GLIMPSES OF WESTEEN EUEOPE. 
131 
supply fuel and water, and eight men. But it is furthermore fair to infer 
that on a trial, such as this was, more and better work would be done than 
would be practicable as the average ; so that it is probably more nearly cor¬ 
rect to offset three men with plows against the steam apparatus, instead of 
four. Such being our premises, we cannot get the consent of our judgment 
to endorse the steam plowing of England as economical, unless it be on very 
large estates and under peculiar circumstances. I stick to the idea, however, 
and shall continue to hope for its full realization, at some day, on our great 
Western prairies. 
FARMS OF THE LATE PRINCE ALBERT. 
* * * But I must not linger at the great Palace. Famous in history as 
linked with the progress of the empire during a period of some eight hun¬ 
dred years, it still stands, solemn and grand, upon Windsor’s commanding 
hill, appealing to the nation’s reverence for the heroic Past, and mutely dep¬ 
recating the sure and steady progress of the mightier Present. The Windsor 
royal estate embraces about 14,000 acres, including 40 miles of roadway, and 
is one of the most beautiful in England. In the midst of it, there are three 
royal farms, all of which were managed by Prince Albert, and a dairy estab¬ 
lishment notable for the unexampled perfection of its appointments. The 
Prince was distinguished for his successful breediner of all classes of stock, 
as well as for skill in general farm management, and I have pleasure in this 
opportunity of seeing the various farms of which he had control, so soon af¬ 
ter his death. The Shaw Farm embraces 800 acres; of which, however, less 
than 200 are under the plow, the rest being in meadow and pasture. The 
farm establishments, including dwelling, barns, cattle-sheds, wagon-sheds, en¬ 
gine-house, tool-house, piggeries and aviary, though not extensively gotten 
up, are constructed after an excellent design, upon a square plot of ground, 
and altogether present a very pleasing appearance. The Prince was ever 
on the alert for new improvements, as may be seen by the methods he ad¬ 
opted for cultivating and harvesting his crops and taking care of his stock. 
A steam engine threshes the grain, and elevates it to the graneries, cuts the 
straw, roots and other feed, cooks the potatoes, and in many other ways 
makes itself useful. Grain-drills, improved horse-hoes and cultivators, and 
Wood’s Reaper and Mower are in proper place and in good order ; six pairs 
of splendid Clydesdale horses, for farm work, are being harnessed for the af¬ 
ternoon task; and a herd of the finest bred Durham cattle are doing their 
best to convert the provender into the best of meat and milk. 
The Flemish Farm consists of 400 acres, half of which is under plow at 
present. Establishment good. Herd, Herefords, and one of the purest and 
best in the kingdom. Number of all ages, about 100. 
The Forfolk Farm embraces 700 acres, 200 being arable. Noted for its su¬ 
perior herds of Devon cattle and Berkshire swine. On these several farms, 
the average yield of wheat has been for several years past, about 42 bushels; 
of oats, 86 ; of beans, 52 ; of Swedes, 14 tons ; of Mangels 40 to 60 tons per 
acre. 
But Frogmore Dairy is even more interesting than the farms. It was built 
under the express direction of the Prince, and fitly represents the poetic 
phase of this always interesting branch of husbandry. The dairy herd con¬ 
sists of some 200 head of Durhams, Durnara grades and Jersey’s. The cow¬ 
house, like the most of those on the best farms on the continent, is constructed 
with double rows of stalls, with broad feed-ways between; the cows when 
stalled, standing in long rows, face to face, and secured by a chain with a 
ring that slides up and down the stanchions. The water is conveyed through < 
pipes to troughs always within reach, and kept clean by frequent change and 
occasional scrubbing; ample provision is made for draining all liquid man¬ 
ures to one general manure house, from which it may be pumped either upon 
the covered heaps of stall manure, or into manure carts for the direct appli¬ 
cation to the lands of garden and farm. Littering of the stalls is properly 
attended to and currying is not neglected. Economical provision is also 
made for converting the milk slops and other waste products of the farm in¬ 
to numbers of beautiful (if a hog may ever be said to be beautiful) White 
