5-74 
Somersetshire Farm-Prize Competition, 1875. 
the milch cows in the winter. An admixture of different kinds 
of corn is used with the cake for feeding. 
Sheep. — The sheep are Improved Devon Long-wools, and the 
flock is of an uniform and useful character. With continued 
careful exercise of judgment Mr. Bowerman will, we think, in a 
few years, take a high place among his contemporary breeders. 
The ewes lamb in February, and the lambs are weaned at the 
latter end of May, and at once put on ^ lb. each of linseed- 
cake and corn. They have the first run of the vetches, and are 
generally changed on clovers, rape, or pastures daily until the 
turnips are ready. The sexes are then divided. The rams and 
wethers are from this time better cared for, and precede the rest 
of the flock in the folds. The wethers are finished on the 
swedes in April, their corn being gradually increased up to 1 lb. 
per sheep each day. Some are usually sold in the wool in 
February, and the rest are clipped. They make from 20 lbs. to 
22 lbs. per quarter in weight. The rams are carried on till the 
following June, and then sold or let by auction. The ewe lambs 
follow the feeding-sheep, and have a small piece of fresh fold 
daily allotted them. Their allowance of cake is increased to 
^ lb. each per diem till they go off the roots, and thev become 
incorporated with the flock the following summer. The draft 
ewes are sold off fat as soon as possible after weaning, and the 
barrens often go with the fat wethers, as was the case this year. 
The stock ewes run the orchards, and pick up after the lambs on 
the vetches, clovers, and pastures in the summer, and follow the 
fattening sheep and ewe lambs on the roots in the winter. They 
have a run on the pastures once a week, and a fortnight before 
lambing are left there entirely, having a small quantity of roots 
and some hay given them. After lambing they get mangolds 
daily, and are better done until the lambs are weaned. The 
lambs are always shorn, and average 3 lbs. of wool each. The 
old sheep average 8^ lbs. of wool per head. 
Horses. — The working horses are of a useful stamp. They 
have 14 lbs. of corn and a little hay each through the winter 
every day, and in the summer depend upon green food with a 
couple of pounds of corn. The hacks and colts run in the yards 
during the winter and on the pastures in the summer. They 
deserve no especial comment, as is the case with the pigs. 
Fences, Roads, and General Neatness. — The fences are of the 
prevailing character in Somersetshire, being placed on banks 
from 5 to 8 feet wide, and about the same height. They are 
double-planted, and consist of almost every variety of wood 
except blackthorn, and are a fertile source of weeds. The 
banks have been curtailed by the present tenant, and the sides 
were found neatly brushed ; but on inquiry why the weeds and 
