Farm Prize Competition } 1913. 
305 
All the farms are Lady-day farms, and it is noteworthy that 
there is not a single leasehold tenancy amongst the entries. 
The contract of tenancy requiring two years’ notice from either 
side to determine it is of interest in view of the suggestion 
recently put forward to make this length of notice legally 
necessary. Another and still more notable feature is the 
number of the tenants entering from the Ashton Court Estate, 
belonging to Dame Emily Smyth. On this property it has been 
the custom for some years to hold competitions for the best 
farm on the estate annually, and the winners are disqualified 
from competing again for a certain period. The excellent 
effect of this custom upon the quality of the farming upon the 
estate are evidenced by the Judge’s awards in this year’s 
competition, for all those of Lady Smyth’s tenants entering 
received notice. 
The instructions to the Judges were specially to consider : — 
General management, with a view to profit. 
System of cropping ; cleanliness and management of 
both arable and grass land. 
Quality and suitability of live stock, especially that bred 
upon the farm. 
State of gates, fences, roads, general neatness, and state 
of cottages, as far as tenant is liable. 
Management of the dairy and dairy produce where 
dairying is pursued. 
The duration of the tenancy. 
Mode of book-keeping followed (if any). 
Gloucestershire. 
The first-prize farm in Class 1 is that of Mr. George H. 
Jones, at Badminton. The charming old house and the home- 
stead adjoin the Park, and on the occasion of a visit 1 the 
beautiful herd of the old Gloucestershire breed of cattle, 2 
belonging to the Duke of Beaufort, were to be seen grazing 
near the gates. The farm is situated towards the western 
extremity of the Cotswolds, on the road from Cirencester to 
Bristol, being distant about twenty miles from Cirencester, 
about fifteen miles from Bristol and Bath, and about ten miles 
from Chippenham. 
The farm is 810 acres in extent, of which less than one- 
third is permanent pasture ; the soil is the “ brashy ” soil .of 
the Cotswolds, and inclined to dry out, and a general d.esciip- 
tion of the farming of the district appears elsewhere in this 
volume. 2 
Most of the remarks in the Repoits following relate to visits in June and July. 
For a description of this breed see R.A.S.E. Journal, Vol. 70, page 41o. 
See page 22. 
