Farm-Prize Competition, 1880. 
565 
Sheep. — A few ewes are kept, but breeding is not carried on 
to any extent. Half-bred Leicester and Cheviot ewes are crossed 
with a black-faced tup (either Shropshire or Oxford), but teg- 
sheep are principally brought in, in autumn and spring, to fatten 
on turnips or seeds, and the former are clipped and sold in 
spring. They get oats and hay with their swedes, but no cake. 
jNIr. Kitchen had the first clipped tegs at Carlisle last year. 
Three-parts-bred (Leicester-Cheviots) are preferred for this pur- 
pose. They clip 6^ or 7 lbs. wool, and sell readily. Last 
winter they cost 21s. each, and went in April at an average of 
45s. out of their wool. These were replaced by others, which 
in June cost 475., and would go fat in September with the aid 
of corn. The sheep-stock was generally good. 
Horses. — Excellent horses are kept. There are five workers, 
with good bone and quality. Besides these, two colts wintered 
at home were sent for summering to Greystoke Park with the 
cattle. 65s. is paid for yearlings, and 85s. for two-year-olds. 
A five-year-old bay horse was sold at 56Z. between our winter 
and summer visits. 
fiffs. — Like the rest of the stock, the pigs are very good ; a 
white sort with a touch of Berkshire. 
Cakes and Artificials. — -About 50Z. a year is spent in cake and 
corn, besides the consumption of home-grown produce. Linseed 
and decorticated cotton are the cakes preferred, and maize is 
also used. Of artificial manure the consumption is liberal, 
about 11 tons being used, at a cost of 90/. and upwards. Bone- 
manure is relied upon. 
Dairy. — A large dairy is kept, and sometimes 80 lbs. are 
churned and marketed at once. It is sold at Penrith, and this 
year prices have ranged from Is. Id. to Is. %d. 
Labour. — Two horsemen live in the house, and an additional 
labourer is occasionally employed. The head ploughman gets 
13/. 10s. the half-year, and the second man 10/. for the same 
time. Mr. Kitchen, jun., who is married, and lives adjoining 
the farm, does the cattle and sheep principally himself, his 
father being too far advanced in years for heavy labour. The 
extra man gets 12s. a week and all found, and is required for 
about three-quarters of the year. Work begins at 5 A.M. in summer, 
and 6 A.M. in winter. The horsemen clean out the byres, in 
addition to their proper work, and the day's labour is finished 
about 7.30 P.M. If extra hands are required in hay-time and 
harvest, 18s. or 20s. has to be given, in addition to their food. 
Beer is very little thought of or cared for, and one barrel in 
harvest represents the total consumption. 
These are some of the principal features in the excellent 
management of this little farm. I do not think I should have 
