Derby Prize-Farm Competition, 1881. 
509 
By judicious and generous management improvement may be 
facilitated, but the quality of the pastures cannot be fully 
restored without a repetition of dryer seasons and more sun- 
shine than we have had for some years before this one. Mr. 
Curzon's land is occupied under the Agricultural Holdings Act, 
and Sir J. H. Crewe's under a yearly agreement, by which the 
tenant would on leaving be allowed compensation for unex- 
hausted improvements, on the same scale as would the winner 
of the second prize, who farms under the same landlord. 
There is a very good modern farmhouse, with convenient 
buildings and yards, though, with all Mr. Finney's cattle, he 
could well do with more accommodation in the winter. The 
kitchen, dairy, and milk-house, with all the fittings, are kept in 
a manner that reflects the highest credit on the management ; 
indeed, it would be difficult to speak too highly in praise of 
any department that is under the personal care of Mrs. Finney. 
There is a second homestead, with a good though smaller house. 
The house is sublet, and the very old buildings were in July 
being taken down, and good new stables, &c., were being built ; 
if more attention is given to ventilation than has been in the 
cowsheds in use it will be an advantage. This will add much 
to the convenience of the holding-. There are two cottages 
let with the farm, and included in the rent. One of them is 
let to the stock-man, and reckoned at 25. per week. There is a 
large quantity of timber on the farm, mostly ash and wych-elm 
(which might with profit to the owner, and considerable ad- 
vantage to the tenant, be thinned) ; also a good orchard, which 
has this year a good crop of fruit in it. 
The Course of Cropping generally followed is — 
Turnips or fallow. 
Barlev or wheat. 
Seeds, lying down 1 to 4 years. 
Wheat. 
Barley. 
Crops. — This year are — 
32 acres wheat. 
80 ,, barley. 
16 ,, first seeds. 
20 ,, second seeds. 
12 „ mangolds. 
10 ,, swedes and potatoes. 
17 ,, turnips. 
The wheat was of a good colour, generally clean, but not very 
thick on the ground, the plant having been in some places 
destroyed by the floods that lay on it last winter. 
