514 
The Farm-Prize Competition, 1884. 
nights, a few roots thrown about or sliced, and straw ; the 
labour of milking is also saved ; but highlj-fed dairy stock, 
whether kept for milk-selling or cheese-making, must do much 
more as manure-makers and land-improvers than cattle which 
get no extra food. One of the Judges, himself a milkseller, 
contends that the system is prejudicial to the milking qualities 
of the future cows, inasmuch as the animal becomes far too fat, 
and, though this condition is the result of natural food, yet the 
result is just as bad as though the calf was forced for show, 
proper muscular action being seriously impeded by the deposit 
of fat in the tissues. I had no opportunity of instituting 
a comparison as to fecundity between Hereford heifers and 
hand-reared stock, but I can readily imagine that his views 
are sound in this matter. In almost every instance where 
Herefords were kept we found one or two dairy animals pur- 
chased to supply the requirements of the household ; and, lastly, 
whilst precluded from giving actual figures, I am justified 
in stating that the system, as applied to cattle of ordinary 
market value, is not sufficiently profitable. Nothing could be 
more satisfactory than the progress of the stock when weaned ; 
they thrive splendidly in open yards, are docile in habits, and 
when judiciously fed, without an excessive quantity of roots, 
and with a due allowance of concentrated food, their progress is 
rapid ; and they probably pay as well for their food as any 
breed of similar age. I venture to suggest that, under different 
treatment, the milking properties of the Herefords might be 
developed without serious injury to their feeding qualities. In 
one instance, not that of a competitor, I found cross-bred cows 
each rearing two calves, and 1 am convinced that, even if 
dairying is not considered practical or desirable, more should 
be done in the way of rearing. I am diffident about criticising 
established practices, for which there may be reasons beyond 
my ken ; but, as it is said that onlookers often see more than 
those at work, so perhaps the expression of my convictions, 
which have been forced upon me by observation and facts, may 
at least provoke useful consideration. 
Much of the success, which we witnessed with admiration and 
almost envy, is attributable to the valuable rent-paying properties 
of the Shropshire sheep, which are universal in the Midlands. 
The characters of these are too well known to require descrip- 
tion ; but I may notice the fact, that the practice of shearing 
the lambs in July is becoming general, and, as far as I could 
gather, is considered desirable, because the skin can be kept 
cleaner and insects more easily destroyed. Another innovation, as 
to which the testimony was more varied, is the putting of the for- 
wardest ewe lambs to the ram. On good land, and with generous 
