Farm  Prize  Competition,  1910. 
249 
The  stock-carrying  capacity  of  the  farm  has  been  very 
much  improved,  enabling  it  to  supply  the  requirements  of 
farmyard  manure,  thus  returning  back  to  the  land  a fair 
proportion  of  the  produce  and  getting  over  the  difficulty  of 
procuring  manure  from  the  towns. 
The  Judges  considered  the  general  management  of  this  farm 
very  good,  cultivations  excellent,  the  land  clean,  and  the  crops 
and  pastures  good  and  well  managed  ; the  stock  useful  and 
suitable  ; water  arrangements  especially  good — a valuable 
feature  on  a dairy  farm  ; implements  up  to  date  and  well 
looked  after  ; buildings  neat  and  tidy.  The  Judges  were 
impressed  by  Mr.  Shepherd’s  business  capacity. 
First  Prize  Farm  in  Class  II. 
Occupied,  by  Mr.  John  Almond , of  Buckley  Hill  Farm , Sefton , 
near  Blundellsands , 
Situate  five  miles  from  Liverpool  Market  and  two  from  the 
suburbs.  Held  on  a yearly  tenancy  under  the  Earl  of  Sefton, 
with  absolute  freedom  of  cultivation. 
This  farm  consists  of  88  acres  arable  and  10  acres  grass. 
The  rotation  of  cropping  is  : — 
Seeds. 
I 
Potatoes 
(Cauliflower) 
I 
Wheat  or  Oats 
I 
Potatoes 
I 
Wheat 
First  year  clover  and  rye-grass,  which  is  cut  for  hay  twice  ; 
second  year  early  potatoes,  followed  by  a catch  crop  of  cauli- 
flower in  the  same  year  ; third  year  wheat  or  oats  ; fourth 
year  late  potatoes  ; fifth  year  wheat,  which  is  undersown 
with  seeds  for  mowing  the  next  year.  The  mixture  of  seeds 
consists  of  per  acre  : 6 lb.  cow-grass  clover,  1 lb.  of  alsike, 
and  20  to  22  lb.  Italian  rye-grass.  All  seeds  are  purchased 
at  wholesale  prices,  with  a written  guarantee  of  germina- 
tion and  purity,  and  are  frequently  tested  before  payment  is 
made. 
The  acreages  of  the  various  crops  seen  were  : Clover  and  rye- 
grass, for  mowing  twice,  17  acres  ; early  potatoes,  interplanted 
