Report on the Farm-Prize Competition, 1871. 323 
No strict rotation of crops is adopted ; the only rule never 
deviated from is that two white-straw corn-crops are not taken in 
succession. The proportions of different crops (varying slightly 
from year to year) are as follow : — Wheat, i)0 to 100 acres ; 
barley, 40 acres ; beans, 30 ; roots and cabbages, 50 ; vetches, 
10 ; seeds, 50. Catch crops of stubble turnips, rape, trifolium, 
and mustard are taken as opportunity serves, after wheat, seeds, 
6cc. The light land, about 40 acres, is worked in a four-course 
shift, in order that a field of roots may be produced for the 
sheep to consume safely on the land. Autumn-sown wheat is 
grown after beans and clover ley. Spring wheat, which often 
proves more reliable than barley, follows turnips and vetches. 
The depastured clover ley is occasionally broken up early in 
August, and made a pin or bastard fallow, as being a good pre- 
paration for wheat. Very exceptionally foldyard manure is 
applied to the clover ley in the spring. Wheat is generally 
top-dressed at the rate of 1^ cwt. of nitrate of soda to the acre. 
Beans are succeeded by wheat, the stubbles being occasionally 
broken up by steam-power, and thus prepared to receive the seed. 
Essex rough chaff is the variety of wheat generally sown, at the 
rate of 7 pecks to the acre. Wheat also follows ley ; some 
growing after rye-grass and clovers, twice mown, was looking 
particularly well. It had been top-dressed with 1^ cwt. of 
nitrate of soda, and 1 cwt. of superphosphate of lime to the acre. 
The foldyard manure (at the rate of 15 cart-loads to the 
acre) is applied in the autumn upon the stubbles intended for 
beans, mangolds, and turnips the following year. The couch- 
grass having been first carefully forked out, the remaining 
manure is put on the young clovers. 
The management of root crops may be shortlv described. The 
manure having been spread, the land is cultivated by steam 
power, from 8 to 10 inches deep. Three tons per acre of quick 
lime is applied, and the land ploughed for the winter ; in the 
following spring it is cross ploughed, and worked by Coleman's 
cultivator, reduced by harrowings, and upon the surface 6 cwts. 
per acre of Proctor and Ry land's artificial manure, costing 11. \0s. 
per ton, is sown broadcast for swedes. The land is ridged, 
and turnips are drilled at widths of 24 inches. Nothing is 
special in the after operations. In November half the turnips 
are stored upon the land, and the remainder carried to the 
homestead and there stored. The land for the growth of 
mangolds receives a very similar treatment as regards the pre- 
paration, but 8| cwts. of artificial manures (Proctor and Ryland's) 
are applied. The mangolds are sown on the ridge, and the 
whole crop is led off and pitted by the hom.estead. JNIr. May 
pays great attention to live stock. He has a celebrated flock of 
