The Farm Prize Competition of 1890. 
791 
tions being thrown in, and getting thence to the drain. Upon the 
Judges' first inspection the water level in the surrounding land 
was, owing to a previous heavy rainfall, considerably above the 
pipes, but in June it had lowered to about half the bore of the 
pipes, thus showing that the drain is acting in a most satisfac- 
tory manner. The work cost Mr. Franklin about 300L, and 
reflects very great credit upon his engineering skill. It has 
resulted in a marvellous improvement, by converting 35 acres of 
waterlogged land into excellent and safe grazing ground. 
The meadows are irrigated at intervals between November 
and April, and occasionally get flooded in other wet seasons. 
To regulate the flow and distribution of the water, sundry 
gutters and carriers have been made, and some floodgates fixed. 
The very efficient working order in which these are kept is only 
one amongst many instances of the close care and attention 
which Mr. Franklin devotes to all parts of his holding. The 
bed of the river (the Clist) is cleared every second year, and the 
distributing gutters yearly, or as they require it. 
Thirty-six acres of these meadows are mown annually, and, 
judging from the nature of the herbage, the process has led to 
improvement. The rest are grazed, and in summer time carry 
one bullock to the acre. The stock is changed from one field to 
another every few days, and towards autumn the more forward 
animals are picked out, and put on the best of the land, getting 
if needed a little cake, though this is seldom the case. The other 
animals, being fresh in condition, are rapidly finished off in the 
yards and buildings. In the spring, the early keep in these 
meadows is invaluable for ewes and lambs, which run on during 
the day, but are removed to higher and drier ground at night. 
The ewes are put on the grass a week before they are due to 
lamb, so as to flush their milk. 
Adjoining the meadows is a dry old pasture, which in January 
was getting a dressing of Exeter dung, and in June was full of 
the richest and most succulent herbage, proving that the 
manuring was not a casual or special one. Round about the 
Bussels House and homestead some 33 acres have recently been 
laid down to permanent pasture at the tenant's expense, and are 
doing remarkably well. The fields are very clean and the grasses 
true to sorts. 
On the arable land, the four-course system of cropping is 
followed, except upon one portion where barley is found to 
succeed best when in immediate succession to some other corn 
crop. Last year the corn grown here went to a maltster at 
35s. per quarter, and this year barley is following barley with 
prospects of an excellent result. About seventy acres of wheat are 
