622 
Report on the Farm-Prize Competition 
Since our previous visit the following sales had been made : — 
80 ewes, averaging about 43s. 
80 shearliugs, averaging about 45s. 
210 lambs, averaging about 34s. 
47 I'at cattle, at about 18?. each. 
A large number of the ewes and lambs were fat, and so were 
most of the Cattle in the yards — some yearlings among them 
weighing about 36 stones. They were then having boiled meal 
mixed with chopped hay, and 4 lbs. of mixed cake. The meal 
was composed of decorticated cotton-cake, mixed with Paisley 
meal, which is made from Indian corn, the starch of which has 
been extracted. This meal costs 4Z. a ton. These young cattle 
had been bought on the 12tli May at 8/. each. If they realised 
Is. a stone, which they were perhaps worth on that day, 
they would pay 12s. 6rf. a week for keeping, which would be 
fairly remunerative. Among the recent introductions to the 
farm had been some polled Galloway cattle, bought at 9Z. 10s. 
each. Notwithstanding the scorched appearance of the fields, 
the stock all looked remarkably well. The Corn was light — 
some of it very indifferent, and not thoroughly clean. The 
Wheat was thin. Two fields of Oats were decidedly light. 
Another, which was after roots, though stronger in growth, 
was uneven, as was a field of Barley adjoining it. The 
other field of Barley on the highest part of the farm was 
rather light, but clean and promising. Mangolds were only 
half a crop, and had been filled up with Swedes. Swedes 
were all good. The common Turnips were in a critical con- 
dition. Potatoes (Champions and Magnum Bonums) looked 
very fine. 
The fences of the farm generally had apparently been 
neglected at some former period, and, like most of those in 
the neighbourhood, they had numberless gaps and very little 
really healthy growing wood. This is no doubt partly owing to 
the smoke and the fumes of the collieries, coke ovens and manu- 
factories, but the occasional appearance of a really gopd quick- 
hedge shows that it is not impossible to rear and maintain 
them. The injury to the fences was probably done before 
Mr. Lyall's occupation, and all the gaps are now fenced with 
dead rails. 
Mr. Lyall, who keeps very good accounts, furnished a state- 
ment of his receipts and expenditure under different heads for 
the past ten years. From this statement the account printed on 
page 624, and showing the average amount received and spent, 
has been compiled. And since it happens that the last two years' 
