The Farm-Prize Competition, 1884. 
581 
entered on in a wild neglected condition, with very dilapidated 
and insufficient buildings, this farm was not fit for exhibition. 
And the special object of this brief notice is to draw attention 
to the industry, enterprise, and perseverance of Mrs. Jefferies' 
son, who has managed for his widowed mother here and else- 
where for thirteen years, and being only ten years old when his 
father died, and has succeeded in not only holding his own in 
the face of great difficulties, but has steadily improved the 
condition of the farm, and made handsome profits. This has 
been mainly due to judgment in the management of a small 
butter dairy, combined with the rearing of calves, by keeping 
an excellent class of Shropshire sheep, and, above and beyond 
all, by individual attention and industry of an unusual and 
most commendable nature. And it appears that this successful 
result is all the more meritorious from the fact that Mr. 
Jefferies has lacked the opportunities of many of studying 
agriculture in a scientific aspect, and therefore may not always 
know how to make the most of his opportunities ; for example, 
we noticed that in the matter of artificial manures for the root 
crops, phosphates — the most important constituents — were 
omitted altogether, and this in a soil of a sandy nature and 
derived from a formation destitute of phosphatic materials. He 
was using a mixture of soot, kainit, and salt, costing only 175. 
an acre, and this was the only assistance given directly to the 
crop. If Mr. Jefferies, who is ver^ intelligent, becomes a 
member of the Society, and occupies his winter evenings in 
reading its ' Journal ' and other agricultural literature, he will be 
able to amend his practice in those particulars in which it is 
not entirely in harmony with scientific teaching. The Judges 
were so impressed with the devotion of the manager to his 
work that they consider him to be most worthy of a certificate, 
and recommend him accordingly. 
Class III. — First Prize. 
Mr. Charles Miles, Tatenhill Farm, near Burton-on- Trent 
A. R. P. 
Grass 81 0 20 
Arable 46 0 0 
127 0 20 
* 
Tatenhill Farm is held on yearly agreement under The Agri- 
cultural Holdings Act, 1875, from Sir John Hardy, Bart. More 
than one-third of the pasture-land has recently been laid down 
