576 The Fai-m-Prize Competition, 1884, 
established. They are, however, well bred, and most of them 
are qualified for the Herdbook. At our first visit we found 94 
head, increased to 99 in May, and comprising a very useful lot 
of 32 cows ; 22 two-year-old steers grazing, which in May were 
replaced by 25 sucking calves ; and young store animals, in- 
cluding 8 young bulls, for sale ; a yearling bull, by Mr. Rogers's 
" Assistant," destined for service, and promising enough if his 
ribs spring a bit ; also his sire, a three-year-old, very wide for- 
ward, with ugly horns, set back, and rather slack ribs, but with 
thick good flesh ; and a two-year-old, preparing for show ; also 
four yearling heifers, by " Assistant," to be shown together, a 
useful, but not matching lot. Like the sheep, very natural treat- 
ment is followed. Thus the cows in winter range the pastures 
during the day, when they have a few swedes to bite, and plenty 
of sweet straw in racks at night. The young stock are chiefly by 
" Assistant." This is the first year that bulls have been bred. 
The pigs are a superior class of Berkshires. We saw eight 
grand sows and gilts, and a boar of Swanwick's. 
Cart-horses are a notable feature at Montford. The total 
number of horses in May was 19, viz. 10 working horses (4 in- 
foal), 4 yearling colts, 2 nags, 3 various. One grand brown 
mare, " Montford Meg," by " Black Prince" (169), has proved 
an exceptionally good breeder, and is the dam of " Cannock 
Enterprise," by " Statter's Heart of Oak " (1003), which was 
sold as a yearling to the Cannock Chase Company, and, after 
taking first and champion prizes at Islington, realised 1000/. 
It is highly creditable to Mr. Minton's judgment that he should 
have bred the highest-priced sheep and one of the most costly 
horses in the country. We also noticed a powerful five-year-old 
black mare, a black colt foal by " Somersham Samson," a 
chestnut colt, and two fillies of considerable promise. 
The arable land is principally worked on the four-course 
system. The seeds are occasionally left for two years. Some 
of the least desirable land has been laid to grass, mostly by the 
tenant, some by the landlord. Much of what we saw was rough, 
and not so successful as might have been expected. Possibly this 
may arise from some defect in grazing, or from no bones having 
been applied. Since Mr. Minton's tenancy about 56 acres have 
been laid to grass, for 40 acres of which the tenant found seed. 
It was evident that more attention might advantageously be 
given to the improvement of the pasture land, which up to the 
present time has not been so well treated as the arable. It is 
in the management and character of Mr. Minton's stock of all 
kinds that merit is most conspicuous, and the Judges were 
unanimous in their wish that the excellent management of live- 
stock should be recognised by the award of an extra prize, which 
was at once granted by the Council. 
