500 Report on the Wanviclishire Farm-Prize Competition, 1876. 
last year was put out at IJJ. a heap, each heap averaging 
somewhat more than a ton. 
Sicedes. — The land intended for swedes is treated in a precisely 
similar manner to that for mangolds, described above ; but, of 
course, they get no top-dressing. They are drilled as early as 
the second week in April upon the flat, at a distance of 22 inches, 
with the dry drill, and without artificial manure. The quality 
of the roots is excellent, but there is very often some difficulty 
in feeding them ofF. Two-thirds of this crop is fed on the land, 
and the remainder carted off. It must be understood that, under 
no circumstances, are two ploughings given to the land for this 
or other crops. 
Barley. — The barley crop follows the swedes and mangolds. 
About 2^ to 3 bushels is the quantity usually sown. The barlev 
is weeded by women and cut by machine. The quality is very 
good generally, and Mr. Stilgoe took the first prize for the best 
sample of barley at the Warwickshire Show in 1874. Seeds are 
sown among it, Sutton's mixture having been frequently used. 
The seeds this year contained, in our opinion, too large a mixture 
of grasses, and hardly sufficient clover-seeds ; and, although a 
capital plant, was hardly equal, on that account, to some of those 
in the neighbourhood. We suggested that " Stilgoe's mixture" 
should have a trial, and were glad to find in May that our hint 
had been adopted, and that 14 lbs. of mixed clovers and a peck 
of rye-grass had been sown among the barley. 
A proportion, varying with the necessities of the farm but 
averaging about 30 acres, of the seeds are mown, and the remainder 
grazed with sheep ; and, as has been stated, about 20 acres are 
allowed to remain down the second year, partly for the purpose 
of improving the poorer portions of the farm and partly to enable 
the ewe flock to be kept entirely at home, as keeping is never 
taken off the farm. The grazed seeds have a good quantity of 
cake or corn consumed upon them by the sheep, and the second 
year's seeds are broken up by the steam-plough, in either July or 
August, for wheat. 
Wheat is sown as early as circumstances will permit, generally 
at the middle or end of October, or the beginning of November. 
The Kentish High Back seems to be the sort generally preferred. 
About 7 pecks per acre (or occasionally 2 bushels) is the quantity 
of seed used. The wheat is always harrowed, and carefully hand- 
hoed at a cost of hs. per acre. The cutting is, if possible, done 
by machine ; but on this land (being rather subject to go down) 
this is not always practicable ; and last year, being much knocked 
about, as much as 20s. to 25s. an acre was paid for reaping it by 
hand. 
Beans or peas follow the wheat, the land being again manured 
