Report on tlic Farm-Prize Competition, 1871. 315 
linseed cake. The sheep appeared to us of a paying sort, and 
are generally purchased from the district of Cannock Chase. 
Though poor, they are very hardy and health}'. Some hoggs 
we saw on our first visit had been just purchased in their wool, at 
385. each, which shows that ]Mr. VVinterton does not buy high- 
priced sheep to make a jobbing trade of it. He purchases good 
healthy sheep, and by his liberal allowance of artificial food 
they are soon got ready for the market, and are thus a most 
important feature in the profit and loss account. The present 
price of beef and mutton will always pay for a judicious outlay 
in artificial food, and Mr. VVinterton's corn-crops fully proved 
the benefit derived from this practice. 
Horses. — Eleven cart - horses are generally employed, and 
during the working season have allowed them 62 lbs. of meal 
each horse per week. The meal is composed of oats, beans, 
and Indian corn, with 1 bushel of bran, mixed with chopped 
hay and straw. During the summer, they have green clover 
and vetches given in the yards. The hours of wprk are from 
7 till 12, and from I'oO till 5 ; they are therefore at work only 
8^ hours daily. This somewhat accounts for the small amount 
of corn-food allowed them. 
Artificial Manures. 
£. s. d. 
The amount paid annually for artificial manures is 274 0 0 
For cake and corn purchased 959 16 10 
Total 1183 16 10 
Harvest. — The corn is cut by machinery, two of Hornsby's 
self-rakers being employed. Mr. Winterton informed us that 
these two machines will, with change of horses, and a man and 
a boy each, cut beyond 34 acres per day. The corn is taken up 
and made ready for carrying at 4s. Qd. per acre ; barley occa- 
sionally at a less cost. All is tied up and shocked, carried by 
waggons to the rickyard, and made into oblong stacks suffi- 
ciently large to employ an 8-liorse-power steam threshing- 
machine for the day. 
Lahourers. — Ten men are employed through the year and 
four boys. The labourers live in cottages upon the farm. Mr. 
Winterton says he cannot speak too highly of this advantage, 
for it adds greatly to the comfort of the men, giving them many 
privileges they could not otherwise possess. It allows their 
wives and families to work on the farm, and the men to be daily 
with their families at their meals. A cottage and good garden 
is calculated at Is. 6(/. per Aveek, which is a reasonable rent, 
compared to what the labourer might have to pay for a cottage 
Y 2 
