The Farm-Prize Competition, 1884. 
561 
Considerable lameness was visible at our first visit, caused 
from proud flesh, which requires careful treatment, as it may 
otherwise seriously affect condition. From one-third to one-half 
of the root crop, according to circumstances, is consumed on 
the land. Iron hurdles, 6 feet long, and costing about 3s. each, 
are used, and are both durable and cheap. At our second 
visit the ewes and lambs, a very promising lot, were on grass. 
The 260 ewes produced over 400 lambs ; but severe losses 
occurred during the cold weather in April from curd in the 
stomach, over 50 having succumbed to this serious disease, 
which was attributed to the cold weather and the richness 
of the food. The hoggs were on seeds, those intended for the 
butcher having a liberal allowance of cake. Here again, as 
in many other instances, the farmer prefers not to force his 
hoggs whilst on roots, but to finish them off on seeds, because 
the quantity of cake necessary for early maturity would make 
the land too rich for good barley, and the crop, especially in 
a moist season, would be lodged and spoilt, whereas the 
eating of cake on seeds always benefits the wheat crop. On a 
farm of this kind, where tillage predominates, the practice is 
no doubt justifiable. Mr. Hawkins clips his lambs at the 
end of June, because dipping is more efficacious, and the 
risk from maggots is reduced. Flies are very troublesome, 
owing to the number of trees in the pastures. The flock is 
found to pay better than cattle, and great care is exercised as 
to the selection of rams and the drafting of the ewes. The 
flock were remarkably uniform in size and type, and appeared 
thriving well. 
Horses. — Considering the amount of heavy work effected by 
steam-power, of which more anon, we were surprised to find 
such a large force of horses (see p. 562) ; but the explanation is 
that, after working on the land for two to three years, the young 
horses at five or six years old are prepared for the market, and 
make large prices. This we can readily imagine, as they are 
an excellent stamp, big of bone and body, with good feet and 
plenty of hair, and just the animals for town work. Great 
attention is paid to the selection of sires. Thus we found seven 
most promising three-year-olds, by a grand sire, Mr. Wood- 
bridge's " Great Britain,'' of Bampton, Oxon. These were 
broken, and ready for work. 
The hours of work, which at times is heavy, are eight hours 
in winter and nine hours in summer, with a break at mid-day. 
The winter food comprises a mixture of ground oats, Indian 
corn, and beans, 10 lbs. a day, with chaff, and 12 lbs. of long 
clover hay. 
