542 
The Farm-Prize Competition^ 1884. 
The cropping was as 
follows : — 
A. 
E. 
p. 
Meadow for mowing 
40 
3 
14 
211 
2 
0 
Wheat 
54 
3 
18 
Oats 
31 
1 
15 
7 
2 
22 
11 
1 
4 
10 
3 
0 
23 
3 
3 
22 
2 
26 
Grass 252 1 14 
162 1 8 
414 2 22 
At this stage of my narrative I introduce a Plan of the Hill 
Farm buildings (Fig. 4, p. 543), which are extremely well ar- 
ranged. The farm-house with a small quantity of grass-land is 
sub-let to a friend of Mr. Holme's. On our first visit a red cow, 
belonging to this gentleman, was pointed out to us grazing in the 
field as a wonderful butter-cow, and we were so much impressed 
with the dairy character of this animal, and with the record given 
of her produce, that we desired more accurate details. JNIr. Holme 
vouches for the accuracy of the following information : — " This 
cow, which calved in October last, for the first ten weeks after 
calving averaged 15 lbs. of butter per week, the next ten weeks, 
13 lbs. a week, and at the present time (July 18) (between eight 
and nine months after calving) is giving 10 lbs. per week ;" 
and Mr. Holme adds, " these are positive facts, and the owner 
is prepared to make a wager of 50/. that, with plenty of corn, 
she would produce 20 lbs. per week for the first ten weeks after 
calving." 
The buildings for food preparation are similar, but more 
perfect, than those at the home-farm, and comprise a roomy 
turnip-house, mixing-room, steam-chamber, engine-house, with 
granary and hay-lofts over; cow-houses, with feeding-gangways 
for 30 cows, the standings being separated by slabs of Welsh 
slate, costing 85. each, very strong and durable. Two open 
yards for young cattle close to the food-stores, and provided 
with good shelter-sheds, stable boxes, cattle-shed with a lean-to, 
used as a lambing-house ; bailiff s house, smith's shop, «*cc. 
This portion ot" the holding has been occupied nine years, 
and great improvements have been made to fences, roads, and 
returning to grass some 40 acres of the least desirable tillage- 
land ; the usual practice being to clean the land by a summer 
