562 
The Farm Prize (Competition of 1891. 
and are grown, and contrary to expectation, the immense body 
of chalk causes a coolness of soil with a resisting power to 
drought, unknown to those living on the oolitic limestone 
formation. 
Xorth Dalton is a small village near Market Weighton, the 
owner being Lord Londesborough, between whom and his 
tenants a most excellent feeling prevails. A railway station 
having been very recently opened at Middleton-on-the- Wolds, 
great ease is now felt in the delivery of corn, which formerly had 
to be taken many miles to Driffield. 
The size of the farm is 857 acres, eighty acres of this being 
grass, and 767 acres arable. A modified four-course system 
is followed, varied again at the high portion of the land, but 
always having a good turnip crop in view to support the large 
flock of sheep, without which these Wolds could not be farmed. 
Great quantities of straw must of necessity be trodden 
down in the winter, for which many large open yards are pro- 
vided, one of them recently covered, 20 yards by 16 yards, at a 
cost of 80/., with the usual interspaced deal boards. 
The buildings, premises and fences were in veiy nice order, 
having altogether a tidy appearance, yet showing none of that 
extra preparation sometimes seen on a competing farm. 
To obviate the scarcity of water mentioned above, large ponds 
are made at great cost, no little skill being required to keep 
them water-tight. A very good one, costing 30/., has been made 
at the corners of four fields. After digging out to the required 
size, a coating of lime is evenly spread, then a thickness of clay 
well worked, after this another layer of lime followed by straw, 
and over all plenty of chalk. The lime is used to prevent the 
worms letting the contents flow out. Although the weather 
was BO diy, plenty of water had collected from the rainfall and 
surface water, and had eveiy appearance of remaining there 
until required. » 
The corn crop being such an important item on the farm, 
its serious depreciation of late years has told heavily on the 
receipts, and although the rent has been reduced from 1,150/. 
to 834:/., yet, as will be seen by the gross value of the cereals 
sold for the last 14 years, diminished rent only very partially 
atones for so great a fall in prices. 
Returns of Corn of all descriptions sold each year. 
1877 :f 2,701 I 1884 £2,537 
1878 2,004 ; 1885 1,293 
1879 J,537 ; 188G 1,034 
1880 1.343 ! 1887 l,r)Gl 
1881 1,804 ) 1888 895 
1882 1,964 1889 1.60S 
1883 1,9GG i 
