Farm, Prize Competition , 1908. 
233 
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clone at 5s. per acre ; the pulling, topping, tailing, &c., are done 
by day-work. The land for potatoes receives the same 
treatment as that for the turnips, and produces an average crop 
of 11 tons per acre, which can be readily disposed of. New 
seed is obtained from Scotland each ' year, about 15 cwt. of 
sets per acre being used. Wheat is taken after turnips and 
potatoes, and receives no special treatment. Very good crops 
of wheat are grown, the straw fetching a good price locally. 
No hoeings are given to the wheat crop, the land being left 
clean after roots. 
Seeds are sown under the wheat crop, the mixture being as 
follows : — h bushel of Italian rye grass, 5 lb. mixed English and 
French red clover, and 2 lb. alsike clover ; the seeds are 
allowed to lie for two years, being cut for hay twice during 
the first year, and once in the second, and then ploughed. The 
seeds land is ploughed up and cleaned during August and 
September, and in the autumn ridged and dunged for potatoes, 
or else ploughed down for oats. If oats are taken then potatoes 
follow the oats ; and if potatoes, wheat is taken, and followed 
by oats. The grain crops do not receive any special treatment. 
Horses. — These consist of eleven working horses, one milk- 
cart horse, and one hunter. The working horses are all of the 
Clydesdale type, and an extraordinarily good lot. Five of the 
best when put together made the best lot of geldings the 
Judges had ever seen, all weighty good horses on the best of 
legs and feet. To say that they were well cared for is to state 
the case mildly. They were in excellent condition, and so 
was their harness and everything about them. The horses are 
worked from 6 a.m. to 12 midday, are then in the stable for 
one and a half hours, and go out again for four hours in the 
afternoon. They are fed on chopped hay and straw with 
crushed beans and oats. The horses are all bought at from 
two to five years old, worked, and sold as opportunity occurs 
for town work, being frequently shown with success in the 
meantime. 
Cattle. — One bull, twenty-four cows, and ten young heifers, 
all Shorthorns, are kept. The cows are all bought in, and of 
the very best class, and appear to be really well done. During 
winter they receive each morning and afternoon a steamed 
mash, consisting of bean meal and bran, at the rate of 4 lb. 
bean meal and 7 lb. bran per cow per day ; also 3 lb. Bibby 
cake, and 3 lb. bean meal dry, per head per day, given at 
midday. There is a good trade for milk in Whitley Bay, 
where it can be readily disposed of at 4 d. per quart. 
Sheep. — The only sheep on this farm are those taken in 
upon agistment from October to March, for which M. per head 
per week is paid. 
