271- 
Report on the Farm-Prize Competition, 1870. 
of tliese improvements are already carried out on some good farms, 
and most of the suggestions apply with especial force to the corn- 
land of the country." 
The above remarks were written sixteen years ago, let us now 
inquire what has been done in the interval. On many large 
estates the farm buildings have been much improved, but in none 
to the same extent as in that of Mr. Langstone (now Earl Ducie), 
where the most substantial and excellent farmhouses and buildings 
have been erected on almost every part of the property. In many 
instances on this estate, also, excellent fixed steam-engines and 
barn machinery have been put up under the able superintendence 
of Mr. Savidge, the late manager of all Mr. Langstone's farming 
operations. Much, however, remains to be done upon some es- 
tates in the way of improvement to farm buildings. In too many 
cases there is a great want of cattle-accommodation, and the con- 
sequence is that straw is, as a rule, not made into good manure. 
The straw stacks are too frequently left standing about the 
farm and when brought home the straw is thrown into open 
yards and rotted by rain, instead of being trodden into real good 
manure by cake-eating animals. The defect in the horses, noticed 
by Mr. Read, still exists to a great extent throughout the prize- 
farm district. With a few exceptions, a really good yard of 
horses was not to be seen, and in too many instances the horses 
may be described as being very inferior, undersized, and weak 
animals, badlv fed and badly managed. Three horses are gene- 
rally employed where two would suffice, and the system is there- 
fore in the end really an expensive one. 
I turn with pleasure to a more agreeable topic, the improve- 
ment in the growth of green and root crops, and in the manage- 
ment of sheep. In no part of England have greater improve- 
ments been made in these respects than in Oxfordshire and the 
adjoining counties. 
The Oxfordshire Downs are rapidly growing into importance 
as one of our national breeds. They have been well described 
as rent-paying sheep. I believe them to be so, and that their 
general management is probably in many respects superior to 
Avhat it is in other districts of the kingdom. 
The labour question in Oxfordshire and in other counties is 
now obtaining more attention than heretofore. Better cottages 
have been erected, and in many respects the condition of the 
agricultural labourer has been much improved during the last 
twenty years. Some further improvement, however, might be 
made in the system of employment. As a rule, there is not 
much piecework in Oxfordshire ; the labourers are too often 
seen working together by the day in large parties at low money- 
wages, a certain quantity of beer being given almost all the year 
round. I believe this to be a bad and also an expensive system. 
