550 
The Farm-Prize Competition, 188i. 
greatly forced ; tliey consisted of 16 cows in-calf, or with calves 
at foot ; 6 two-year-old heifers not served, as the plan is to have 
the first calf at three years old ; 8 useful two-year-old steers, 
rather small for their age ; 9 yearling bullocks, and 10 yearling 
heifers — all useful. There were two barren cows to be fed, and 
two cows for the dairy, all which except the calves we saw at 
our first visit. The bull in service is a big two-year-old. 
Patron 8th," bred by Messrs. Green, by " Dauphin 22nd " 
(6386), out of a " Prettymaid " cow; he is very lengthy, 
and wide in his fore-quarter, a superior beast, and calculated 
to improve the already useful type of cows. Mr. Mellings 
works his farm without a large outlay in purchased food, 
and, considering the nature of his land, it carries a fair quan- 
tity of stock ; hence they are not large or forward for age, but 
they all look like paying the rent, and the rent is paid with 
a good margin, and this is the real test of good management. 
Pigs are not largely kept, as there is no dairy produce to con- 
sume. Two sows and six pigs complete the lot. 
Taking into consideration the very heavy strain on the 
animal forces of the farm in 1882, and the nature of the seasons, 
the condition of the tillage land as to cleanliness was decidedly 
creditable. I may refer to the treatment of land intended for 
roots. The stubbles were manured in the autumn at the rate of 
from ten to twelve loads per acre. This was buried with a 
rather light furrow, i.e. about 5 inches deep, and crossed in spring 
from 2 to 3 inches below the autumn furrow, which ensures the 
manure being kept near the surface. Then the land was tho- 
roughly worked by scuffling, harrowing, rolling, cScc. The land 
Avas perfectly clean, and all was done that was possible to pre- 
pare it to grow a good crop, if the season allowed. It should 
be noted that the clover ley before the wheat crop was limed. 
The working of this field indicated judgment and system. The 
wheat, though looking pretty well, was not quite clean. We 
next visited a newly laid field, part of the additional land taken 
in 1881. Mr. Mellings is a cautious man, and before com- 
mitting himself to large outlay in the way of artificial manures, 
he experiments on a small scale ; so we were shown plots dressed 
with bones, which apparently had done no good, whereas lime 
and farmyard manure ha,d both made a decided mark. And in 
a meadow intended for hay, 5 cwt. of an especially prepared 
mixture of Webbs' had helped the clovers, which were looking 
fresh and well. About thirty acres of old grass are mown annuall v, 
always the same ground, which is usually dressed with manure 
from Ludlow ; but owing to heavy cartage-work alluded to, this 
important means of restoration had been rather neglected of late. 
The labour comprises a waggoner, who gets 13s. a- week, a 
cottage rent free, half a gallon of cider daily all the year round, 
