264  Farm  Prize  Competition , 1910. 
The  grass  land  is  top-dressed  with  15  tons  per  acre  of 
sawdust  manure,  and  looked  very  well  indeed. 
The  cattle  consisted  of  five  cows,  eleven  heifers,  and  one 
heifer  calf,  all  bred  upon  the  farm,  but  occasionally  young 
calves  are  purchased  for  rearing.  There  were  also  ten  excel- 
lent pigs.  The  stock  are  fed  on  purchased  meals,  bran,  chaffed 
hay  or  wheat  chaff,  and  foddered  with  hay  and  the  waste 
potatoes. 
Manures  cost  300Z.  per  annum,  and  the  labour  amounts 
to  375 1. 
The  principal  sources  of  income  are  potatoes,  corn,  and 
straw.  Straw  sells  at  over  21.  per  ton,  and  is  more  than 
replaced  by  purchased  manure. 
This  farm  is  typical  of  many  in  the  county,  practically 
all  the  manure  is  purchased  and  delivered  on  to  the  farm 
direct  from  a local  railway  siding.  A large  quantity  is  pur- 
chased every  year,  and  there  is  no  question  as  to  the  condition 
of  Mr.  Rosbotham’s  fields. 
The  land  is  well  managed,  and  is  in  good  heart  and  very 
clean.  The  hedges  and  fences  are  good  and  well  kept. 
The  competition  in  this  class  was  very  good  indeed,  and  the 
Judges  considered  Mr.  Rosbotham’s  farm  a good  second. 
Second  Prize  Farm  in  Class  III. 
Occupied  by  Mr.  S.  S.  Raingill , of  The  Grange , Ring  nay, 
Altrincham. 
There  are  90  acres  of  arable  land  and  85  acres  of  grass,  held 
under  a yearly  tenancy  from  Lord  Egerton  of  Tatton.  The 
tenant  is  not  responsible  for  the  upkeep  of  the  buildings, 
drainage,  or  cottages.  He  is  responsible  for  the  fences,  gates, 
and  occupation  roads. 
The  system  of  cropping  is  oats,  followed  by  green  crop, 
which  comes  into  wheat,  which  in  its  turn  is  undersown  with 
seeds.  Occasionally  a second  white  crop  is  taken,  in  which  case 
it  receives  a top-dressing  of  superphosphate  or  other  manure. 
The  areas  under  the  various  crops  were  : — 
Oats  ..... 
. 11  acres. 
Green  crops  .... 
. . . 17  „ 
Wheat  , 
. . . 17  „ 
Clover  ..... 
. 16  „ 
Second  year’s  clover 
Third  year’s  clover 
. 11  ,, 
. 11  ., 
Old  meadow  for  mowing 
. 50  „ 
Pasture ..... 
. . . . 35  „ 
The  seeds  for  mowing  receive  6 cwt.  of  basic  slag  per  acre 
in  the  autumn,  and  5 cwt.  per  acre  of  bone  compound  in  the 
spring. 
