JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
38 
[ July 8, 1880. 
Class 9, for rams of any age.—The first prize was taken by Mr. 
Gorringe, the second by Mr. C. Chapman, Frocester Court, Stone- 
house, and these were great honours to win, when we note that 
the Judges commended the whole class. This breed of sheep from 
time immemorial has been reared on the chalk hills of Sussex, and 
have contributed largely to the improvement of other breeds in 
Dorset, Wilts, Berks, and Hants, when the local breeds of horned 
sheep were given up many years ago. And in many instances 
in years to come they will occasionally be used for crossing and 
improving other stock just in the same way as Mr. Humphry im¬ 
proved his West County Downs by the use of Jonas Webb’s rams 
of the Southdown breed about forty years ago, at the time of the 
first Royal Society of England meeting held at Oxford. Class 10, 
for the best pen of five shearling ewes, five entries.—This was an 
extremely handsome lot of ewes of wonderful quality. The first 
and second prizes going to the same gentleman who stood first 
and second in Class 9. We often hear various opinions expressed 
about the light weights of this breed, and as not being adapted 
for feeding the million, but it must be remembered that they will 
not only live upon scanty keep, but that greater numbers can be 
kept in comparison with all our larger breeds ; at the same time it 
must not be forgotten that this stock is admirably adapted for 
furnishing small joints of the highest quality of mutton, and are 
in consequence much required for feeding the parks and pastures, 
and furnishing meat for the establishments of noblemen and 
gentlemen in various districts of England. Oxfordshire Down 
sheep, Class 11—For the best shearling ram, only two entries, by 
the same exhibitor, Mr. G. Adams of Farringdon, Berks, who 
takes both first and second prizes. On referring to our notes on 
this Society’s meeting at Southampton in 1878, we find that the 
same breeder took the first prize both for shearling ram and five 
shearling ewes on that occasion, but we did not think his stock 
quite so good as they were two years ago. The Oxford Downs are, 
however, a noble breed of sheep, being originally a cross between 
the Cotswold and Hampshire Down breeds. One of the first and 
most successful breeders was the late Mr. S. Druce of Ensham, 
Oxon, who commenced the cross in 1833, and later on Mr. C. 
Howard of Bedfordshire. These sheep are admirably adapted for 
crossing with the Hampshire Downs, for in ordinary farming the 
cross will produce 20 to 25 per cent, more lambs and give stock of 
a larger size and heavy weights for age, and prove better than the 
Cotswold cross, because they maintain a dark colour which is 
valued by the grazier, as they make a higher price as mutton, and 
yet cut a heavy valuable fleece of wool. Long-woolled sheep, 
Class 13, five entries. For the best shearling ram, two prizes— 
First prize taken by Mr. R. Swanwick, Cirencester, who also wins 
a Champion prize. Second prize to Messrs. Gillett, Farringdon, 
Oxon. These were magnificent sheep as regards size and weight 
for age, and would certainly stand well in any exhibition in the 
kingdom. Class 14, five entries. For the best ram of any age. 
—Messrs. Swanwick & Gillett stand in the same position as in 
Class 13 with grand sheep, well meriting the prizes obtained. 
Class 15, for the best pen of five shearling ewes.—Messrs. Gillett 
obtained both prizes in this class, which are remarkably fine speci¬ 
mens of the Cotswold breed, and will go far to ensure success to 
the owners at future exhibitions. The Judges in all the sheep 
classes were Mr. John Ford of Rushton, Blandford, Dorset, and 
Mr. J. R. Neate, Micheldever, Hants, both of them gentlemen of 
great experience, and we find that their awards have given great 
satisfaction to the exhibitors in all the classes. 
(To be continued.) 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
Horse Labour .—The horses will have constant work and of various 
kinds. Ploughing, working with harrows, &c., after green crops will 
now be going on in preparation for drilling with turnip seed. This 
is now a good time for sowing turnip seed for a crop for winter use, 
as they are sure to stand the frost if not sown too early ; at least 
this applies to the Grey Stone and Red Mammoth varieties, the two 
varieties which we recommend for general use and purposes, being 
not only quick of growth but very nutritious, and maintain their 
feeding quality for a long time. The sooner the seeds of turnips 
are drilled after the land is ploughed the better ; we often drill the 
seed the same day the land is ploughed, especially when the land is 
likely to become too dry. Hay-carting and stacking will still be 
going on ; our usual plan is when the weather is favourable to work 
the horses on the land up to midday, and cart the hay to rick in the 
afternoon, because we have always found hay in better condition 
after midday than in the morning if the weather is settled fine. The 
growth of hay for sale is attracting more attention than usual at 
present, and the land should be seeded accordingly. For instance, 
the planting of broad clover alone cannot with certainty be assured 
on any land ; we therefore advise that 8 lbs. of broad, 4 tbs. of alsike, 
and 1 bushel of giant saintfoin seeds per acre should be sown upon 
ordinary mixed soils or strong loams, but without any rye grass of 
any sort in the mixture, and particularly when the land is intended 
to be sown with wheat afterwards out of clover lea. Now this mix¬ 
ture will produce hay of the very finest quality, an important matter 
when grown for sale, and with saintfoin in the mixture it can be made 
into hay in nearly as little time as with rye grass, and the hay will 
be worth from 10s. to 15s. per ton more. Let us consider the probable 
produce per acre, and as this mixture of grasses will produce two good 
cuttings, we may therefore calculate that 3 tons per acre at least will 
be the result; the value of £4 per ton may be expected upon the 
average, although sometimes a portion may be partially damaged, 
making £12 per acre. This compares favourably with any cereal pro¬ 
duction at prices which we are likely to obtain whilst unlimited 
importations prevail. If, however, the sale of hay is not intended 
we advise the home farmer not to risk the making of hay, but to cut 
the clover, &c., as a mixed crop for use as required. Three cuttings 
may then be often obtained upon good holding land and be employed 
as green fodder for the cattle in boxes, the dairy cows in stalls, and 
horses in their stables, the dairy cows receiving a bait night and 
morning at milking time, thereby supplementing the food whilst 
grazing on the pasture or park lands. In this way the clover crop 
takes but little labour and no risk, and resulting also in the making 
of large quantities of valuable manure. There is another plan of 
furnishing dry fodder which we wish to lay before the home farmer, 
the growth of which, too, will furnish a good alternation with clover 
(which on many soils is an actual necessity), we mean the conversion 
of green rye or winter oats into hay. Where the land is free from 
couch grass these crops may be sown and removed in time for the 
growth of crops of mangolds, Swedes, early turnips, cabbages, and 
carrots planted or sown in good time. In ordinary seasons the rye 
or oats being cut and tied into small sheaves, and half the land being 
ploughed between the stooks of straw set up, these may then be 
moved on to the land just sown and the remainder of the land drilled, 
and as soon as the sheaves are dry enough to be stacked for hay they 
may be removed. Upon this system there is little if any risk of 
damaging the “ Prairie hay,” as we call it; for it will come out of the 
stack a wet brown colour with much aroma, and of great feeding 
value, as shown by the analysis of straw cut green by Dr. Yoelcker, 
and far better for feeding fattening cattle than any hay, and also 
well adapted for chaffing for horses, sheep, dairy cows, &c. 
Hand Labour .—This will now be required in many different kinds 
of work ; and in oi der that hand labpur may be available for the work 
of the farm, labour-saving machinery of every kind should be em¬ 
ployed as much as possible, but especially the straw elevator at the 
time of stacking the hay. The second and last hoeing of mangold 
should now be done, the hoeing of Swedes, also^of all root crops as 
they become fit, and when the plants are large enough for singling 
the work should never be delayed. Shepherds now will find abun¬ 
dant employment, for this is the time for weaning of the lambs, and 
it is well to remove the ewes from the Iambi instead of the reverse 
course. The lambs will be more contented after losing their dams if 
allowed to remain a few days in the field or pasture where they have 
been accustomed to be fed, and especially if they have been allowed 
artificial feeding stuffs, such as cake of any sort, cracked beans, ifcc., 
Dairy cows in hot weather often receive but little attention, and are 
allowed to take the shade of trees ; but we prefer if near the home¬ 
stead to take them to the stalls out of the way of the flies, and give 
them a bit of any green fodder, remaining until milking time, they 
will then give down their milk more freely, and more of it, than 
when under trees or hedges, where their manure is also lost. The 
home farmer should now be prepared with a well-bred yearling bull 
in readiness to be turned out with the yearling off heifers the first 
week in August; the calves will then be due in May, when the grass 
will be ready for the heifers after calving, as they cannot be kept too 
well, a flush of milk being desirable, and in the first year the calves 
should be allowed to suck until fat, and also others afterwards for 
veal. This improves the animals ever after as dairy cows. 
ROYAL AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 
The Principal of the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, 
feeling that it is in the highest degree desirable that members and 
past students of the College, and other gentlemen having special 
attainments in science or having experience as agriculturists and 
stock-keepers, should co-operate with the professors and students of 
the College in agricultural research, invites qualified persons to 
assist personally or by letter in the following investigations. For 
the attainment of the objects in view it is proposed to establish the 
following Committees, each having its own special line of research— 
1st, Livestock Committee. —To inquire into the means for regu¬ 
lating the breeding powers of animals, (a) Conditions favourable 
for reproduction ; ( b ) conditions which prevent reproduction ; 
( c ) conditions controlling the sex of offspring ; (d) conditions 
influencing the colour of offspring ; (e) any other branch of the 
inquiry which may be considered desirable. 
2nd, Meat Committee. —( a ) Conditions favouring the economic 
production of meat; ( b ) conditions which influence the quality 
of the meat produced ; ( c ) any other branch of the inquiry which 
may be considered desirable. 
3rd, Farm Seeds Committee. — (a) Conditions which influence 
