The  Yorkshire  Farm- Prize  Competition,  1883. 
575 
capital  bullocks  were  being  fattened  in  an  open  fold,  and  were 
getting,  in  addition  to  white  turnips,  7 lbs.  of  linseed-cake  and 
barley-meal  each  per  day.  Three  had  gone  off  fat  out  of  the  lot 
at  27/.  10s.  each.  The  young  stock — excepting  calves — were 
all  in  open  folds,  getting  a little  cake  with  turnips  and  straw, 
and  were  like  growing  into  useful  cattle.  Pedigree  bulls  are 
used.  A four-year-old  bull  going  off  fat  was  by  “ 5th  Duke  of 
Tregunter,”  and  a yearling  to  take  his  place  was  by  “ 7th  Baron 
Oxford.” 
A strong  contingent  of  pigs — 38  all  told — were  chiefly  living 
in  the  yards  amongst  the  cattle,  and  were  apparently  faring  well. 
The  draught  - horses — nine  in  number  — w ere  not  heavy 
animals ; they  looked  as  though  they  might  have  a strain  of 
Cleveland  blood  in  their  veins.  Two  two-year-olds,  besides, 
were  broken  to  work  ; and  four  of  the  mares  were  bringing  foals. 
The  stalls  in  the  stables  are  made  to  hold  two  horses  each, 
which  to  a Northern  farmer  always  looks  a dangerous  arrange- 
ment. 
The  whole  of  the  men  working  on  the  farm  are  boarded  in 
the  house..  This  system  is  not  thought  likely  to  spread,  if  the 
feminine  members  of  the  farming  community  are  taken  into 
counsel.  The  staff  here  consists  of  a foreman,  five  ploughmen, 
and  three  labourers  ; the  latter  of  whom  have  9s.  a week  and 
their  board.  Wages  have  fallen  about  20  per  cent,  from  what 
they  were  in  the  good  times.  The  amount  in  the  aggregate  for 
labour  is  270/.  per  annum. 
Soot  is  largely  used  for  dressing  corn-crops.  The  manure 
bill  is  under  lOO/.,  and  that  for  cake  amounts  to  nearly  300/. 
per  annum. 
A complete  set  of  farm-books  is  kept,  showing  details  of 
cropping,  sales,  and  expenses.  An  inventory  is  taken  and  a 
balance-sheet  drawn  out  on  the  23rd  of  March  in  each  year,  in 
which  Mr.  Coverdale  charges  the  farm  with  100/.  per  annum  for 
personal  supervision,  and  3 per  cent,  on  a capital  of  over  4000/. 
employed.  After  this  had  been  done  in  1883,  a small  balance 
had  to  be  placed  on  the  wrong  side  of  the  sheet. 
Class  III. — First  Prize. 
Mr.  Benjamin  Beevers,  Clay  Shed  Farm,  Escrich. 
The  competition  in  this  class  was  limited  to  farms  under 
150  acres  in  extent. 
Mr.  Beevers,  who  had  a clear  lead  in  the  competition,  is  dhe 
kind  of  man  for  whom  the  prize  was  evidently  intended.  He 
began  life  as  a farm-servant,  and,  like  the  energetic  yet  prudent 
