Farm  Prize  Competition,  1909. 
301 
to  ask  if  nothing  can  be  done  to  foster  an  industry  of  such 
national  value.  A considerable  portion  of  “ derelict  ” hop  land 
is  put  under  fruit,  and  it  would  be  of  interest  to  know  what 
labour  is  involved  in  such  cases.  On  the  other  hand,  much  of 
the  hop  land  is  low-lying  near  river  sides  which,  owing  to 
humidity  and  the  danger  of  spring  frosts,  makes  it  not  altogether 
suitable  for  fruit  plantations. 
Hops  here  were  all  dried  on  open  fire  kilns  until  this  year, 
when  three  of  the  eleven  kilns  were  fitted  up  with  Joyce’s 
patent  hot-air  plant.  The  result  as  far  as  sample  is  concerned 
is  perfectly  satisfactory  and,  with  the  addition  of  a fan,  it 
is  believed  that  this  plant  is  capable  of  excellent  results  both 
as  to  quantity  and  quality  of  dried  hops. 
The  orchards  consist  of  4 acres  damsons,  13  acres  plums, 
57  acres  apples.  The  principle  adopted  by  the  late  owner  was 
to  plant  up  the  poorest  of  the  pasture  land  with  fruit  trees,  so 
as  to  equalise  the  letting  value  of  the  whole  farm.  This  has 
doubtless  done  so  to  some  extent,  but  as  a result  some  of  the 
mixed  apple  orchards  do  not  produce  as  abundant  a crop  as 
could  be  desired.  About  sixteen  or  eighteen  years  ago  a large 
number  of  Ecklinville  Seedling  apple  trees  were  planted,  and 
many  of  the  old  trees  cut  back  and  grafted  with  this  sort  of 
apple.  They,  however,  do  not  answer  well  in  this  district,  and 
during  the  last  three  years  the  heads  have  been  taken  off  these, 
and  about  400  trees  grafted  with  Bramley’s  Seedling,  Worcester 
Pearmain,  and  Scotch  Bridgets,  and  much  better  results  are 
anticipated.  Damsons  do  well,  and  the  plums,  chiefly  Victorias 
and  Pershores,  bear  well  on  the  whole. 
’ Horses. — These  comprise  eleven  working  horses,  three  two- 
year-old  horses,  and.  three  nag  horses.  The  working  horses  are 
of  the  Shire  type,  and  were  nearly  all  bred  at  home.  Two 
years  ago,  however,  the  practice  of  breeding  was  given  up,  as 
the  heavy  work  amongst  the  hops  proved  too  much  for  in-foal 
mares.  Young  horses  about  ready  for  work  are  now  brought 
in  as  required. 
Cattle. — The  conditions  here  are  not  suitable  for  cattle 
breeding,  as  there  is  a shortage  of  good  open  pasture  or 
meadow  land,  and  the  orchards  must  be  cleared  of  stock  by 
middle  of  August.  Thus  the  farm  will  carry  only  about  thirty 
or  forty  cattle  during  the  summer,  whereas  it  can  do  with 
eighty  to  a hundred  in  the  winter. 
During  the  summer  months  about  twenty  Shorthorn  heifers 
are  kept  for  autumn  calving,  and  fifteen  to  twenty  heifers  are 
fattened  on  a cake  and  corn  ration  working  up  to  8 lb.  per  head 
per  day.  During  winter  forty  Hereford  bullocks  and  thirty 
Shorthorn  heifers  are  fed,  and  the  twenty  Shorthorn  heifers 
