The Farm-Prize Competition, 1884, 
583 
been a butler in a gentleman's family, occupied a public house, 
the Chadwicks Arms Inn, and a small farm. His mother 
was, before marriage, a laundry-maid. Hard work was the order 
of the day, and young Miles had but little schooling, having to 
work on the farm and help to brew until turned sixteen, when 
he went into the Queen's stables as an outrider. At nineteen 
he was obliged to give up service and take the place of an elder 
brother, deceased, as his father's health had given way. Here 
he struggled on for a period of nine years, being heavily handi- 
capped, and eventually well-nigh ruined through his mother's 
intemperance. At the age of twenty-three, two years after his 
father's death, he married his first wife. The farm was made 
over to him, the public-house being kept on by his mother, who 
was soon sold up, and, through helping her, he was also obliged 
to give up the land. This proved the starting-point of his 
career ; his wife's parents lent him capital at 4 per cent, 
interest, and with this he took a poor farm of 182 acres on 
Needwood Forest, two-thirds tillage. All interest and principal 
were repaid. He had 300/. with his wife, most of which went to 
pay debts incurred before entering on the farm. And this was 
all the capital he ever had. After occupying the farm for 
about six years, Mr. Miles lost his wife, whose parents had 
died before. This was a great trial, as he was left with two 
children, one a baby. The wife's sister came, but died the 
following spring. Then, in despair, the mother was sent for, 
but the curse of drink was still at work, and she had to be sent 
away, or the poor fellow would have been ruined a second time, 
but by great perseverance and industry he pulled through. A 
year after his first wife's death, he married his present wife, 
and this was, he states, the luckiest day of his life, for, though 
his first wife and her parents gave him the start, number two, 
who came empty-handed, was a fortune in herself — a statement 
which from our observation was by no means mere hyperbole, 
for a more efficient and willing helpmate to a hard-working 
energetic man could not be imagined. She was the daughter 
of a farmer, but, left an orphan quite young, was brought up by 
relations. After this happy marriage things prospered, and 
notwithstanding the unfavourable character of the farm and 
heavy losses experienced, after nine years' occupation money 
was saved and stock increased. The farm was eventually given 
up, owing to serious injury from rabbits, which he was not 
allowed to destroy, and Mr. Miles came to Tatenhill at Lady 
Day, 1874 ; at that time the extent of the occupation was 114 
acres, and did not include five fields immediately below the 
house, but took in some outside land, now given up. The rent 
and tithe amounted to 52s. 6c/. an acre. The farm was, accord- 
vaL. XX.— s. s. 2 Q 
