234 Bejjort on the Farm Prize GomiJetition in 
Remarks. — "The milks, with one' exception (that of the cow 'Beauty '), 
came out very high indeed. As instances of the good quality of milk which 
can be obtained in winter-feeding of cows, the results are most satisfactory, 
and, with the exception of ' Beauty,' are much above the present limits fixed 
under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, viz. 3 per cent, of fat and 9>h per 
cent, of solids-not-fat. Comparing the different analyses, there is practically 
nothing to choose between Trotter's, Fairbairn's, Reay's, and Thomson's. 
" Marshall's and Lambert's are lower in quality than the other four, but 
they are both of really excellent quality, and well above the limits. The 
milk of ' Beauty ' is far inferior to any of the others in quality, but it could 
hardly be expected that such enormous quantities could be produced of 
quality e {ual to the others. (Signed) "J. Augustus Voelcker." 
" May 28, 1887." 
Several interesting questions might be discussed as to these 
yields : but I cannot here attempt comparisons on the various 
points which arise. It must suffice to say that the Judges, keep- 
ing in mind the terms on which the prizes were offered, carefully 
considered, in accordance with their instructions, the general 
management, the crops, the quality and suitability of stock ; the 
management of gi'ass land, the state of fences, roads, and general 
neatness; and the management of the milk and dairy. They 
awarded the prizes in accord with the weight of evidence and 
impression on these points as a whole. They are free to say 
they had most difficulty in fixing the places of the two first 
named. Mr. Fairbaim's crops were more extensive and his 
management of superior order on the whole ; but Mr. Reay's 
cows, and his management of them in the production of milk, 
stood higher than the others, while his farming was also superior, 
and the Judges unanimously gave the first prize to him. 
Class 5. 
This class was for farms occupied and carried on in conjunc- 
tion with a colliery, and it was soon apparent that forming for 
its own sake, or to make profit, was not the chief business of 
the competitors. It was rather to escape claims for damage 
to the surface by its sinking through the getting of coal 
from under it, or to reduce the charges upon the business of 
colliery proprietors, that the land was worked hj them either as 
owners or as tenants ; and the able and cnter]n-ising way in 
which it was done no doubt accomplished the desired result in the 
most satisfactory manner, while it left them free to act without 
those frequent references to the rights of each party and to 
arbitrations to assess damages which are always sources of 
annoyance to both parties. 
The competitors in Class 5 were — 
1. Messrs. Strakers & Love, Brancepeth Colliery, 
Willington, Durham. 
