Report on the Farm-Prize Competition of 1886. (327 
occupied by Mr. W. Procter. It is the property of two owners, 
Thos. L. Hare, Esq,, of Stow Hall, Downham Market, owning 
442 acres ; the remainder — 34 acres — being glebe land, belong- 
ing to the Rev. J. H. Clubbe, of Bexwell. It is held under a 
fourteen years' lease, which expires at Michaelmas 1888 ; but 
Mr. Durrant occupied it for twelve years on a previous lease, so 
that he has now been tenant for about twenty-four years. The 
rent from 1862 to 1882 was 700/. per year, but at the latter date 
it was reduced 20 per cent., and it now stands at 560Z. ; in 
addition the tenant pays the tithe-rent charge, 92/. per year. 
Rates average about 2s. 6r/. in the pound per year. 
On Mr. Hare's land the lease stipulates a four, five, or six 
course shift of cropping ; but as a rule Mr. Durrant finds little 
benefit in departing from the old four-course system, and 
seldom avails himself of the liberty he has to sell produce off 
the farm other than corn. 
The principal farm buildings stand rather inconveniently at 
the west end of the arable portion of the farm. They are old, 
and the arrangements as regards convenience not particularly 
good. An ofF-yard, consisting of a barn, with yard and shelter- 
shed, <&c., is situated pretty centrally on the farm, where there 
is also a labourer's cottage. The dwelling-house, large and 
good, is comparatively new, situated pleasantly in well-fur- 
nished and well-kept grounds, and affords all the conveniences 
essential to the habits and requiren?ents of a gentleman of 
education and refinement. 
Purchased Cakes and 3fanures. — An outlay of 320/. per 
annum is made for cakes, malt, and bran for cattle feeding, and 
for barley and peas for pigs. For artificial manure 120/. per 
year is spent. 
The labour per acre over the whole 476 acres averages 335. 
per year. 
Draining, when necessary, has been done at the joint cost of 
landlord and tenant, the former providing tiles, the latter 
labour. The cost of the latter per rod of 7 yards, at 3 feet deep, 
was 9rf. 
A small dairy herd is kept, principally of well-bred pedigree 
Shorthorns. From 15 to 20 calves are i eared annually. 
Occasionally young bulls and heifers are sold at remunerative 
prices for breeding purposes. The remainder — due provision 
being made for the maintenance of the number of the herd — 
go to the butcher. From 30 to 40 head are generally fat- 
tened, store cattle being purchased to add to the number of 
those home bred. In July we saw some very nice two-year-old 
Shorthorn heifers in the pasture, and also several very fine fat 
bullocks in the yards. The chief dairy produce is butter. 
