t 
28i Report on the Farm- Prize Competition of 1872. 
cotton-cake, one part ; and barley or oat meal, two parts. The 
daily allowance at first is two pounds each, and this is gradually 
increased to six pounds. At our winter inspection Mr. Powell 
showed us a row of sixteen splendid fat beasts, weighing from 
18 to 22 stones (of 14 lbs.) per quarter ; six of tbe same lot 
had been sold out at Christmas, at an average of 43/. 3^. a head, 
and the remainder were only waiting a favourable turn in the 
market. 
The breeding heifers are put to the bull in July and August, 
at from 21 to 27 months old, according to size and forwardness, 
and are then distinguished by numbers burned on the horn. 
During the following winter they are fed upon straw and a 
few roots, with the occasional indulgence of a little rough hay 
the two months preceding calving. The main difficulty with 
these, however, as with the rest of the cattle, is to prevent their 
getting too fat. Possessing, as they do, such a propensity to lay 
on flesh, it need not be wondered at that Mr. Powell never sells 
off any cattle until they are fit and old enough to slaughter. Bulls 
for use] at Eglwysnunyd have for some years been purchased 
from Lord Bateman, Mr. John Hewer, Mr. Green, Mr. Duckham, 
and other eminent Hereford breeders. By this means, and by a 
judicious selection of the home-bred heifers, Mr. Powell's herd 
has earned for itself a name, and his young bulls are eagerly 
sought after by other large breeders, one very promising yearling 
having recently been sold for exportation to Australia. To meet 
this demand five or six of the best-bred bull-calves are reared 
each year, and these, with a little indulgence beyond that given 
to the heifers and steers, make, when fit for work, 30/. to 40/. 
each. 
Sheep. — Mr. Powell showed us a lot of 150 breeding ewes, 
chiefly Oxford Downs, very good, and full of wool. Until ten 
years ago Cotswolds were tried, but owing to the moist climate 
they did not give satisfaction. The sheep management may 
thus be briefly described : — 
About the 29th of September the ewes are properly sorted, 
the oldest, and those known by the shepherd to possess any 
particular fault, being drawn out for fattening purposes. They 
are then divided into three or four lots, and placed on rich 
forcing food for a month, a ram, selected to suit the wool and 
other peculiar features of the ewes given him, being put with 
each lot. Superior male animals, as required to change the 
blood, are purchased at Gloucester fair. At the end of about 
six weeks the rams are taken out, and the ewes run on the grass 
until December, hay being allowed as soon as they will begin to 
eat it, and continued throughout the winter. They are then, 
if the fields are conveniently situated, allowed to feed for a few 
