Report on the Farm-Prize Competition^ 1870. 2G5 
Moreover, good animals of every kind, and good ones only, are 
seen upon the farm — the cattle, sheep, horses, and pigs, being 
all of a thriving and paying description. 
The order, neatness, and careful management which strike 
one at every turn are in pleasing contrast to the slovenly state of 
things which too often prevails on many farms. 
Commended Farms. 
The farms of Messrs. Nathaniel and Zachariah Stilgoe, at 
Adderbury, near Banbury, and of Mr. Denchfield, at Easington, 
close to Banbury, deserve notice in this report. 
As will be seen from reference to the map, these farms are on 
the lias formation, and the soil of which they are composed may 
be described as light, mixed, and strong red loam. Such soil is 
naturally extremely fertile, but, from some cause or other, not 
producing this year such heavy crops, both of corn, grass, and 
roots, as the quality of the soil might lead one to expect. 
Mr. Denchfield' s Farm. — This farm, as before mentioned, is 
close to the thriving little town of Banbury. It possesses the best 
and deepest soil, and contains 252 acres, 168 of which are arable 
and the rest pasture. It is farmed on a six-course rotation, in the 
following order : — 
1st. Roots. 
2nd. Barley with seeds. 
3rd. Seeds. 
4th. Wheat. 
5th. Beans. 
6 th. Wheat or barley. 
Farmyard manure is applied for roots and beans. Fine crops 
of wheat, barley, and beans are growing this year ; but the roots 
are backward and are not thriving, and do not promise a good 
crop. The cultivation is superior, and there is an air of neatness 
and good management everywhere visible. 
The pastures are on lighter soil than the arable land, and are 
much burnt up by the dry weather. They were stocked with 
some nice young shorthorns, and with the ewes and lambs. 
The former had not grass enough, and would have done better 
with an allowance of linseed cake, for which they would un- 
doubtedly pay well. 
There are 140 Cotswold ewes on this farm, which breed about 
160 lambs. These are all fattened and sold off, and 150 are 
bought in addition to those bred ; about 40 head of cattle and 
300 sheep are thus annually sold from the farm. 
I have not hesitated to notice Mr. Denchfield's weak points, 
