Farm Prize Competition, 1913. 
307 
done with three horses abreast in double-furrow ploughs. The 
condition of the horses and their harness bore witness to that 
care and attention on the part of the horsemen which is so 
characteristic of these men in almost every part of the country. 
The cattle are managed mainly for the production of beef, 
but Mr. Jones also rears a few young bulls. There are nine 
Shorthorn cows, all of good quality, which rear about four 
calves each. The practice of the tenant is to buy only well- 
bred Shorthorn calves from the best herds for this purpose, and 
the Judges specially remarked upon the quality of the yearlings 
shown to them. A few of them are kept each year for sale as 
farmers’ bulls, and the steers are ready for the butcher at two 
years. The calves are weaned as soon as possible and kept 
going Avith cake and meal up to 21b. until about eighteen months, 
when they go out to grass. Cattle In the yards are finished on 
mixed meal and roots. 
The flock consists of 306 Hampshire ewes, and the Judges 
specially remarked upon the high standard of uniformity and 
excellence they presented, proof of care and skill in selection 
and mating exercised over many years. This year’s crop of 
lambs represents nearly 1^ per ewe. The sheep are on the 
arable land nearly all the year, turnips, swedes, and kale in the 
winter, and clover and sainfoin in the summer. This close 
stocking of the plough-lands with sheep is essential in the 
management of the light dry soil of which the farm is mostly 
composed, though whether the custom of manuring the corn 
crops solely through the sheep, helped out with dung from the 
yards, might not be varied and improved by the addition of 
judicious quantities of artificial manures is a point well worthy 
of consideration. As soon as the lambs can eat they get some 
cake and meal, and the quantity is increased until they are 
getting \ lb. daily. They are weaned on the sainfoin. About 
100 ewe lambs are brought into the flock each year, and the 
remainder of the lambs, together with upwards of 150 more 
which are bought in the autumn, are fed during the winter 
and early spring. 
Mr. Jones feeds a good many pigs, both large blacks, and 
the local black and white Gloucester breed. Most of them are 
bred on the farm, a few young pigs being occasionally bought, 
and upwards of 100 are sent to the bacon factories each year. 
Mr. Jones keeps a careful record of receipts and payments, 
and his farm may fairly be said to be representative of the best 
management of the district. He is assisted in his work by 
Mr. Barton, and the well-filled nag stable enables them to be 
constantly amongst the men on this large holding, whilst 
testifying also to their love of that sport for which the great 
estate on which they live has so long been famous. 
I 
