Report on the Waricickshire Farm-Prize Competition, 1876. 535 
between Michaelmas and Christmas — and the borders are forked 
as often as required. Along these fences are seen at intervals 
upright stones, which mark two-acre plots or lands. Thus not 
only does the labourer know what work he is doing, but the 
bailifl can also keep a close watch upon the amount done. 
Mr. Adkins keeps a book containing a general plan of the farm, 
and a separate one of each field with these divisions distinctlv 
marked. 
The road, which I have before alluded to, and which traverses 
tae occupation to the length of full three-quarters of a mile, is also 
a most creditable feature of the occupation, being kept in splen- 
did repair with stones from the fields, which are, fortunatelv, 
verv suitable for the purpose. The total waste of the whole 
farm, including roads and hedges, is onlv 9 acres (see p. 530). 
The grass land is, for the most part, of good quality. The 
meadows bordering the Avon are liable to floods, and last vear 
a large quantity of hay was floated awav. Thev grow fine crops 
of grass, however, and do not require dressing with manure. 
The two upland grass fields are verv useful pastures, and were 
probably originally selected for that purpose from the strength 
of the Lias subsoil. About 50 acres of the meadows are annuallv 
mown, and the remainder grazed with cattle and sheep. The 
whole of the grass land is neat, and free from weeds. 
Live Stock. — The large number ( for the occupation) of 12 work- 
ing horses are kept. Thev are useful but not showv animals. 
The ploughing is all done hy four horses at length. Only 3 roods 
a day is accomplished in this manner. In summer the horses 
work from 7 a.:m:. to 12 noon, and from 1 P.M. to 5 P.M. : in winter 
one yoking from 7 A.M. to 3 P.M. There is little summer-work 
except horse-hoeing. The winter-work is, of course, somewhat 
severe. Their summer-keep is lucerne, of which I should have 
mentioned that 4 acres is grown. In winter thev get 1 bushel of 
maize and ^ bushel of beans. Thev never get hay or clover in 
the yards, but bean- or pea-straw is given in the racks at night. 
They lie out in the yards all the year round. 
Cattle. — About 20 cows are annuallv put to the bull, and their 
produce reared. They are all ordinary Shorthorn cattle and have 
for some few years past been crossed with a polled Angus bull 
of ^Ir. M'Combie's breed. The result has been some animals 
which are by no means taking to the eye, and which cannot 
truthfully be described as encouraging to experimental breeders. 
Looking at the beautiful crosses which are seen in Scotland and 
the North of England — the blue-greys and blue-roans, which are 
>o highly appreciated by the grazier — one is irresistibly led to 
|;he conclusion that in this case the cross is the wrong icag, and 
hat polled Angus or Gallowav cows to a pure Shorthorn bull 
2 N 2 
