Johnson's famous description of the use of oats* 
does not apply here. Four stones of pollard per week, with one 
stone per day of clover-hay is the allowance per horse. The hay 
is given uncut, but the horses have wheat-chafF and also a man- 
gold or two per day in addition. The pollard per horse costs 
'Is. 6c?. per week, and the hay, valued at consuming value, another 
2s. Qd., and with Is. added for chaff and mangolds, makes up 
a very economical feed at 6.9. per week. On this the horses 
evidently thrive, being full of condition and fit for work The 
free easy-working nature of the soil must, however, be taken 
into account. 
Piffs. — None are bred ; from 60 to 70 are bought during the 
year at 16s. to 18s. each. They are run in the bullock-yards, 
getting a little meal twice a day, and are sold again as stores, 
when worth about 42s. each. 
Fences. — These are kept in beautiful order, sufficiently high 
and wide to be efficient without overshadowing or covering 
more ground than is necessarv. They are trimmed yearly, and 
are neat and good in every respect. The hedge-banks are 
dressed down before the weeds, which to a certain extent main- 
tain a footing there, and shed their seed. This year a start 
had been made early in July, but a halt was called in con- 
sequence of several unhatched partridge nests of eggs being 
found — the tenant having the shooting over the farm. 
The foregoing details will give a fair idea of what is the 
* Oats were used to feed horses in England, and men in Scotland. 
