Derhrj Prize-Farm Competition, 1881. 
519 
durlnf)^ the past wet seasons, but it is very well managed. One 
field is manured with the liquid manure from the yard, which 
is collected in a tank, pumped up, and applied from a water- 
cart, and seems to answer well. About 33,?. Q>d. per acre has 
been spent on purchased food, chiefly grains, maize, and rice- 
meal, and %s. Id. per acre on purchased manures in each of the 
past three years. 
The cattle consist of 20 dairy cows, 1 bull, 5 stirks, 5 year- 
lings, and 7 rearing calves. 
The coivs were common hardy cows, of no particular breed or 
merit ; but we were told they were good milkers. In May they 
were in low condition, though the quantity of meal generally 
given to them had been increased because the hay was bad in 
quality last year. In December they were eating pulped roots 
mixed with the chaff and rowen saved from threshing ; 4 lbs. of 
maize-meal, with hay night and morning. In May, grass only. 
There were two useful cart-horses and a colt. The working 
horses have 14 lbs. daily of oats and maize, and are employed 
to do work for hire when not needed on the farm. 
Piffs are a considerable source of income. There were fifteen 
well-bred white pigs, and we were surprised when an old 
tumble-down door was removed to see walk out a handsome 
boar, the prize-winner at many local shows. The pigs are led 
on whey and rice-meal, which Mr. Milner considers the best 
and cheapest food. 
No sheep are kept, and most of the land is unsuitable for 
them. 
The average cost of labour during the past three years has 
been 22s. 8f/. per acre, but much work is done well and care- 
fully by Mr. Milner's industrious son, Arthur Milner, who has 
been the winner of two cups at ploughing matches. A carter 
has 161., and a boy SI., a-year with board and lodging. A 
dairymaid at 12/. is also kept. 
Most of the land was drained very efficiently by the present 
tenant when his father was the occupier. The drains are made 
of pipes, with loose stones placed on them, and are in perfect 
condition, though done forty years since. Mr. Milner con- 
siders that such land as his should be drained 4 yards apart and 
'2k feet deep to cure it. All the hedges are down and neatly 
trimmed. The gates are found by the tenant, and are in good 
repair. The accounts are kept in an accurate and careful 
manner, and a favourable balance-sheet could be shown even 
during these disastrous years. 
Mr. Milner is an old competitor, and we saw eight cups, 
which were awarded by local societies for the best managed 
farm. He well deserved them, for he has won successful results 
VOL. XVII.— S. S. 2 N 
