in NottinghamsJiire, Lincolnshire^ &g. : Classes 2 and 3. 41 
" proposed to make ensilage in stacks " of those who were soon 
afterwards driven, by sti'ess of weather, to do so. 
Live-Stock. — About 1881 there was a great diminution of 
live-stock, especially of sheep. It was stated in the Journal 
that in 1867 there were 258,000 sheep; in 1871 they had 
fallen to 230,000 ; and in 1881 they numbered only 191,243— 
thus indicating a decrease of 67,000 in 14 years. It must be 
noted, however, that the decrease was not continuous. From 
1867 to 1871 the numbers diminished; but in 1875 the total 
was 261,523 — a number exceeding that of 1871, and even that 
of 1867. An inclement year or two makes a great difference. 
For example, there were 228,445 sheep in 1880, but within a 
year the Hocks had been reduced by 37,202. No doubt the 
diminution has been occasioned very largely by unfavourable 
seasons. The loss of sheep on the heavy clay soils and on the 
hills was regarded as the greatest calamity ever suffered by the 
farmers of Derbyshire. Many of those who formerly kept large 
flocks have now very few sheep, and some of them none at all. 
In certain instances, undoubtedly, farmers have been compelled 
to sell sheep to meet current expenses, and have not been able 
to replace them. The loss was very severe in the winter of 
1887-88 ; but the lowest depth was reached in 1882, when sheep 
numbered only 170,559, or 87,441 below the level of 1867, and 
90,964 below the grand total of 1875. In 1887 they mustered 
199,146 — a recovery of 28,787 in five years; but the tale of 
variation must be summed up in the statement that in 1888 
the number was only 188,214 — a fall of 10,930 from the previous 
year. Of these, 6,738 were less than one year old. The rigour 
of the winter of 1887-88, which was exceptionally prolonged and 
severe, even for the bleak district of " The Peak," was the cause 
of serious loss to flockmasters. This coming as the culmina- 
tion of a series of seasons characterised by their hardship and 
inclemency was a heavy blow to many of the Derbyshire farmers. 
In connection with the decrease of sheep, however, it may 
be observed that a much larger number than formerly are now 
killed at an early age ; and, practically, the number of sheep in 
any county is diminished by the number of wethers previously, 
but not now, kept over one year. It seems that farmers in the 
Midlands have come to consider it profitable to cross their ewes 
with black-faced rams, and this practice had been adopted on all 
the competing farms, with only four exceptions. It appears to 
be recognised as a fact that black-faced sheep are more saleable 
than the white breeds, and probably come more early to 
maturity. 
Cattle decreased by 9,177 in the unfavourable years from 
