Derby Farm-Prize Competition, 1881. 
499 
utilised for irrig-ation, and also for driving a small mill at the 
homestead and some fixed machinery. The cows here had a 
more thoroughbred look than those at the other farms, but we 
did not think their milking properties were increased by the 
purity of their blood, notwithstanding all the care taken to 
select animals from herds celebrated as milking Shorthorns. A 
grander dairy of cows, and a more perfect collection of well- 
grown, healthy young stock, it has never been our pleasure to 
inspect, and the prices they realised at the recent sale will tes- 
tify how the public appreciated their excellence.* 
At the time of our December visit, each cow in milk was 
having long hay ad lib. ; 4 lbs. of decorticated cotton-cake, 
2 lbs. of mixed meal, and 1 lb. of malt culms (soaked); and 
^ ton of pulped roots were daily given to 60 cows, a trifle under 
20 lbs. a-day each. Besides these pulped roots, each cow was 
allowed two or three whole swedes or cabbages. In the winter 
all the milk produced at Croxden Abbey was sent to London ; 
but in July we found that in consequence of the failure of the 
buyer to fulfil his contract, all the milk was being made into 
cheese. Instead of attempting a further description of the 
manner in which the late Mr. Carrington managed his stock 
and cultivated his land, we are sure the readers of the ' Journal' 
will be much better pleased and instructed by perusing the 
following account written by that distinguished dairy-farmer. 
And it will increase its interest when it is known that these 
details of the agriculture he practised so successfully were almost 
the last production of his powerful and ever-ready pen. 
* At the Croxden Abbey Sale, when Messrs. Lythall and Mansell sold the 
large Shorthorn herd of the late Mr. W. T. Carrington, the prices were altogether 
highly satisfactory. One hun(h-ed and thirty cows in-milk or in-calf, including 
thirty-four calves, realised 4332Z. (is., or an average of 8r. ; twenty yearling 
heifers were sold for 451?., an average of 221. lis. ; and four bulls (one only seven 
months old) realised 188i., an average of ¥11. each. Turning to particulars, 
" Neatness," a fourteen-year-old cow, a winner of a first prize at Wolverhampton, 
and dam of "Sir Sidney Newport," a Birmingham 50Z. champion-cup bull, was 
sefured by Lord Middleton for 39 guineas ; " Dainty," calved in 1875, was bought 
by Mr. Thornton for41 guineas ; " Young Dairymaid," of the same age, and winner 
of several prizes, went for 42 guineas to Capt. Buncombe, who secured also ■• Dairy- 
maid,' her twin sister, and also a prize winner, for 55 guineas. " Spangle," calved 
in 1878, was bought by Mr. Ashton for 48 guineas ; " Lady Kmily," the same age, 
fell to Lord Middleton for 46 guine is ; " Rose,'' calved in 1875, was bought by Mr. 
Gates for 40 guineas, and at the snme figure, " Einglet," of a similar age. fell to Mr. 
Thornton ; "Pattie," calved in 1874, was bought by Mr. Hancock for 41 guineas; 
" Chiiie," calved in 1872, went to Mr. P. T. Wright for 40 guiuea.s. For " Broad- 
moor Prince," a roan yearling bull by Sir Robert Frogmoru (40,719), and out of 
" Neatness," the old cow alluded to above, 32 guineas was realised. There was 
considerable competition for "Prince Charmer," another yearling, which went to 
Mr. Cummings for 60 guineas, and " Prince of the Pinks 2nd,'' by " Grand Duke 
of Geneva 2nd." which has been in service, realisad 82 guineas. These were 
the leading prices ; but as will be understood by the averages given above, very 
few animals, except calves, went for absolutely low rates. 
