Report oil Cheshire Dairy-Farming. 
wrass are omitted, tlie othei- seeds remaining- the same. On this 
farm, also, the seeds are not sown until the barley shows above 
jjround. Barley is not harvested in sheaves, but is mown by 
machine in swathe, at 2s. per acre without beer or food. 
Permanent Ghass. 
Mr. Jackson's farm comprises 100 acres of permanent grass,. 
20 of which are irrigated iheadows. Previous to the cattle- 
plague this portion of his farm was more extensive by 30 acres, 
which have been broken up, and he believes that some of 
the existing pasture might be broken up with advantage. 
During the last 30 years the permanent pasture has twice 
received a dressing of 10 cwt. per acre of boiled bones. The 
meadows are well drained, and are irrigated in succession from 
three streams which run through the farm, as often as the 
supply of water will allow. The grass is mown in June, and' 
the aftermath is fed off by cows. Irrigation is under the caie 
of the shepherd, but so much attention is not paid to it now 
as formerly, because it is found that the temperature of the 
water is not generally higher than that of the atmosphere. Grass- 
is mown by machine at a cost of Is. per acre for labour, the 
farmer providing machines and horses, and the men finding- 
their own beer and food. 
Laboue. 
The price of labour varies according to the distance of the- 
farm from the manufacturing districts. Mr. Jackson pays his 
daily labourers 12s. per week, and Mr. Whitlow 15s. ; but the latter 
obtains the services of Irish labourers from the beginning o£ 
March to the end of the season, at 12s. per week. Women are 
employed for weeding, planting potatoes, and the lighter de- 
scriptions of farm-labour generally, at a cost of 7s. per week by 
Mr. Whitlow, but women are rarely employed in Cheshire field- 
work. 
Stock. 
Cattle. — Before the cattle-plague Mr. Jackson kept 80' 
milch-cows, and Mr. Whitlow 60. Since that time the numbers- 
have been reduced to 60 and 80 respectively ; but this is not the 
whole difference. Mr. Jackson's original stock was shorthorn^ 
but now is chiefly the produce of Ayrshire cows and a 
shorthorn bull ; and the gap left by the cattle-plague has 
been only partially stopped by the purchase of the best heifero 
that offered, instead of being entirely filled up with heifers 
of his own breeding. Mr. Whitlow's dairy-cows were what* 
