General Remarks. 
189 
dint of hard work, all of which he did himself, this ground 
was gradually but surely brought into a very productive con- 
dition. Meanwhile Mr. Bray did day work and piece work for 
two neighbouring farmers, thus keeping himself going and 
saving a little as well. And so things went on until 1895, 
during which year Mr. Bray took the farm at East Keal. 
It was very clear to the Judges that here was an excellent 
and successful farmer. The whole of the land was in a perfect 
state of cultivation and beautifully clean, the stock were of 
good class and well looked after, the whole farm being well 
managed. In this connection it may be interesting to quote 
the present landlord’s testimony to the effect that during the 
twelve years of Mr. Bray’s occupancy the farm has been 
improved from “ practically out of cultivation ” to “ perfect 
order.” 
It was a very real pleasure to the Judges to be able to 
award a prize to such a thoroughly industrious and deserving 
competitor. 
Genekal Remarks. 
After having described the winning farms in the two 
classes open to the whole county, it only remains to be said 
concerning the commended farms in these classes that they 
were all — in varying degree — in a good state of cultivation, 
well farmed, and carrying good crops and stock. To have been 
selected for a second visit out of so large an entry was evidence 
of sound practical management, and in other respects clean 
and creditable farming. Some indeed pi-esented special features 
which appealed strongly to the Judges, but the tendency — 
opcasionally exhibited — to favour one feature at the cost of 
others, precluded the consideration as “ all round ” prize 
farming. With comparatively few exceptions all the farms 
in the County .Classes were eligible for, and competed in, the 
Hunt Classes, and vice-versa ; thus the foregoing remarks may 
be taken as embracing the Hunt Classes also. It naturally 
follows that any farm taking a high place in the “ Open or 
County ” Class must stand high in the more confined area to 
which the Hunts are restricted, always provided that due 
attention were paid to the “ Hunt ” clause respecting the use 
of “ wire,” and the removal of this danger in the hunting 
season. Hence we find those names which were highly com- 
mended in their County Class appearing as the prize winners 
in the Hunts section. There are, however, one or two whose 
names appear only in the Hunts list, they having elected to 
compete in — or being eligible for — that class only. 
Farm judging, if thoroughly done, means hard work, 
particularly with so large an entry, but it is work of a highly 
