'Hie Farm-Prize Competition, 1884. 
570 
their main food, with a few swedes given whole, some steamed 
chop and malt dust. They were in splendid condition. In 
summer the ewes and lambs (the latter were wonderfully level 
and of good character) are kept chiefly on seeds, of which 
the take is extremely good, the ground well covered, and all the 
sorts fully represented. The practice is to sow part of the 
Italian rye-grass on the furrow, and the remainder is drilled with 
the barley, by which arrangement necessary depth of soil is 
secured ; 12 to 15 lbs. of mixed clovers are lightly drilled across 
the corn. Nothing could be more satisfactory than the young 
seeds, indicating, as was apparent in other crops, that the arable 
land is liberally and judiciously managed at Preston Vale. 
Cattle are the weak feature of the management ; with land well 
adapted, as far as we could judge, for rearing stock, Mr. Griffin 
contents himself with buying in a small number of store animals, 
partly for feeding in the byres and partly to be kept a year as 
stores for summer grazing with the shearling sheep in the 
meadows. The ordinary stock in winter numbers forty-five 
head. This last winter, owing to the difficulty of getting stock, 
there were only thirty-six, of which fourteen were useful feeding 
heifers and steers, bought dear in the autumn, and which could 
not pav for their food ; six smaller heifers, and sixteen useful 
steers, destined for the meadows, where we found them on our 
second visit. More cattle might be kept if the roots Avere pulped 
instead of being sliced, and this is the more desirable, inasmuch 
as excellent arrangements exist for steaming, chopping, &c. The 
stock in May comprised 14 fat heifers, 10 barren heifers, 2 in-calf 
heifers, 2 cows in-milk, and 9 steers, making a total of only 37 head. 
The cart-horses are strong animals, well suited to work such 
land. The heavy labour may be judged from the fact that, not- 
withstanding the occasional use of steam-power, 196 acres re- 
quire nine cart-horses ; but some foals are bred, which reduces 
the efficiency of the teams. There were 2 foals, 2 two-year-olds, 
2 yearlings, 1 old mare and foal, 1 cob, and 1 pony ; total, 19. 
The buildings are well contrived, and afford much accommo- 
dation, with three open but well sheltered yards, which are 
reached from the feeding passage of the cattle shed, so that 
feeding is economically performed. The arrangements for pre- 
paring the food are convenient and suitable, comprising a small 
horizontal engine and large boiler, pair of grindstones, chaff- 
cutter, &c. The chaff is closely pressed in a chamber, steam 
being introduced through a perforated floor. The cart-horse 
stable is very roomy, with a feeding passage at the head. This 
building was originally a cow-house. 
Labour is extremely well managed. The total outlay aver- 
ages 23s. an acre, comprising — 
