171 Northumberland and Durham in 1887. 
and as if nothinsj could save them. The stock looked exceed- 
inglj well. One piece of Barley (38 acres sown in February) 
was a very fine crop, and 40 acres of new seeds for hay, which was 
stocked up to the 10th of May, was very heavy. The 53 acres 
of second year's seeds was a splendid pasture. In it were 190 
ewes, 300 lambs, 22 cattle, and 9 horses. This was described 
as a rather ordinary piece of land, but it had been limed about 
three years ago, and pretty well assisted with manure and roots 
consumed. The common turnips were a very thick plant, 
3 lbs. of seed had been sown, and the plants were " as thick as 
hairs on a cat's back." They were then being singled by 4 
women, 4 men, and 2 boys, the women leading the work, and 
giving the men as much as they could do. Some of the Oats 
looked stunted in growth, but they were not past recovery. 
Within three days of our visit, a fine rain fell on this farm, 
and knocked the Barley and Seeds about very much, but no 
doubt the Roots and the Oats benefited considerably. Taking 
into consideration the soil, the situation, the climate, and all the 
conditions under which the farm is carried on, we thought that 
it did Mr. Davison very great credit, and that there was ample 
evidence of skill, enterprise and good management. There was 
also a careful attention to details, and a thoroughness in the 
work which is most commendable. 
The following account of prices realised for Half-bred ewes 
and Lambs for the last three years has been furnished :— 
Ewes. 
s. d, s. d. 
1885 .. .. 87 0 and 37 3 
1886 .. .. 48 G „ 49 0 
1887 .. .. 45 0 „ 46 0 
Lambs (excluding Shots). 
s. d. s. d. 
1885 . . . . 14 0 to 23 6 
1886 . . . . 15 3 „ 24 0 
1887 . . . . 21 0 „ 24 6 
The accounts of profit and loss were not open to us. It is 
hoped that Mr. Davison, if he has not recently made much 
profit, may in the future reap the reward of his very spirited 
improvements at Scrainwood. 
The labourers' wages here do hot differ greatly from those 
already noticed. The hired servants are — Steward, 4 plough- 
men, 1 boy, 6 women, 1 byre-lad, and 2 shepherds. The 
steward has 50/., a pig fed, potatoes and old milk found, and 
house rent free. The ploughmen have 15s. to 15s. a week, 
house, and 1000 yards of potatoes. Women have Is. dd. a day, 
with 3s. a day in harvest. The shepherd takes no money. He 
has keeping for 21 half-bred ewes, 11 ewe hoggs, 13 bolls 
(26 bushels) of corn, and the keeping for a cow ; for this he 
boards a man who helps him. The cows are milked by a 
daughter of one of the hinds, who also makes the butter, feeds 
the pigs, and looks after the poultry, which have been hitherto 
