302 Report on the Farm-Prize Competition, 1871. 
drains were laid about four feet deep, and ten yards apart, 
varjinji^ in depth according to circumstances, the ditches were 
filled in, and watering-places supplied by the drainage were 
made in the fields. The labour and leading were done by the 
tenant, costing about 3/. IO5. per acre. Tiles were supplied by the 
landlord, two-inch pipes being used, with an increased size for 
outfalls, at a cost of 3/., making a total outlay of Ql. 10s. per acre. 
To us it appeared to have been perfectly done. Since 1869 
eighty acres have been drained by the landlord, who charges a 
percentage of 6/. 14s. on the outlay, the leading being done, of 
course, by the tenant. In addition to the roads originally laid 
out, Mr. Forester has recently made a new road leading from the 
village of High Ercall, which is a great improvement. At the 
corner, south-west of the homestead, it is desirable that some 
fences should still be removed, but at present Mr. Forester is pre- 
vented from carrying out the proposed alterations, owing to a 
difficulty in getting an exchange of land Avith his neighbour. 
The system of cropping adopted is the four-course, which is 
strictly adhered to. 
Turnips. — Turnips and mangolds always succeed wheat. The 
stubbles are ploughed from 7 to 8 inches deep in the autumn 
(no need of any autumn scarifying), after manure has been led 
direct from the yards, and about 20 cart-loads an acre put on. 
The following spring the land is ploughed, and worked by the 
cultivator, artificial manures are applied on the surface at the rate 
of cwts. to the acre (Proctor and Kyland's), at a cost of 8Z. per 
ton. The land is afterwards ridged, and the seed drilled upon 
the ridges by a proper drill and roller attached. The ridges are 
about 26 inches apart. Sundry scufflings take place, and, when 
the plants are sufficiently grown, and ready for hoeing, they are 
done by task-work, at a cost of 9s. per acre, if gone twice over, 
or 6s. 6fZ. if only once. 
One-third of the turnips are fed on the land by sheep ; two- 
thirds are drawn off and consumed either by cattle in the yards 
or by sheep upon the grass. No turnips are eaten on the land 
after the middle of March ; but all are, if possible, pulled and 
stored before Christmas. Mr. Forester in future intends trying 
turnips on the flat, at a distance of 24 inches betwixt the drills ; 
the late dry seasons have caused this proposed change, but we 
should doubt whether in a season like the present it would be 
advantageous, 
Mangolds. — The cultivation is very similar to that for turnips, 
but the land is more heavily manured in the autumn on the 
stubbles, which are then deeply ploughed. After thoroughly 
working the land in the spring with Coleman's cultivator, and 
harrowing sufficiently fine, artificial manures are sown by hand 
on the flat, at the rate of 8 cwt. of superphosphate (Proctor and 
