Farm Prize Competition, 1908. 
219 
fat hogs. The lambs are first put on to the clover fog and 
allowed a little Bombay cotton cake ; afterwards they go on 
to the grass land to finish, and receive as many roots as they 
can clean up and an increased quantity of a mixture of Bombay 
cotton cake, a local feed cake, and crushed oats. Mr. Dryden 
thus contrives to supply a local demand and incidentally 
improve his grass land. 
Labour. — In this district wages run at about 22s. per week. 
Mr. Dryden employs one foreman at 21s. per week with house 
and 80 stones of potatoes per annum ; foreman’s two sons at 
24s. each per week ; one spade hind at 21s. per week, with 
house and 00 stones of potatoes ; one byreman at 21s. per 
week, with house and 60 stones of potatoes ; five men at 22s. 
per week and no perquisites ; three Irishmen (May to 
December) at 24s. per week, and from ten to twenty women 
at Is. ‘id. to Is. 6d. per day according to requirements. The 
women are mainly employed in sorting turnips and potatoes, 
but are not expected to work in stormy or wet weather. 
Buildings. — The buildings and cottages are maintained by 
the landlord, who also provides the gates and attends to 
repairs. The buildings are poor, old-fashioned, and incon- 
venient, and would probably have been renewed long ago but 
for their position. Being now surrounded by houses, it is 
most likely that they will have to be pulled down and new 
buildings erected on a site more remote from the township. 
Implements. — The farm was suitably equipped with good 
implements, which were well looked after. 
Fences, ditches, and occupation roads are maintained by the 
tenant, and were in a satisfactory condition. Drainage requires 
attention in places. 
Book-keeping. — An excellent system of accounts is in use. 
The main sources of income are potatoes, dairying, and horses. 
Excellent potatoes are grown on the farm, and the produce is 
sold close at home at prices which would gladden the heart of 
a Covent Garden salesman. Milk sells readily at a good price, 
and as the hour for retailing approaches numbers of women 
and children are seen waiting with their pence and pitchers. 
Good geldings bought at four years old, worked and sold at 
six, sell well for town and Corporation work. Perhaps the 
great secret of success is the business capacity generally 
displayed to meet all opportunities for successful trading, no 
item escaping Mr. Dryden’s attention. That there are excep- 
tional opportunities surrounding the Dene House Farm no one 
will deny. Quantities of turnips can be sold at the door at 
one halfpenny each, and at Is. 9 d. to 2s. per cwt. ; cabbages 
and other vegetables also finding a good market. Carting and 
Corporation work have already been alluded to. The farming 
