in N'ott{nghamshir&, Lincolnshii'e, &c. : Classes 2 and 3. 35 
The Judges desire to state that, of the twenty farms sub- 
mitted for inspection, at least ten were worked in conjunction 
with other hoklings, several of which were visited. This entailed 
additional labour on the Judges, and was otherwise unsatis- 
factory, as it was not always easy to ascertain how far the stock 
owned by the occupier really belonged to the competing farm. 
They consider that it would be preferable to require each com- 
petitor to enter all the land which he occupies. 
The Judges have pleasure in stating that on all the farms 
entered for competition the farming was of a very high and 
meritoi'ious description. This was doubtless in a great mea- 
sure owing to the direct personal supervision and attention 
given to all details of farm management. It was very gratifying 
in these gloomy days of agricultural depression, when much is 
still heard of unprofitable farming, to find, even on land of not 
very high quality, farmers who are able to make their business pay. 
It was pleasant for the Judges, and especially for the writer of 
this report, who had not previously a very high opinion of farming 
on small holdings, to recognise the fact that these small farms 
can hold their own when managed by practical men. Some of 
these men have risen from very humble positions by their own 
industry and perseverance, and, having succeeded in saving and 
investing money, will no doubt some day be in a position to 
take larger farms. Cottages on all the estates that came under 
the inspection of the Judges were very commodious and con- 
venient, and well adapted to the circumstances. 
The general system of farming in Lincolnshire and Not- 
tinghamshire was so fully described in the report on Class 1 
that any further particulars regarding those counties are quite 
unnecessary.' As, however, a Commended farm in Class 2 and 
a Highly Commended farm in Class 3 were situated in Derby- 
shire, some reference*^to the agriculture of that county may be 
desirable. Regarding Derbyshire, indeed, a report appeared in 
Vol. XVII. of the Journal (1881); but in these days of rapid 
transition a great deal happens in seven years, and, in con- 
nection with the farm competition in the east of the county, 
some details are now submitted, chiefly by way of supplement to 
reports previously published. 
' It was mentionGd in the report on Class 1 (\''ol. XXIV. page S28), that 
the Judges had observed a very unusually large proportion of stubble land 
annually sown to white orsoft turnips, to thegreat neglect of the undoubtedly 
far more valuable swede turnips and other roots. It is worth mention, 
therefore, that in the districts visited by the Judges in Classes 2 and 3 there 
was a very large preponderance of awedes. 
s 2 
