Farm Prize Competition , 1913. 
309 
The barley showed signs of excellent tillage ; it is not Mr. 
Bridgman’s custom to use any artificial with this crop, and its 
appearance might have been improved by the addition of some 
phosphatic manure. There was an excellent plant, evenly 
germinated, but thin and inclined somewhat to a starved 
appearance. 
The seeds were Sutton’s No. 2 mixture, which is always 
used by Mr. Bridgman, although he rarely leaves it down for 
two years. There was a fair stack of rye-grass hay, made from 
a mixture of trifolium and rye-grass, grown as a catch-crop, 
and folded off first of all in the spring. Tim intention had 
been to get in roots after the fold, but this being impossible 
owing to the season, the extra hay crop was snatched an 
admirable illustration of the tenant’s ability to make the best of 
a situation. With regard to the grass land, Mr. Bridgman 
follows the best practice, and mows the same fields year after 
year. The grass is cut young, which he says gives him better 
hay, and better aftermath — a very sound practice, and one too 
rarely followed. The home meadow, like some of the arable 
land, suggested the need of liming. The grazing land was 
situated some six miles away. The tenant says it will now 
carry a larger head of stock than when he first took it, and 
seeing that the only change has been the more systematic 
grazing which he has practised, it affords an illustration of 
what can be effected by skilful management apart from 
manuring. 
The horses are for the most part Shires of the best stamp. 
They included a filly which would be a credit to any farmer, 
and showed it by winning first prize in the local class at the 
Bristol Meeting. One team at work on a fallow consisted of a 
three-year-old, being grown on for work ultimately on the 
streets, and an aged horse bought out of a mineral-water cart, 
which had finished its work on the roads and come back to the 
farm for a few years. This team is an excellent example of 
the means by which a competent man may turn his working 
horses to profitable account, Mr. Bridgman has a milking 
herd of about 50 head, besides heifers and calves. The milk 
is sold in Bristol, and the retailers call for it at the farm twice 
daily. This is a great convenience, and considering the near- 
ness of this fine market, the Judges express the opinion that 
the tenant might very profitably direct his attention to the 
further development of this side of his business. No doubt the 
fact that so much of the grass land is some six miles from the 
homestead operates against the tenant in this respect. The 
cows are somewhat uneven, but there were some grand dairy 
cows amongst them. No milk records are kept, and in these 
days they should be regarded as absolutely essential by every 
