Somersetshire Fann-Prize Competition, 1875. 527 
The cattle and horses are supposed not to leave the Hill Farm 
intil they go lor good ; but contingencies probably produce some 
i.ariation of this rule. The sheep are always sent down for a 
iportion of the winter. If the rule were rigidly adhered to, the 
;'arm would carry the following quantity of stock from May to 
May :— 
Cattle, 27. 
Horses and colts, 12. 
Ewes and lambs from May to January, 200 ewes with lambs ; 
and the off ewes, about 90 to 100, from May till August. 
Taking into account peculiarities of seasons and other causes 
^as this year, through the unusual severity of the winter, we 
wcertained that two mares and colts were away four months of 
|;he winter, and some rough keep was also hired), it would be 
air to assume the totals of stock supported on the farm at 
Cattle, 27. 
Horses and colts, 8. 
200 stock-ewes, with their lambs, from May to December. 
This, as may be supposed, will bear a favourable contrast to 
he numbers of stock carried on the farm when Mr. Babbage 
irst occupied it. 
Cattle are of the Devon breed. The cows produce their calves 
owards the fall of the year, the heifers coming into profit as 
wo-year-olds, and dropping their calves as near grass as possible. 
The calves remain with their mothers for five or six months, 
luring which, if in winter time, they are housed, and are allowed 
iome cut turnips and \ peck of oats a day, mixed Avith chaff. 
They run on the grass in the summer, and go off as yearlings in 
itore condition, with the exception of such heifers as are drafted 
nto the stock. The cows run in the strawyard during the winter, 
l iving principally upon oat-straw, with a few turnips. 
The cows are usually sold in store condition, as the heifers are 
Irafted in. Occasionally a few heifers are fattened, but this is 
exceptional. Four were fattened last winter on a peck of wheat- 
neal a day, in addition to their turnips and straw. 
Sheep are of the Devon Long-wool breed. The 200 stock 
'wes, averaging about one lamb each, come up with their lambs 
n iNIay. The yearling ewes follow them. After the lambs are 
.veaned in June, the ofF-ewes are drafted from the flock of stock 
nves, principally by seniority, and are replaced by the yearlings, 
!.vhich amount in number to about 90. The 90 turn-off ewes 
'continue to run the grass till August, and are finished fat on the 
owerfarm about a month later, averaging something like 90 lbs. 
he carcase. 
The lambs are hurdled on the turnips, the sexes being divided, 
