220 
Farm Prize Competition , 1908. 
was characterised by thoroughly good cultivations, clean land, 
and excellent crops. The general management was good, the 
land being maintained in a high state of fertility. 
It is a matter of great difficulty to compare a farm such as 
Dene House, with its deep rich soil and exceptional position 
and facilities, with farms having none of these advantages— 
the Judges having to decide which tenant is making the most 
of his land and of the surroundings in which he finds himself. 
In no case did the Judges see land so well cultivated or carry- 
ing such clean and good crops all round as at Dene House Farm. 
As to the thorough adaptation to circumstances, there was 
equally no doubt. 
They therefore had no hesitation in awarding to Mr. J. W. 
Dry den the First Prize of F»0Z. and Cup in Class 1. 
NOTE. — The Judges desire to say how deeply they regret to 
have since heard of the death of Mrs. Dryden, and to express 
their sincere sympathy with Mr. Dryden and his family in 
their great bereavement. 
Class I. — Second Prize Farm. 
Occupied by Mr. James Ord, Cavil Head, Acklington. 
This farm consists of 423 acres, of which 208 are arable and 
215 grass. It is held on a yearly tenancy, under His Grace the 
Duke of Northumberland, K.G., and has been occupied by 
Mr. Ord for fifteen years. 
The soil is of a loamy character, subsoil sand, and, in places, 
clay. The land is farmed on the four-course system, with 
“ seeds ” occasionally left down two or three years, the 
rotation being roots, barley, seeds, oats. Very little wheat is 
grown, but if any, it is taken after roots. The cropping in 
1908 was as follows : — Turnips, 20 acres ; swedes, 16 acres ; 
potatoes, 2 acres ; mangolds, 2 acres ; barley, 30 acres ; first 
year seeds, 42 acres ; second year seed pasture, 24 acres ; third 
year seed pasture, 23 acres ; fourth year seed ley, 25 acres 
cut for cattle hay ; oats, 23 acres ; cabbage, 1 acre. Total, 
208 acres. 
Roots. — The roots consist of turnips, swedes, mangolds, and 
potatoes, and follow the oat crop. The oat stubble before being 
ploughed receives twenty-five loads per acre of over-year 
manure. If possible, the land is ploughed four times, and is 
then set up in ridges. If Mr. Ord has any suspicion of grub, 
he applies 5 to 6 cwt. per acre of kainit at the time of the 
autumn ploughing, and this is harrowed in. For the turnip 
crop there is applied to the drills either 5 cwt. superphosphate 
or 5 cwt. bone meal per acre ; the superphosphate being applied 
to that portion which will subsequently come in (after the 
