The Farm Prize Competition (^1892. 
571 
Class I. — Reserved Farm. 
Occupied hy Mr. John James, Whiteclmrch Farm, near 
S tratford-on-Avon . 
This farm, situated about 3| miles east of Stratford-on- 
Avon, is held on a yearly tenancy from Mr. J. R. West, of 
Alscot Park, and consists of 173 acres of arable, and 148 acres 
of grass land. This might be termed a mixed soil farm, 
ranging from a very fine loam to a hea\y, bad-working marl. 
It is most compact, lying all round the homestead in a ring 
fence, the grass lands being in the centre, audit has been in the 
occupation of the present tenant only about three years. It 
can be seen by the appearance of this farm that Mr. James has 
spared no expense to make it one of the best farm-holdings in 
the county. Hedges have been laid, borders grubbed up, and 
improvements made wherever needed. New fences have been 
planted where bad ones formerly stood, and, where near 
grazing grounds, have been protected by railings on both sides. 
The buildings are well constructed, conveniently planned, 
and fully adequate to the requirements of the farm. The sheds 
are good and wide, but the yards are small. 
No hay or straw is allowed to be sold from this farm, nor 
are any potatoes allowed to be grown thereon. 
Horses . — Ten working horses are kept, all young, and one 
mare eligible for the Shire Horse Stud Book. All the horses are 
bought at three or four yeai’s of age, and worked on the farm 
till six years old, when they are sold. Mr. James had been so 
unfortunate as to have his horses attacked by influenza in the 
interval between our first and second visits. 
Cattle . — No cattle are bred on this farm. At our first visit, the 
stock numbered sixty-three, being a cross between the Herelord 
and Shorthorn. They were in good condition. Some of these 
had been sold in the interval between our visits, but twenty-five 
extra bullocks had been bought, so that in June the number was 
eighty-three. These were now feeding on the grasses, and 
cost about 16Z. 10s. each near the middle of May. Nineteen 
were being fed on cake at the rate of about 6 lb. per day each, and 
were a grand lot of cattle, weighing from 64 to 66 stone of 1^ lb. 
each, and were waiting for the hoped-for rise in the price of beef 
before being sold. 
Sheep . — On our first visit, 282 sheep were kept on the farm. 
121 ewes in lamb, of the pure Oxford breed, were a very nice 
lot in very healthy condition, and timed to lamb down about 
March 21. They struck us as being a little too open in the 
