JOURNAL 
OF THE 
ROYAL AGEICULTURAL SOCIETY 
OF ENGLAND. 
\.— On the Agriculture of Berkshire. By J. B. Spearing. ' 
Prize Essay. 
Introduction. 
Being a practical tenant-farmer connected with the county of 
Berks by a residence, first of ten years on the western border of 
tlie county, on a farm of 600 acres, and then by one of ten more 
years on the eastern side, on a farm of 800 acres, I have had 
ample opportunity of becoming acquainted with its soil, its 
farming, and its people : this has induced me to attempt writing 
the subjoined Report, trusting that any defect in style or com- 
position may be dealt with leniently. 
Berkshire, from its small extent, is not classed among the 
first of our English counties ; but from the fertility of much of 
its soil, the progressive spirit of its agriculturists, and its various 
improved modes of farming, it is entitled to a very prominent 
position ; and moreover acquires additional interest from the fact 
that, on its eastern boundary, stands the castle-residence of our 
Queen and the Prince Consort : and it is a subject of congratula- 
tion to the farmers of England that his Royal Highness has be- 
stowed on agriculture a full share of that time and attention which 
he has so successfully devoted to the peaceful arts and sciences. 
All who take an interest in agriculture have seen or heard of 
the Shaw Farm and Royal Dairy with their magnificent build- 
ings, and of the Flemish Farm and Norfolk Farm in Windsor 
Great Park, and have either witnessed or read of the many useful 
experiments and trials of implements carried on there ; they 
have also seen many specimens of the different breeds of stock 
irom the Royal Farms at the annual shows of the Royal Agri- 
cultural Society, the Smithfield Club, and the Birmingham 
Cattle Show, at each of which his Royal Highness has frequently 
been a successful competitor. The Royal Farms might of them- 
selves afford sufficient materials for a voluminous report, far 
exceeding the limits which can be assigned to them in this 
place ; I shall content myself, therefore, with a brief account of 
them under the head of Characteristic Farms, 
VOL. XXI. B 
