Derby Prize-Farm Competition, 1881. 
481 
per acre of red wheat were sown early. It looks like 6 quarters 
per acre. We never saw a field so full of wheat ; the corners are 
planted, and it grows so close to the hedges that in a wind some 
of it seems to get into the next field. 
Barley after oats is a prime crop, but not so good after cabbage : 
cabbage is a hungry plant, and takes much out of the land. 
Oats. — Like many other farmers this year, Mr. Bryer has 
a disappointment in his oat crop. Much of the piece — 12 acres — 
has been spoiled by a maggot eating away the leading shoot 
about the beginning of May, and in July bunches of green, 
late, stunted stems threatened to be so much behind the 
uninjured ones at harvest that a smaller yield would be the 
result. This disease is common this year, and few crops of oats 
over a large district have escaped ; indeed, through the dryness 
of the season, all kinds of insects and other pests have prospered 
and increased to an unusual extent. 
Roots. — Two acres of mangolds are by the cabbage, and 
2^ acres in the next field by an acre more of cabbage, 1^ acre 
swedes, and a few very vigorous potatoes. This land is not 
suited to the growth of potatoes, so only a few for home use are 
grown ; but potatoes, mangolds, and swedes are all managed 
as well as market-garden crops, and are a pattern worthy of any 
farmer's imitation. For mangolds next the big cabbages the 
land was manured, and treated the same as for cabbages ; but, 
as it could not have liquid manure, 4 cwts. per acre of Webb's 
mangold manure was applied. Mr. Bryer will receive as first 
farm-prize winner from Messrs. Webb 15/. 15s., because Mr. 
Bryer has had seed from that firm. The mangolds were sown 
on ridges 24 inches apart, and were an excellent plant: 6 lbs. 
per acre were sown April 11th. 
Mangold Fly. — All the mangolds, like most in the Midland 
Counties, have suffered greatly from the ravages of the larvae of the 
mangold fly (^Anthomyia hetce). In Mr. Bryer's fields, and in 
others, we have noticed flocks of little birds, mostly sparrows 
and chaffinches, that were feeding on the insects. So well had 
they done their work at Markeaton Park that we had some 
difficulty in finding a maggot in the leaves ; the vesicle had 
been torn open, and the maggot removed, let us hope, into safe 
custody. If we are to be visited with this pest, a variety of 
mangolds with vigorous tops would appear to be most suitable. 
J^ay.— Clover is not grown every year, but about 56 acres of 
meadow-land are usually cut for hay. The crops were much 
better than most hay crops this year, but not up to the usual 
average. At the time of our latest inspection, the second field 
was partly secured, all so far in excellent condition, and part of 
another was cut ; all the mowing was done beautifully by a 
good machine and a careful driver, Mr. Bryer's eldest son. 
