Sewage Farm Competition, 1879. 
53 
Peas. — Peas were a fair crop for the season. The land is prepared for the 
peas and let to a cu.stomcr who finds the seed and pays for hoeing, picking, &c., 
and 11. 10s. Od. per acre for the land. The crop is generally ready for market 
at the end of June or the beginning of July ; but in 1879 it was a month later 
than usual. The crop is not sewaged during the period of its growth. 
Beans (Spring) are also cultivated on this farm. They were a fair crop, 
but are not sewaged while growing. Eight pecks of seed per acre arc drilled. 
Potatoes. — The varieties grown are " Victoria" and "Champions." They 
are planted on ridges 27 inches distant and about 12 inches apart in the 
rows ; only a small quantity are grown, and there was a tendency to run 
to haulm. This crop is not irrigated during the period of its growth. 
Oziers (Long Skin Ilards) are grown on the low-lying and flat land on the 
east side of the farm. They are planted in rows 27 inches apart ; the sets 
being 12 inches distant in the rows. 
Market-Garden. — Three acres of land have been laid out as a market- 
garden and planted with gooseberries, currants of various kinds, raspberries, 
and strawberries. Intermediate between the fruit bushes, various kinds of 
market-garden produce are gi'own, such as carrots, parsnips, broccoli, cabbage, 
potatoes, and celery. This part of the farm is sublet to a tenant with a cottage 
at 40?. per annum. The tenant has the right to have what sewage he requires. 
There was an enormous crop of weeds on the ground amongst the vegetables 
and bushes ; but this is due to the ftiult of the sub-tenant. It origiually cost 
38?. to plant the land with currant-trees, gooseberries, &c. 
Mixed Seeds. — A field of seeds grown on very poor land had been irrigated ; 
then the carriers had been plougheil in to prevent sheep being cast in them, 
and these will be opened out when sewage is again applied. This field is 
grazed with sheep and cattle ; and it is intended to retain it in grass as long 
as it will produce any feed. 
G rass-Iand. — With some exception the grass-land is irrigated once or twice 
in the winter, and produces a great amount of summer food, on which the cows 
milk remarkably well. Young stock also thrive on this pasture, which carries 
double the stock of ordinary grass-lands. 
notation of Cropping. — On the light lands on this farm the 
following rotation is observed : roots, barley, rye-grass for three 
years, and then a return to roots. On the loamy soils, roots, 
wheat, seeds, wheat, and then a return to roots ; and on the stiff 
lands, wheat, clover, wheat, beans, and fallow. 
Cattle. — Twelve milking cows (Shorthorns) and a bull are kept 
on this farm. More would be kept, but there is no demand 
for milk. There appears to be a foolish prejudice against the 
use of milk from a sewage farm in this neighbourhood. A 
small quantity is sold at l()fZ. per four quarts. At the farm, the 
tenant says he would be glad to sell at 8fZ. per four quarts if he 
could dispose of a quantity. It is a great drawback to a sewage 
farm not to be able to sell the rye-grass grown nor to turn it 
into milk in consequence of the want of demand. No effort is 
made by the farmer to increase the yield of milk by artificial 
feeding on account of there being no demand. The cows yield 
about 1^ gallon of milk per head per day, and are kept in 
the summer in the pastures, with a little rye-grass when in the 
shed for milking. In the winter they are fed on roots and hay. 
