Experiences of the Severe Winter 0/ 1890-91. 
293 
dressing of farmyard manure, 1^ cwt. of nitrate of soda and 3 cwt. 
superphosphate are applied per acre for the root cro]). Four work 
horses are kei)t, besides four or five well-bred Shire mares for 
breeding purposes ; also a variable number of young Shires of 
different ages. 
A flock of 2G0 breeding ewes is maintained, in addition to 
which 220 tegs have been wintered. The ewes are of no special 
breed, the object being to obtain the greatest possible number 
of lambs. The prolificacy and milking capabilities of the ewes 
are considered in order that a large proportion of the young 
stock may be fit to go as fat lamb ; about half the yearly jjro- 
duce, say 200, are sold off the ewes direct to the butcher. The 
yearly outlay on cake and other purchased foods is 960^., and 
the artificial manure bill is loO/. Forty calves a year are 
reared, some of which are bred on the farm and the remainder 
purchased. 
In addition to the stock reared on the farm, barren cows and 
heifers are chiefly fattened on the best pastures. On the best 
store land a good class of lying-off cows and heifers, picked up 
in the dairy districts, are sold to the London dealers when due 
to calve. Others are bulled on the farm, a well-bred bull being 
kept for the purpose. As a natural consequence, these latter 
remain longer on hand, care being taken that they shall calve 
at a time when milk is likely to be most wanted. By arrang- 
ing that they shall come in at the right time, a difference of 
several pounds i)er head in their value often results. The labour 
bill amounts to 17.s. 2|(Z. per acre. 
The farm is in the hands of a yearly tenant, subject to one 
year's notice to quit. I need scarcely say that the tenant is a 
thoroughly practical man, possessed of ample capital, and 
the naanagement of the farm is in every way highly creditaljle 
to the skill and general intelligence of the occupier. 
There has been uo apparent scarcity of milk during the 
winter. All milk-selling farmers contract for the year at 
separate prices for the winter and the summer six months. 
Half the summer quantity must be furnished during the winter, 
otherwise the farmer renders himself liable for damages. With 
rare exceptions the stated quantities have been maintained ; 
there has been very little demand for accommodation milk, and 
this has been met by the factories at an enhanced price, the 
only falling off having been during the latter part of April. 
I have never known so large a number of cross-bulled cows — 
that is, cows served to come in for the winter dairy. Farmers 
in the Midlands use brewers' grains largely for their dairy cows 
