Expenences of the Severe Winter 0/ 1890-91. 289 
on record. On the 10th, 1 1th, and 12th of the month, snow con- 
tinned to fall nninterruptedly, accompanied by a violent gale 
that caused great damage to shipping in the Channel and along 
the south-west coast. The traffic, both on road and rail, was 
entirely suspended ; trains were blocked in snowdrifts, and 
were unable either to proceed on their journey or retrace their 
course, thereby causing great suffering, and in some instances 
even loss of life. The stock of the farm, where exposed to the 
elements, were caught in the drifts, which in places were 
fifteen to twenty feet deep ; the sheep could not be extricated 
for several days, and on many farms the losses were heavy. 
Whilst the inhabitants of the West were experiencing all the 
rigours of an Arctic climate, we in the Midlands were compara- 
tively free froin snow. It was only on the elevated ranges of 
North Staft'ordshire and of the Peak districts of Derbyshire that 
snow was to be seen. During spring and early summer our 
river valleys suffer fai' more from late frosts than do the more 
elevated districts. 
Where cattle were subjected to the test of the weighing 
machine during the spring of 1890, the price of the best class 
of stores per 100 lb. live weight was relatively higher than the 
price realised per 100 lb. for prime fat cattle of the same class 
and quality. Owing to the scarcity of keep and the backward 
state of the pastures, in April, 1891, store cattle were about 
8 per. cent lower in value than they were at the same date in 
the previous year. At the time of writing store and fat cattle 
are worth the same price, a fraction under Ad. per lb. live 
weight, which shows pretty clearly the unfortunate position of 
the grazier who has to purchase his stock at spring. On mixed 
occupations, whei'e breeding and rearing can be successfully 
carried on, the farmer is in a much better position. On all but 
the best fattening pastures this system is capable of considerable 
extension. In some districts the want of suitable buildings 
for the accommodation of the young stock hampers the tenant 
and retards the progress of breeding. This deficiency can be 
supplied by inexpensive structures, fulfilling all the economical 
requirements as regards labour, and maintaining the healthy 
condition of the animals, at a small cost compared with the 
usual erections of bricks and mortar and slated roofs. The 
sheds can be made equally comfortable at less than half the 
usual cost. 
When the lands that have been abandoned are again brought 
into cultivation, and large areas that have been laid down to 
permanent pasture during the last ten years are again brought 
