586 
Typical Farms in Cheshire and North Wales. 
delivered at Beeston Station, and cheese-making in the summer. He sells 
the calves shortly after they are dropped, at 12s. 6f/. to 15s. each, the milk 
being of more value for sale or cheese-making than for calf-feeding. 
The manufacture of cheese is the principal feature of the holding. It is 
conducted with the best of machinery, and the output is sold at high figures. 
Whey butter is made, and also yields part of the income of the dairy. Mr. 
Aston estimates his return of cheese per cow at 5£ to 6 cwt. per year. No 
sheep are kept on the holding. The pigs are all bought as stores and fat- 
tened for the butcher. Their food is mixed whey, Indian meal, and thirds 
flour, and is steamed from the dairy boiler before being eaten by the pigs. 
Three labourers reside in cottages with good gardens, at rents of 2 s . per 
week. Two of them rent about three acres of grass land in addition for 
keep of cow. The stockmen, who also assist with the milking, commence 
at 5 a.m. and finish about G.30 p.m. They receive lGs. per week, and extra 
for hay harvest, and other labourers 15s. a week, their hours being from 
6 a.m. to G p.m. The three labourers’ wives assist in the milking, for which 
they receive 3s. per week each. A little extra labour is employed for hay 
harvest. There are also two indoor men servants at 10/. and 5/. wages, and 
three indoor female servants at from 16/. each per annum. Mr. Aston states 
that depreciated prices of stock and higher payments for labour have lately 
reduced profits. 
7. The Farm of Messrs. David Dyed & So n , Spur stow Hall , 
Tarporley, Cheshire. 
The Messrs. Byrd’s farm is situated in the extensive parish of Bunbury, 
near Tarpoley, its altitude being 125 feet to 135 feet. It rests on the New 
Red Sandstone (New Red Marl) formation covered by drift (sand and boulders) 
and the nature of the soil varies very much on the holding, in some parts 
being sandy, and in others somewhat peaty, while on the south-west side 
it runs to a stiff clay. The subsoil is equally variable, consisting of sand, 
marl, and clay. 
The house is most commodious. It is nearly surrounded by an old 
moat, and the gardens, grounds, and shrubberies are extensive, well kept, and 
well timbered. The accompanying plan (p. 587) of the farm buildings, which 
are well and substantially erected, will show the extent of their accommoda- 
tion, the practical nature of their construction, and the enterprise of the 
tenants in assisting in their completion. They have erected a Dutch barn 
at a cost of 75/., and have also covered the manure yard with iron roofing at 
a cost of over 100/., thus protecting the concentrated manure of the cow 
sheds, which is conducted thereto along an iron tramway, from loss by rain 
or evaporation. 
As regards the arrangement of the fields, the occupiers have stocked 
up about two miles of old hedges, and relaid more than one mile of new 
ones, whilst they have drained 5,981 roods (of 8 yards) at an average cost 
of 8^d. per rood, at an expenditure of 211/. 16s. 7 d., the landlord supplying 
the pipes. The farm is the property of Lord Crewe, and, with the moat, 
house, grounds, and buildings, which occupy 8 acres, comprises 3G7 acres, 
57 of which are arable and 302 permanent pasture and meadow. It has 
been occupied on a yearly tenancy by Messrs. Byrd for 21 years, their 
tenure having commenced in 1872. The agreement is restrictive alike as 
regards cropping, cultivation, and sale of produce, but as long as the farm is 
worked satisfactorily the tenants farm as they please, and sell what they 
think proper. The agreement embodies the old Cheshire custom with 
regard to change of tenancy, and the tenants would claim compensation for 
unexhausted outlay under the Agricultural Holdings Act. Ten per cent. 
