The Farm Prize Competition o/1890. 
783 
being a maltster amongst various other vocations, is able to 
make the best of his own growth. The sort chiefly grown is 
Golden Melon, though this year some fields have been planted 
with Chevalier and Beardless. Lime is commonly applied for 
this crop. 
A mixture of clover and other seeds is sown with the 
barley, the sorts and quantities varying according to the soil, 
and the period for which the lea is intended to remain. For a 
three or more years' lea the following is commonly sown : — 
Alsike clover, 2 lb. ; Somerset clover, G lb. ; Dutch clover, 1 lb. ; 
Cornish marl, 2 to 3 lb. ; trefoil, 1 lb. ; cocksfoot, 5 lb. ; timothy, 
4 lb. ; foxtail, 3 lb. ; rye-grass (Devon eaver), 2 gallons. In 
this mixture the Devon eaver has of late been reduced from 
4 to 3 gallons, and now to 2. If the crop of grass is intended 
to be " bundled " and sold green, a larger quantity of timothy 
is added, because of the partiality of the Plymouth buyers for 
that variety. Mr. Vosper, being inter alia a seedsman, is very 
careful in the purchase and selection of his seeds, and applies 
his knowledge of the various grasses to so good a purpose that 
his crops of seedgrass are free from imported rubbish, and have 
the proportions of each variety regulated according to the soil 
and other circumstances. 
The first " seeds " are generally mown and made into hay. 
Two fields were being mown at the time of the Judges' second 
visit, and most heavy and abundant crops they were. These 
were afterwards secured in first-rate condition, and placed in a 
stack which was estimated to contain 100 tons. Occasionally, 
the third year's lea is mown — especially if the grazing land is 
full of grass. In this event another dressing of dung is applied. 
Sometimes a crop is mown early for green fodder, and in such 
cases a second mowing is taken in the same season. Leas in 
their last year get a dose of nitrate of soda, and are cut before 
breaking. Lime, of which a considerable quantity is used as a 
corrective of the heavy manuring rather than on account of its 
scarcity in the soil, is then applied, and the land is carefully 
skirted for the succeeding root crop. 
Some of the pastures get an occasional manuring of either 
dung, or bones, or artificials. Indeed, the whole of the grass 
land on the Hardwicke portion has been dressed with bones 
(raw or dissolved) during the two years it has formed a part 
of this farm, and a very marked contrast is visible in its pro- 
ductive powers when a glance is taken at adjoining fields or 
surrounding farms. 
It will thus be seen that Mr. Yosper is a " heavy tiller." 
His bills for artificial manures in the last two years amounted to 
