476 Report upon the Liverpool Prize-Farm Competition 
that he fattens about 20 bullocks during the winter, and also 
feeds on his foggage 7 score of Cheviot ewes, which are sold fat 
during winter. 
He has a good collection of implements, including a manure- 
distributor. This is a most necessary implement when so much 
dependence is placed on the hay-crop. Mr. Scotson's rotation 
is, roots, wheat or barley, barley or oats and seeds, which lie 
two or three years. Mr. Scotson finds an advantage in re- 
sowing a few seeds for the third year. This farm is being very 
much built upon. I leave Mr. Scotson with an expression 
of the pleasure that my colleagues and I had in meeting with 
such a thoroughly practical farmer. 
Roby Farm. — Perhaps there is no better known farm in the 
neighbourhood of Liverpool than Roby Farm, near Prescot, the 
property of the Earl of Derby, and in the occupation of Mr. 
William Gore Ashton. 
This farm of 166 acres is all arable. The soil is mostly 
heavy, but a small portion is light. The subsoil is a mixture 
of marl, sand, and gravel. Like the others, it is held on 
yearly tenure. It is only five miles from Liverpool, and every 
advantage of situation is taken in the application of Liverpool 
manure to the land. Mr. Ashton purchases 700 tons, which 
— in addition to 120 tons of manure made on the farm, and a 
quantity of lime and saw-dust — is used for both cereal and 
root-crops. Mr. Ashton uses about 6 tons of nitrate of soda 
for top-dressing. When the farm was inspected, 5th July, it 
was under cropping as follows : — 
Wheat 40 
Oats 19 
Potatoes 18 
Turnips 4 
Mangolds 1 
Carried forward . . 82 
Acres. 
Brought forward . . 82 
Vetches 8 
Pasture (> 
Clover and seeds . . . . 44 
Meadow 26 
166 
The wheat was a very fine crop and very pure ; one field was 
equal to any seen during the inspection. The general neatness 
of this farm could not be surpassed. The fences are remarkably 
well cared-for, and the occupation roads kept in capital repair. 
The farm is also very clean. 
The stock consists of — 
7 working-horses, strong animals ; 
2 cows ; and 
4 pigs fed for home use. 
