Farm-Prize Competition, 1880. 
531 
tion of land. (3.) Seeds, generally mown. (4.) Ditto, generally 
grazed. (5.) Oats. 
To begin with the root-crop. About 30 acres of swedes are 
generally taken on the better land, near the house, and 37 acres, 
or thereabouts, of common turnips on the " common land." 
Besides this, about 3 acres of mangold and a few acres of potatoes 
are grown. The land for the swedes is prepared by three 
ploughings, and as many grubbings, &c., as necessary. It is then 
put into ridges 27 inches apart, and these ridges are split on 
12 loads of good dung per acre ; besides which 6 cwt. of bone 
superphosphate (pure dissolved bones) are applied, at a cost ot 
about 8/. per ton, making about 21. 85. per acre for artificials. 
The swedes are sown about the middle of May. As dung 
cannot be found for the whole of them, half the white turnips are 
manured as above, but with 5 cwt. of bone-manure per acre ; 
and those which get no dung get about 8 cwt. of bone manure. 
About two-thirds of the swedes on the home-farm are carted 
off, and the remainder fed on the land by sheep. 
On the common, the turnips cannot be eaten on the land in 
winter, as in this exposed situation it treads so readily, but they 
are entirely consumed where they grow in early autumn or late 
in spring. 
The crop of swedes in 1879 was a very first-rate one for the 
season, and they were not injured by the severe frost. 
estimated the crop which the sheep were eating in the field at 
our visit in February last at fully 25 tons an acre, and the 
quality was extraordinarily fine. 
After the turnips come wheat, oats, and barley, according to 
the season, nature of the soil, &c. Sometimes oats and peas are 
mixed, and this is found a good practice. Oats are the favourite 
crop, as might be expected in this climate. The potato variety 
is grown at home, and " common " oats (a hardy sort) on the 
common land. About 4 imperial bushels are sown broadcast, 
and on the common they are always top-dressed with 2 cwt. per 
acre of concentrated manure, at a cost of 1/. per acre, as this 
land is not found good enough to produce a satisfactory crop 
without this help. 
The seeds sown with the corn-crop consist of 14 lbs. of clovers 
and 1^ peck of rye-grass ; and, after lying two years down, these 
are again followed by oats. 
The quality of Mr. Tinniswood's oats last year was most 
excellent. They would weigh about 45^ lbs. a bushel, imperial, 
and the condition also was good. 
Stock. — Farm-horses. — Nine horses are worked. They are 
good useful animals. They occasionally get a little help from 
the steam cultivators when they are behindhand with their turnip 
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