310 Report on the Farm-Prize Competition, 1871. 
what is locally termed " foxstone," or stone brasli ; the western 
part is of better quality, having a gravelly subsoil, but it is in 
very poor condition, Mr. Winterton having occupied for only 
four years the hundred acres of which it is composed ; the re- 
maining or northern portion is a good strong mixed loam, 
resting upon silty sand at some depth. The peaty soil of the 
farm has been drained at about 4 feet deep — a precaution that 
was evidently needed, judging from the discharge of water. The 
meadows are all good where irrigation is practised, and this Mr. 
Winterton has at some expense secured upon forty acres. This 
irrigation is by Avater from the running stream. The effect upon 
the grass is really remarkable, considering that nothing but pure 
water is passed over it, the mowing ground bearing testimony to 
the great benefit derived ; and the irrigated portions which are 
grazed, produce much more grass and carry an increased 
quantity of stock in comparison with that not so treated. The 
remaining grass by tlie house, which is slightly elevated and 
rests upon the poor " foxstone brash," shows great weakness ; 
but nothing is more likely to produce so quick and permanent 
an improvement in its general fertility than the system adopted 
by Mr. Winterton, which is a continued liberal consumption of 
linseed-cake by the stock upon it. At present it is a bare pasture, 
but thickly stocked with Shropshire Down tegs, having cake. 
The following course of cropping is adopted : — 
Turnips and mangold. 
Barley and wheat. 
Seeds. 
Seeds, second year. 
Wheat and oats. 
Barley and wheat. 
Wheat is taken after two years' seeds, upon the lighter land ; 
but oats are grown after seeds upon the stronger. The second 
corn crop taken is wheat after oats, and barley after Avheat. 
Turnips. — Beginning the rotation with turnips, the land appro- 
priated to this crop, amounting to about 65 acres, is steam-culti- 
vated in the autumn from 10 to 12 inches deep. The following 
spring it is worked by Coleman's cultivator, thoroughly cleaned, and 
artificial manures applied by hand on the surface, namely, .5 cwts. 
of pulverized bones (button-dust), 1 cwt of guano, and 3 cwts. of 
superphosphates (Griffin and Morris's), at a cost of 3/. lOs. per 
acre. The land is then scarified, harrowed, and rolled, by which 
operation the artificial manures are thoroughly incorporated with 
the soil ; and the last week in May, if the season admits, the 
turnips are drilled on the flat at a distance betwixt the rows of 19 
inches. Two-thirds of these are swedes, and the remainder white 
turnips, which of course will be sown later in June. When grown 
