468 Report upon the Liverpool Prize-Farm Competition 
cultivation of the ground ; and the last to take place about the 
end of June, to judge the crops. On this occasion the Judges 
thought it unnecessary to have a spring inspection, the winter 
and summer ones being thought sufficient for the purpose. 
The Judges met at Liverpool on the 11th of December, and 
next morning proceeded with their work. As the object of 
this inspection was merely to judge the stock and root-crops, 
I need give no special details of it, but merely notice the 
regret of the Judges at the withdrawal from the competition 
of Mr. Tunstall, St. Michael's-on-Wyre, a tenant of Lord 
Derby, on account of his crops having suffered so much from 
wire-worm. The Shorthorn stock upon this farm was of 
peculiar merit, and would do honour to any breeder in the 
kingdom. I would also refer to the enterprise of Mr. Kay, of 
Warburton Park, near Warrington, who, a few days previous 
to our inspection, had a sale by auction of a very large number 
of fat cattle. I would also notice, in reference to the winter 
inspection, the admirable system adopted of utilising the por- 
tion of the root-crop kept for home use by means of pulping 
and steaming, and mixing with chopped hay and straw, with 
the addition of ground Indian corn ; and also the careful 
economy in the use of straw, so as to secure comfort for the 
animals with a minimum quantity of litter. 
Class I. 
Mrs. Birch, Netherton. — First in honour, as in place, was the 
farm of Netherton, near Aintree, in the occupancy of Mrs. Ellen 
Birch, to whom the Judges awarded the first prize. This farm 
contains 242 acres, and is held in yearly tenure under Lord 
Sefton. The nature of the soil may be described as black soil 
on sand and peaty loam, the greater portion of the land resting 
upon a sandy subsoil. The surface is slightly undulating, and 
about 80 feet above the sea-level. 
At the date of the last inspection, 3rd July, the farm was 
under the following cultivation : — 
Acres. 
Barley (Chevalier) 42 
Oats (Yellow Poland) s . . . 26 
Wheat (Hunter White) 38 
Turnips (Greentop Swede) 3 
Potatoes (Regents, Downs, and Skerryblues) 30 
Hay Grass 62 
Pasture 12 
Irrigated Meadow 29 
242 
