554 
Tli£ Farm-Prize Competition, 1884. 
Mr. Hardeman keeps an excellent flock of Shropshire sheep, 
and approves of breeding from ewe lambs, as the better keep, 
which is a necessary condition of success, increases size. Out 
of 30 ewe hoggs put to the ram last autumn, 20 had lambed at our 
second visit, 4 were barren, and the rest doubtful. We saw these 
youngsters, and they were decidedly promising, and appeared 
thriving. Such forcing treatment requires careful management 
and generous diet ; but when soil and climate are suitable, this 
early development meets the requirements of the age, and we 
shall not be surprised to find this practice as well as the 
shearing of lambs extending. We found in January, 69 breed- 
ing ewes, and 40 ewe hoggs. These were on grass, having 
whole swedes and grass, with a little hay ; 50 wether hoggs were 
on swedes, with a bushel of oats daily. These are not fed out, 
but are sold in June for grazing. Total head of sheep, 159. 
The horse power is rather excessive for the area of arable 
land, but the land lies wide, and mares are bred from, and 
young horses sold. 
5 draught horses, chiefly useful roomy mares. 
2 cart colts, two-year-olds. 
1 „ yearling. 
2 nag colts, two-year-olds. 
2 „ ;^earlings. 
1 Welsh pony. 
2 colts, rising three years. 
1 thoroughbred stallion, " Actacon," aged. 
16 
Pigs are an important feature of the farm stock. The middle 
breed sort are kept. 
8 breeding sows. 
2 fat pigs. 
14 porkers. 
17 stores. 
41 
It will be seen from above that this farm is heavily stocked, 
but it must be explained that there is a common right attached 
to the farm on Hanway Common, which is useful as a run for 
the ewes after weaning. This year 42 acres of meadow, and 
9 acres of clover after grazing, were laid for hay, and unless rain 
came soon after our inspection, the result must be a very light 
crop. The meadow land is extremely well managed. The same 
ground is mown each year, and manured in alternate years ; 
a large quantity of sawdust manure {i.e. sawdust being the 
