Report on the Farm-Prize Competition of 1885. 
555 
as shouldn't," Mr. Ashton cheerily offered a handsome bonus to 
any one who could fill his hat with twitch grown on Roby Farm ; 
and that this was no vain-glorious boast, would probably be 
admitted by any one who has thoroughly examined the farm for 
himself; at any rate, in the event of the hat being filled, the 
bonus would have been well earned by a good deal of hard 
work in the search. 
The tenant considers that by filling up and levelling a large 
number of old pits, and by eradicating and levelling old fences, 
he has gained over six acres of land ; he has also planted and 
reared upwards of five miles of quick fences during his tenancy, 
and the manner in which this work has been done leaves nothing 
to be desired ; the whole has been done at his own expense. 
Mr. Ashton has also erected extensive Dutch barns for both corn 
and hay, at a cost of about 320/., besides building two labourers' 
cottages at a cost of about 400/., one of which is occupied by 
one of his own men, and the other lets for 16Z. a year rent. 
The live-stock on the farm in November was as follows : — 
7 working cart-horses. 
1 brood cart mare and foal. 
1 nag. 
2 cows in-milk. 
1 heifer, near calving. 
1 calf. 
3 pigs, fattening. 
1 sow in-pig. 
From the above list it will be seen that Mr. Ashton has long 
since made up his mind as to the line he means to take, which 
does not include stock-farming, and he is thoroughly consistent 
and in earnest ; he keeps not a head of stock on the farm that 
he can do without ; the cows supply his own house, and probably 
his men ; the pigs he feeds for home consumption. The work- 
horses no doubt get plenty of work ; they are a useful, ordinary 
lot, but not considered by the Judges quite up to the mark for 
such a high-class farm in other respects. They were one of 
the few weak points on Roby Farm, which contrasted un- 
favourably in this respect with the vast majority of the 
competing farms, on some of which we saw some remarkably 
fine animals. It is satisfactory to be able to pick some holes 
in proof-armour like Mr. Ashton's ! 
The original farm-buildings are somewhat old-fashioned, but 
ample for the accommodation of what little live-stock the farm 
carries ; they are kept in excellent order, and call for no further 
remark. The farm-house is a modern pleasant residence, 
recently built for the present tenant by the landlord. 
2 O 2 
