Tlie Farm-Prize Competition, 1884. 
575 
only having J lb. of linseed-cake per head. Very high feeding 
in early life is not approved of, as the risk of loss is increased. 
The Iambs have but little corn until weaned in July, and are 
kept during summer chiefly on first and second year's seeds. 
The rams remain out till shorn on April 1st, after which they 
are housed. At our second visit in May the new sheep-houses 
were completed, and here we found 30 shearling rams, 5 or 6 
in each compartment. Although the weather was warm, the 
building was cool, owing to excellent ventilation arrangements, 
and the animals were evidently thriving well. They were big 
good sheep, with uniformly dark faces. A few roots were 
stored for their use, but the ten weeks of dry weather had sadly 
interfered with the growth and succession of spring forage 
crops, cabbages, Sac, which are relied upon for the necessary 
changes of food. Out of these sheep the Shrewsbury exhibits 
would be selected. One of the shearlings was most promising. 
We were favourably impressed with a two-shear, " Procrastina- 
tion," by Mansell's " Lordship 2nd," not shown last year, owing 
to a mistake as to the entry. He was let to Mr. Loder as a shear- 
ling for 50 guineas. A pen of shearling ewes are also being 
prepared, very pretty, but not remarkably big. Forty shearlings 
are sold by auction each year with the draft ewes. Two 
breeding ewes were killed by dogs getting amongst the flock, 
which did considerable harm besides, otherwise the lambing 
season had been successful. And the lambs were a promising 
lot, and have been shorn this year for the first time. Excessive 
forcing, either of animals or crops, is avoided. The natural 
excellence of the tillage land produces crops of such quality 
that very heavy manuring would be injudicious. This may be 
judged of from the fact that the average outlay in cake and 
manure does not exceed 1/. an acre. The corn crops, especially 
the barley, were excellent. The latter, which is largely grown, 
was particularly heavy on one large field after seeds, No. 468, 
and it was open to argument whether this or the small field 
Xo. 465 would prove the better. Both would give a good 
account of themselves. The wheat was an even full plant, and 
looked like casting well. The light friable soils of the larger 
portion of the farm are favourable for barley of high quality. 
Mr. Minton finds great benefit from the application of small 
doses of lime, from 30 to 40 cwt., every four or six years, and 
such treatment is carried out systematically. The root-break, 
partly owing to dry weather, did not present such a satisfactory 
appearance as the corn crop. The mangolds were a rather 
ragged lot, and the swedes were late and uneven, but with an 
open back, and may make a fair amount of food. 
The Hereford cattle are receiving more attention as to the 
registration of pedigrees than before the American trade was 
