Derby Prize-Farm Competition, 1881. 
493 
, barns. Tlie river Trent normally forms the boundary on the 
southern and eastern sides, but sometimes it makes nearly the 
whole of the land on the eastern side of the road into a vast 
lake. This it has done fourteen times from July 1880 to 
May 1881. 
There are 440 acres, 170 being arable, and 270 grass-land. 
This farm is the property of Col. Levett, M.P., of Wichnor 
Park ; and considering the very speculative character of the 
holding, he is to be much congratulated on having so industrious 
and enterprising a tenant willing to pay so high a rent as 
1045/. 12s. The present occupier became tenant in 1876 on 
his mother's retirement from business, but the farm has been 
held by several successive generations of Strettons. Five cot- 
tages are included in the rent. 
Cropping. — The course of cropping usually followed is — 
1, roots. 
2, wheat or barley. 
3, seeds, mown or grazed. 
4 
55 55 
6, barley, wheat, or oats. 
Thus ^th is yearly in roots, |ths in corn, and |^ths in seeds. 
The roots grown in 1880 were of good quality, the land quite 
clean, and crop abundant. There were three acres of very good 
Drumhead cabbages that were being given in December to the 
cattle in a liberal manner. Some of Webb's early Drumhead 
had been drilled and cultivated as turnips are, but they were 
ready for use before they were wanted. 
Tne roots growing in 1881 were very nicely put in on quite 
straight ridges, the land perfectly clean, and well manured from 
the fold-yards. This manure had been spread between the 
ridges, and they were then split back and drilled. The varieties 
grown were from Carter's and Webb's stocks. The mangolds 
had been seriously injured by the mangold fly [Anthomgia 
betcB), but at our last inspection the plants had evidently 
proved victorious, and promised to be a very good crop indeed. 
All the mangold ground had been heavily manured on the 
top in winter, and then again in the ridges ; then, before the 
seed each acre had 5 cwt. of Webb's special mangold manure, 
1 ton barm (yeast), 4 cwt. to 6 cwt. salt, and some kiln-dust 
sown on it. After the plants were up, soot was applied to 
« shift " the fly. 
Mr. Stretton reports to-day (July 29th) that after " thunder- 
rain " and great heat " the mangolds are nearly mad, and 
growing till one can hardly get among them." 
