560 
The Farm-Prize Competition, 1884. 
in the mangers ; 3 dairy cows and a calf ; 2 bulls, feeding ; and 
21 grand young bullocks, rising two years. These latter were 
in yards, but let out for two hours daily, their destination being 
to graze in the fertile pastures of the Wye, where we found them 
on our second visit, much grown, and thriving famously. In 
addition to excellent grazing, they were having 4 lbs. a day of 
decorticated cotton- and linseed-cake in equal proportions. 
From an estimate of value, we thought they had gained 6/. IO5. 
a head from the cost price in November, and allowing for the 
difference of food, they had done better than the older lot. 
Mr. Hawkins's usual practice is to buy Irish drape cows in 
the spring for summer grazing ; but owing to the prevalence of 
foot-and-mouth disease, horned stock were not in their usual 
numbers on our second visit, the principal purchases having 
been 9 Shorthorn bullocks, coming two years old, which cost 
16Z. 55. in April, and were a promising lot. In January the 
total number of horned stock was 107, whereas in May there 
were only 69 head, and in July these were further reduced to 
48 head ; but Mr. Hawkins was contemplating a large addition 
to his cattle stock, which the condition of the pastures then 
fully justified. The 107 animals were consuming about 2 tons 
of roots a day, about 42 lbs. average per head, which is not 
extravagant feeding. Mr. Hawkins likes quick returns, and 
therefore prefers buying his cattle in fresh condition, and passing 
a great number of animals through his hands during the year. 
The success of such a system depends upon judgment as to the 
kind of animal that will feed, and acuteness as to buying in 
the cheapest and selling in the dearest market. The returns 
must of course vary according to the relative value of stores 
and fat animals. 
Sheep. — A heavy stock of Shropshires are bred on the farm. 
The numbers at our visits in January, May, and July were as 
follows : — 
January. 
148 Full grown ewes, — food, 
2 oz. crushed oats, 
liay, chaff, and swedes. 
138 Young ewes, \ lb. oats, and 
swedes and hay chaff. 
123 Gimmers shorn, 2 oz. 
crushed oats to bo con- 
tinued till February, 
roots, liay-chaff, and 
hay. 
120 Wether lambs,"lalso shorn, 
20 Earn Inmbs /3 to 4 oz. 
linseed-cake, hay, chaff, 
twice a day. 
4 Earns. 
553 
Maij. 
260 Ewes \on grass 
350 Lambs/ seeds. 
IIG Ewe hoggs. 
120 Wether do. 
20 Earns. 
109 Barren ewes 
small hoggs. 
975 
July. 
283 Store ewes. 
85 Draft ewea. 
349 Lambs. 
254 Feeding sheep. 
2 Earns. 
973 
