Somersetshire Farm-Prize Competition, 1875. 591 
Cottages and Labour. — There are no cottages connected with 
the farm, and the nearest residence is 1^ mile distant. 
The milking is done by men, and tlie labour-bill of the farm 
amounts to nearly 1/. per acre. Labour has increased about 
10 per cent, in 5 years. 
Permanent Improvements. — The average outlay per annum on 
permanent improvements the last 5 years has been 62Z. per 
annum, irrespective of the calculated labour payments. 
Mr. Keene's farm is almost exclusively devoted to the breed- 
ing and rearing of stock, and the production of cheese and 
\ other dairy produce. Nothing is sold fat, except the cheese. 
Looked at in all its aspects, this farm is unique among the com- 
peting holdings. 
Me. James Mead's Farm. 
Arable land, 192 ; pasture, 33 : total, 225. 
Situation, Soil, and Geology. — Mr. Mead's farm is an exam- 
ple of another distinct type of agriculture in Somersetshire. 
' Situated 8 miles east of Taunton, tlie greater proportion of 
\ the land is of a heavy nature on the Lower Lias shale. The 
Lias rock lies from 2 to 4 feet beneath the surface, and the 
whole district surrounding Curry Mallet is quarried for this 
stone, either for building purposes or for making lime. At 
two miles' distance, in the neighbourhood of West Sedgmoor, 
about 50 acres are held. This is chiefly plough land, and is 
barely safe from flooding, indeed it is "ometimes under water. 
I Its nature is peculiar, being something between alluvial de- 
posit and peat, and, as was remarked by my colleague, Mr. 
' Outhwaite, it is that sort of land that takes a winter to get 
I well saturated, and a summer to become thoroughly dry again. 
I The climate is early. 
Tenure. — The tenure varies. Part is taken on a yearly 
tenancy, and part is held under Mr. Mead's brother, who, in his 
turn, is the last participator under a three-life lease, granted to 
his grandfather by the Duchy of Cornwall. 
Housfs and Buildings. — The house, which is slightly superior 
to a cottage, is in the village of Curry Mallet, and some inferior 
buildings are attached to it. 
Irrespective of the Sedgmoor holding, the farm is very much 
scattered, and the fields are detached. A drive of about 2 miles 
was required to see the different fields on the home-farm, and one 
of an area of 2 acres connected with it, which was not visited, 
lies, we believe, a distance of 10 miles from the homestead. 
Grass Land. — The grass land is only 30 acres in extent, and 
is grazed by cattle purchased in the spring. 
