Report on Farm Prize Competition in the Isle of Man, 1877. 97 
the skill of the dairy-maid, without any assistance, modern 
machinery, or modern experience. 
To expect full-grown North Devon farmers or dairy-maids 
to learn anything from reading is nearly as much out of the 
question as in the days of Arthur Young ; but, in my opinion, 
the landlords might do much by introducing into the village 
schools manuals on the work of the future lives of the boys and 
girls. A short practical and interesting manual on Dairy Work 
might easily be prepared from the ' Journal of the Royal Agri- 
cultural Society of England,' with woodcuts of the cooling appa- 
ratus, churns, and butter-making machines, which are in familiar 
use on the peasant-farms of Sweden, and are sold at a very low 
price. 
IV. — Report on the Farm Prize Competition in the Isle of Man, 
1877. By S. D. Shirriff, of Saltcoats, Drem, N.B. 
In connection with the country meeting of the Society for the 
year 1877, the following prizes were offered by the Liverpool 
Local Committee for the best managed farms in the Isle of Man ; 
viz., in Class 7, for the best managed farm of 70 acres or upwards 
in extent, 25Z. ; and in Class 8, for the best managed farm under 
70 acres, but of not less than 25 acres in extent, 15Z. In 
Class 7 there were only two entries, and in Class 8 but a single 
competitor. Before proceeding to describe the competing farms, 
it may be of interest to give a few particulars regarding this 
beautiful little island, dropped as it were into the sea, and al- 
most equidistant from what were formerly three great kingdoms, 
now made greater from being happily all blended into one. In 
order to realise the singular situation of this island, I may 
mention that on a clear day a distinct view of England and 
Scotland and Ireland can be had from the top of one of its 
mountains called Barrule — not a bad site, one would almost say, 
for a royal palace. 
The length of the island is about 33 miles. Its breadth 
varies, being at its widest part about 8.^ miles. It contains 
about 130,000 statute acres, and its population is a little over 
60,000. 
The climate of the Isle of Man is wonderfully mild. The 
annual mean temperature is higher than that of any other place 
occupying the same parallel of latitude. The genial influence 
of the Gulf Stream causes this. The mean winter temperature 
of the Isle of Man is about 42° Fahr., whereas the temperature of 
Newfoundland, which lies 7^^ further south, is 18° colder during 
winter, owing to the influence of Arctic currents. Therei could 
VOL. XIV.— S. S. H 
