The Berkshne Farm Prize Competition, 1882. 
549 
and without the use of solder. The troughs, twenty-two in 
number, are fitted with ball-valves in an enclosed chamber at 
the end of each, securely locked, and provision is made in 
case of severe frost. The main pipes and various branches 
extend to about three miles in length. So essential is a good 
and regular supply of pure water to the well-being of stock, and 
for use where dairying is carried on extensively, that the Judges 
considered that the designing of these water-works, and the 
utilisation of the sewage before-mentioned, reflect the greatest 
credit on the intelligence of Mr. Adams. 
The Wickelsome Lodge farm is situated a mile south of Far- 
ingdon, the Great Western Railway to that town passing 
through the middle of it : it belongs to Oriel College, Oxford, was 
entered upon so recently as Michaelmas of last year, and was then 
very [much out of condition ; but a considerable portion being of a 
sandy and dry nature, Mr. Adams was induced to take it as 
an advantageous change for his sheep, he having recently lost 
by fluke on his other and low-lying land, a valuable flock of two 
hundred Oxfordshire Down ewes. 
The College authorities sanctioned the expenditure of a year's 
rent in repairs, draining, and other necessary work, and very 
wisely entrusted the carrying out of what was required to 
Mr. Adams' experience and judgment. 
A large number of new gates have been hung and painted, 
constructed on the principle of being bolted together, so that a 
rail or brace in case of breakage can be readily substituted. 
Strong well-framed boarded gates are fixed to the various yards ; 
draining, where required, has been done, including some bogs 
in the pastures arising from springs, the water from which is 
conveyed to a suitable place for the use of stock, and the ground 
filled up with sound material. Useless fences have been re- 
moved, all ditches and outlets well cleaned, and a large quan- 
tity of lime has been manufactured for use on the land. Alto- 
gether, from the time of our first visit in December to the 30th 
June, a considerable transformation had taken place. 
The Lodge farm contains 166 acres of arable and 245 of grass. 
Coles Pitt field (so called from its neighbourhood to a supposed 
Roman encampment known by that name) of 34 acres, has 18 
down in grass, and the remaining 16 acres are so unsuitable 
Irom the nature of the soil for the growth of corn or roots, that 
the Judges are of opinion it might also be advantageously 
converted into permanent pasture. Mr. Adams proposes to 
adopt the four-course system of cropping on the bulk of this 
arable land, which is well calculated to carry sheep in the 
winter. 
As might be expected with so large an area of grass land, 
