in Northumberland and Durham in 1887. 583 
Class 3. — For the best managed combined hill or moor and arable farm, of 
which not less than 100 acres shall be arable and not less than 400 acres hill 
or moor, 50?. ; second best, 25?. 
Class 4. — For the best managed dairy farm of 75 acres and upwards, 
where the management and cultivation are most successfully directed to the 
l)roduction of milk, butter, or cheese, 50?. ; second best, 25?. 
Class 5. — For the best managed arable and grass farm of 100 acres and 
upwards, occupied aud carried on in conjunction with a colliery, 50?. ; second 
best, 25?. 
Champiox Prize of 100?. offered by the Newcastle Farmers' Club.— 
For the best managed farm in Classes 1, 2, 3, and 4, in addition to the prizes 
in those classes. 
The competition, except in Class 5, was limited to tenant- 
farmers in the counties of Northumberland and Durham pay- 
ing a bond Jidc rent for at least three-fourths of the land in 
their occupation. 
In making their awards, the Judges were instructed especially 
to consider : — 
1. General management with a view to profit. 
2. Productiveness of crops. 
3. Quality and suitability of live-stock. 
4. Management of grass-land. 
5. State of gates, fences, roads, and general neatness. 
6. Mode of book-keeping followed (if any). 
7. Management of the dairy and dairy produce, if dairying is pursued. ' 
Two sets of Judges were appointed bv the Society — one of 
them taking Classes 1, 2, and 3, the other. Classes 4 and 5. 
The Champion Prize was awarded bv the whole number of 
Farm-prize Judges. 
The first visit of inspection by the Judges in Classes 1, 2, 
and 3 was made between the 13th and 22nd of December, 
1886, when sixteen farms in these classes were inspected. The 
weather during the greater part of the time was very unfavour- 
able. During: the first two davs there were storms of rain and 
snow, then came three comparatively fine days of hard frost, 
during which the hill farms were seen. Afterwards the ground 
was covered with several inches of snow, and the last day was a 
miserably cold thaw, with pouring rain. Under these circum- 
stances it was impossible in many cases to see the land ; all 
that could be done was to look at the stock, the roots, and the 
buildings, and to endeavour to gain some idea of the system of 
management adopted by the several competitors. 
The second inspection of the hill farms was made on the 
10th, 11th, and 12th of May. On this occasion the present 
writer was prevented by serious illness from taking any part, 
and he had to rely on the assistance of his colleagues, who 
kindly undertook to make notes of what they saw for his 
information. The second inspection of the thirteen farms in 
