Report on the Fai-m-Prize Competition o/"1885. 561 
extent from the " custom of the country," and there thick 
sowing, especially of wheat, is the rule ; but, without going to 
the other extreme all at once, and sowing too thin, a gradual 
reduction in the quantity of seed over a portion of the wheat- 
area each year, comparing it and testing it with the thick' 
seeded crop, could do no harm, and might lead to great results. 
It appeared to us that on some of this really good land, clean, 
and in high condition as regards fertility, there is no reason 
why the wheat should not attain the maximum weight of which 
this crop is capable ; as it is, notwithstanding the fact that this 
looks like being a " wheat " year, the majority of wheats which 
came under our notice in this competition were open to great 
improvement, both in size of ear and strength of straw. And 
not only in this year's crop, but also in last year's stacks (many 
of which were still standing, waiting, we were told, to see what 
"Nicholas " would do), the same fault could be found, viz. weak 
straw and small heads. 
The above wheat-field concluded our inspection of crops, 
our method of examination in every case being to take each 
field in " skirmishing order " from end to end, an equal distance 
apart ; and on a hot day in July, through crops such as those 
standing on Roby Farm, this was found very fair exercise. 
As to the general impression produced on the Judges, there 
may have been in the case of Mr. Taylor a pleasurable disap- 
pointment because his diligent search for really fine specimens of 
Triticinn repens (a plant common in some districts) had here 
been so ill-rewarded. To do that gentleman justice, however, 
on no occasion did he spare himself in making wide and scientific 
" casts " here and elsewhere with this object in view, and perse- 
verance such as his, it is needless so say, met with some measure 
of success on certain farms which shall be nameless. In the 
case of my other colleague, Mr. Hutchinson, a great stock- 
breeder like himself must be forgiven if there were some signs 
of lingering regret in his mind, that his branch of husbandry 
should find so little place on this admirably managed farm. 
But, apart from considerations such as these, no doubt ever 
existed, and there was no difference of opinion as to the fact, 
that Roby Farm must be placed first in Class I. 
Mr. Ashton, who keeps no elaborate accounts, gave, amongst 
other information, the following figures. 
The first corn-shed he erected was in 1878, the measurements 
are as follows : height to eaves, 20 ft. ; length, 112 ft. ; breadth, 
24 ft., with a lean-to against the barn wall 45 ft. long by 15 ft. 
wide, screwed to the building ; the whole work well and sub- 
stantially done: the wooden uprights are let 4 ft. G in. into 
the ground, charred at the bottom, filled in with asphalt, and 
