544 The Berkshire Farm Prize Competition, 1882. 
The laboUr-bill, somewhat heavy, as might be expected with 
such higfh-class cultivation and such a largfe amount of hand- 
fed stock, comes to ?>Qs. per acre. On this head Mr. RatcliflF 
remarked, " you will perhaps think this high, but looking at 
the results, and considering the farm had been very much out 
of order previous to my occupation, I think you will say the 
money has been well laid out, and I am sure of one thing, that 
it will not require so much in the future." And the Judges 
feel bound to place on record that they were quite unable, 
after a severe scrutiny, to find any instance of unnecessary or 
extravagant expenditure. 
The bailifT s house and two cottages are well placed near the 
farm-buildings ; two other cottages form a lodge entrance to 
the estate. 
The farm buildings are well-arranged and commodious, and 
the greatest neatness and order pervades the whole. 
The roads on the farm are well constructed and admirably 
kept, that dividing the arable from the meadow land being 
furnished with gratings at frequent intervals to receive and 
convey into the adjoining brook the overflow from the land. 
All the gates are well-painted, the fences neatly trimmed, the 
ditches thoroughly scoured, and outlets made good ; and all 
this not of yesterday, but part of a system evidently adopted 
for years. 
The implements are of the best kinds, and those found most 
suitable to the land ; they are well preserved when not in use in 
a covered shed, and include a manure-distributor, as well as a 
corn-mill, chaff-cutter and pulper, driven by a new and excel- 
lent eight-horse-power portable engine, which also does the 
threshing. 
The Priory House faces the Loddon valley, with a pic- 
turesque woodland landscape, and is a large old-fashioned 
structure thoroughlv adapted for comfort, with the whole of its 
appointments in elegant taste. Charming pleasure-grounds, 
and a most productive kitchen-garden run down to the river, 
where pike, roach, dace, and perch afford excellent sport to the 
followers of " Walton," and where otters are said to abound. 
We are pleased to understand that Mr. Ratcliff has arranged 
for an extension of his lease, and trust that he may long live to 
realise the quiet enjoy ment of his country home, and find in 
the return made by the farm a reward for his enterprise and 
outlay. Mr. Ratcliff entered upon the farm in 1875, and the 
standard he set himself was to double its production ; in the 
attainment of this laudable endeavour he has judiciously in- 
vested capital in permanent improvements, under which head 
may be mentioned draining, chalking, erection and mainte- 
