290 Experiences of the Severe Winter 0/ 1890 -91. 
under tillage, though in many cases they are not adapted to 
the growth of the finer cereals, they are nevertheless capable of 
adding considerably to the output both of milk and meat. This 
certainly would result under a system of co-operative dairying, 
where the separated milk is utilised for the raising of stock on 
the farm, and the cream is conveyed to a central depot, where 
it is made into butter or otherwise profitably utilised. 
There is little complaint to be made as to the price at which 
good beef has been selling throughout the year, as 7d. to 7^^?. 
per lb. is a fair price, though formerly b$. per stone (of 81b.) 
was considered a good price. What the grazier is suffering 
from is the high price of stores. We do not remember a period 
when the graziers of the Midland Counties were so heavily hit 
as they were in the season of 1890. Although there has been 
a considerable drop in rents, this did not save the tenants of 
feedinor land from incurrino; serious losses. 
Rearinsf has been extensivelv carried on durinw the last 
two or three years, so that hopes were entertained that the prices 
of stores would recede as stock became more plentiful ; but at 
present there is no prospect of this hope being realised. Those 
who rear, aided by the low prices of auxiliary foods, have been 
finishing off all the best animals at an early age, and it is only 
the inferior or cull animals that reach the markets as stores. 
This is clearly apparent in all our markets in the inferior 
quality of the stock on oflfer. 
The hay crop of 1890, though an average as to bulk, was, 
with the exception of the small quantity secured before June 
20, generally of inferior quality. Much damage was done, owing 
to the unsettled state of the weather during the latter part of 
June, and throughout a great part of July. Wlien the fijie 
weather did set in the crops were over ripe, the seeds had been 
shed, and the culms had assumed a woody condition. The 
com harvest, on the other hand, was secured in good condition, 
and the straw was of prime quality. There was in reserve 
an unusually large quantity of good hay. the produce of 1889. 
The long severe winter of 1890-91, followed by a late spring, 
made heavy demands upon the fodder ; nevertheless the prices 
remain moderate. On most stock farms, the more extensive 
use of meals, and other artificial auxiliaries, in combination 
with chaffed liay and straw, prevents w^aste, and effects a 
general economy in tlie consumption of fodder. On some farms 
the litter is cut into chaff, whilst, on others, moss litter is to a 
certain extent re]ilacing straw. 
The root crop was an average. Tlie experience of the mild 
