Farm Prize Competition , 1908. 213 
The cost of adjudication was borne by the Royal Agricul- 
tural Society. As is customary in these competitions, the con- 
ditions of entry required that the tenants should be bona fide 
tenant farmers, paying rent for at least three-fourths of the land 
in their occupation, and that they should enter for competition 
all the land in their occupation in the Counties of Northumber- 
land and Durham, always provided that such land had been in 
their tenure for at least two years. Mr. John Evens, of 
Burton, by Lincoln, and Mr. William Hindmarsh, of Newton 
House, Christon Bank, R.S.O., Northumberland, were appointed 
to judge all three classes ; and the writer to act as Secretary. 
The Judges were requested to take into consideration 
any special advantages which one competitor might possess 
over another, to withhold the prizes in the absence of 
sufficient merit, and especially to consider the following 
points : — (1) General management with a view to profit ; 
(2) productiveness of crops ; (3) quality and suitability of 
live stock, especially that bred upon the farm ; (4) manage- 
ment of grass land ; (5) state of gates, fences, roads, general 
neatness, and state of cottage or cottages so far as tenant is 
liable ; (6) method of book-keeping followed (if any) ; (7) man- 
agement of dairy and dairy produce if dairying is pursued ; 
(8) the duration of tenancy. 
The first visit was made between March 3 and 15, when 
all the farms entered were carefully inspected. The weather 
during the earlier part of the time was most unfavourable 
owing to snowstorms and rain, and the Judges had a good 
deal to contend with owing to the presence of snow ; it was 
in some cases impossible to see all the land during this first 
visit, but the roots, stock, buildings, and general manage- 
ment were thoroughly looked into, and the Judges considered 
that it was necessary to re-visit the following farms only : 
In Class 1 — Mr. George M. Angus, Matfen High House, Cor- 
bridge-on-Tyne ; Mr. John W. Dryden, Dene House Farm, 
Seaham Harbour ; Mr. George A. Harrison, Gainslaw Hill, 
Berwick-on-Tweed ; Mr. James Ord, Cavil Head, Ackling- 
ton ; Mr. William A. Weightman, Hall Farm, Silksworth, 
Sunderland. In Class 2— Mr. Robert H. Dryden, Mill House 
Farm, New Seaham ; Mr. John M. Hall, Middle Field 
House, Stockton-on-Tees ; Mr. George Harrison, Gainford 
Hall, Gainford, Darlington ; Mr. Fenwick Wilson, Marden, 
Whitley Bay. In Class 3 — Mr. Robert J. Ebdon, West Farm, 
Fulwell ; Mr. Malcolm Nicol, Elstob House, Silksworth Lane, 
Sunderland; and Mr. John Reay, East Brunton, Gosforth, 
Newcastle-on-Tyne. 
The second tour of inspection began on June 8 and 
ended on June 13. It was conducted under most favourable 
