The Farm-Prize Competition, 1884. 
517 
to return to the system, although sensible of its evil tendencies. 
On some farms we found 2 quarts given in winter and 3 quarts, 
which not unfrequently extends to a gallon, in summer. Such 
an enormous quantity of acid must be injurious, and there is no 
doubt that cider-drinkers are more subject to rheumatism than 
others. Seeing how almost entirely money has been substituted 
for drink in many parts, and the advantages to all concerned 
which follow, we think that in these days of combined action by 
means of clubs and chambers, a well directed agitation might be 
effectively worked, and the cider evil — for such it is — done away 
with. Labour should be paid for in money only, with liberty to 
buy, up to a reasonable limit, at 6rf. a gallon. 
Through the courtesy of Mr. Davies, Sen., now retired in 
favour of his son, who entered on the same farm in 1822, I am 
able to give a most interesting comparison of the amount and 
value of stock which the farm carried at the two periods, the 
area, 475 acres, being the same; but at present 17 acres are 
occupied with hops, and therefore to this extent the stock- 
bearing area is reduced. The facts are obtained from a sale 
catalogue when the farm was given up by Mr. Edward Farmer, 
and represents, according to Mr. Davies, Sen., the full capacity 
of the farm for stock. Indeed, he declared that for some years 
after his entry he could not keep more ; possibly so soon after 
the close of the great European wars there would be a larger 
proportion of arable land than at present. The horned cattle 
of the Hereford breed comprised 9 cows and calves, 5 three- 
year-old heifers in calf, 8 two-year-olds, 3 barren cows, 
4 three-year-old bullocks, 4 two-year-old bullocks, 6 yearling 
heifers, and 6 yearling bullocks, making a total of 45, which 
realised the magnificent sum of 140/. Is. 3c?., or a trifle over 
3/. a head average. The highest price for a cow and calf was 
IIZ. 153. Three-year-olds ranged from 11. 5s. to 8/. 10s. Three- 
year-old bullocks made 8/. 10s. each. Two-year-old heifers in 
calf ranged from 21. 6s. to 18/. ; yearlings from 21. 17s. to 4/. 
The working horses comprised 6 animals, which ranged from 
21. 10s. given for a six-year-old mare in foal and 13/. 10s. for 
a five-year-old. The hackneys included 8 animals, 2 not 
sold ; prices from 4 guineas to 15 guineas. The sheep were 
sold privately. They comprised 58 ewes and lambs, 16 yearling 
ewes, 21 wethers, and 9 rams, making a total, irrespective of 
lambs, of 104 head, which would probably have made an 
average of 1/. 10s. a head, at which I have calculated them. 
Pigs, 15 in number, ranged from 1/. 16s. to 3/. 15/., and 
approached nearer present prices than any other kind of stock. 
The particulars of the sale catalogue may be thus sum- 
marised : — 
