Farm  Prize  Competition.  1909. 
287 
22^  in.  apart  and  the  plants  singled  out  at  10  in.  apart, 
unless  late  in  the  season,  when  they  are  left  9 in.  apart. 
Mangolds  are  grown  to  the  extent  of  about  12  acres,  and 
receive  12  tons  per  acre  of  farmyard  manure,  2 cwt.  of  salt, 
4 cwt.  kainit,  5 cwt.  ground  bones,  and  1 cwt.  nitrate  of 
soda.  During  the  autumn  the  kainit  is  applied  to  the 
ground  which  is  coming  for  mangold,  the  bones  and  \ cwt. 
nitrate  of  soda  at  time  of  sowing  the  seed,  and  a top-dressing 
of  salt  with,  say,  \ cwt.  nitrate  of  soda  mixed  with  a little 
ground  bones  so  as  to  sow  better,  is  given  after  “ singling.” 
The  mangold  seed  is  drilled  in  rows  24  in.  apart,  and  the 
plants  “ singled  ” at  from  9 to  10  in.  apart  in  the  rows. 
Barley  or  oats  follow  the  roots,  about  half  of  which  have  been 
consumed  on  the  land,  and  these  crops  are  not  especially 
manured,  but  frequent  change  of  seed  is  found  to  be  beneficial. 
The  clover  seeds  mixtures  sown  under  the  barley  and  oat 
crops  are  as  follows  : — 
lb.  per 
acre  For  mowing 
14  Cow  grass  clover 
2 White  clover 
4 Timothy  grass 
4 Perennial  rye-grass 
lb.  per 
acre  For  grazing 
2 Cow  grass  clover 
12  White  clover 
3 Timothy  grass 
3 Perennial  rye-grass 
24 
20 
The  clovers  are  down  for  one  year  only.'  Wheat  follows 
and  is  not  especially  manured  as  a rule,  but  occasionally 
kainit,  or  salt,  or  lime  has  been  applied.  A frequent  change 
of  seed  is  practised. 
The  wheat  crop  is  usually  “ fiagged.”  This  is  done  by 
men  walking  through  the  crop  and  cutting  off  the  top  “ flags  ” 
with  reaping-hooks  a few  days  before  the  wheat  bursts  into 
“ ear.”  Occasionally  strong  crops  of  oats  and  barley  are 
“ flagged.”  The  cost  is  about  2s.  &d.  per  acre,  and  the  benefit 
derived  much  depends  upon  the  weather,  as  the  object  of 
flagging  is  to  prevent  a crop  being  “ laid.”  Therefore  one  does 
not  flag  a light  crop.  The  following  yields  per  acre  represent 
the  average  of  several  years,  including  a bad  season  : — Wheat 
and  barley,  5 quarters  ; oats,  10  quarters  ; clover  hay,  2 tons  ; 
mangold,  37  tons  ; swedes,  25  tons.  A very  dry  season  is  a 
serious  matter  on  this  farm. 
Of  the  209  acres  of  grass  land  about  60  acres  are  mown 
each  year. 
All  the  liquid  manure  from  the  yards  is  pumped  on  to  one 
of  the  mowing  meadows  by  means  of  a rotary  pump,  driven 
with  the  same  power  and  at  the  same  time  as  the  other  barn 
machinery. 
