82 
Report on the Farm Prize Competition 
Corn crops did not look particularly well, and at the final 
inspection did not look so favourable as the Judges had expected 
earlier in the season. The corn was in some places rather thin, and 
having been drilled both ways could not be hoed, in consequence 
of which many annual weeds had grown up. The average yield 
of grain crops is wheat 5, barley h^, and oats 7 quarters per 
acre. 
Seeds for mowing (6 acres in extent) were a light crop, de- 
ficient in clover, and consisting chiefly of ryegrass. The mix- 
ture was 12 lbs. red clover, and usually a peck of ryegrass. 
Mangold (Webb's Champion Yellow Globe and Long Red) 
was drilled on the flat 20 inches apart. Farmyard manure to the 
extent of 25 loads per acre had been applied ; and a top-dressing 
of soot and nitrate of soda had also been applied. Crops of peas 
(Prince of Wales), tares, and potatoes were good and clean. 
The land was very well farmed. Mr. Baguley purchases 
Nottingham Corporation manure at 2s. Qd. per ton at Notting- 
ham ; after which he carts it ten miles — a cost that the land 
certainly cannot bear. The Judges considered it would have 
been more advantageous to have used artificial manures. 
The live-stock included 8 horses, of which 2 were breeding 
mares, one of them in foal, one working horse, 3 yearlings, 1 
four-year-old nag, and an old horse. Thei'e were 23 shorthorn 
cattle in December, 8 of them cows in milk — very useful-looking 
animals — a shorthorn bull, a cow in calf, and young stock. Milk 
is sent to London from Bingham Station on the Great Northei-n 
Railway. During winter and till March 25 it sells at Is. 9>d. 
to Is. 9cZ. per barn gallon, in summer at Is. Id., the sender 
paying the carriage, which is 2d. per gallon. Butter in small 
quantities is sold, as two meals of milk during the week are not 
sent to London. Milk cows are fed with straw cut by horse- 
power, mixed with roots, crushed oats, 3 lbs. linseed-cake, and 
brewers' grains from Newark. 
A very few sheep are kept, principally of the Shropshire 
breed. Poultry and eggs are sold to the extent of Ihl. a year. 
Labourers are plentiful in the district, and are paid about 
12s. weekly. Formerly the rate was 13s. Gi., but wages have 
been slightly reduced. Mr. Baguley is assisted by his two sons, 
by whom, with the assistance of one labourer, nearly all the farm- 
work is done. The cost of labour is about 78?. 17s. yearly. Pay- 
ments in 1887 were for cattle 33L, sheep 20Z., cake and artifi- 
cial food 74/., crushed corn 45/. 19s., manures 9/. 15s. hd., and 
tradesmen's accounts 12/. 15s. Taking an average of three years, 
the income showed a moderate balance over the expenditure. 
At the first inspection the condition of the farm was found 
