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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER,  November  29, 1900. 
That  large  numbers  of  farmers  are  bound  hand  and  foot  to  the 
credit  system  we  are  convinced,  and  a  proof  is  the  extreme  difficulty 
with  which  a  farmer  can  be  persuaded  to  purchase  from  a  new  firm  ; 
it  is  not  only  his  innate  conservatism  that  accounts  for  it,  but  the  fact 
that  he  cannot  afford  to  leave  the  old  firm  and  pay  the  shot. 
We  have  quoted  very  extreme  cases,  but  there  are  thousands  of 
others  which  differ  from  them  only  in  degree.  There  are  men  who 
have  farmed  all  their  lives,  and  kept  their  heads  above  water,  and  been 
looked  upon  as  prosperous  and  well-to-do  men,  who  have  never  known 
what  real  and  true  independence  meant,  have  never  been  free  from 
bondage  to  the  merchant,  and,  maybe,  to  the  landlord,  and  have 
never  been  in  a  position  to  buy  and  sell  absolutely  at  the  best  time  or 
in  the  best  way,  so  as  to  make  the  best  of  the  stock  and  crops  which 
they  have  worked  so  bard  to  rear  and  grow. 
Farms,  notwithstanding  the  depression,  have  not  been  so  plentiful 
on  the  market  that  a  would-be  tenant  could  always  obtain  ]ust  the 
holding  that  suited  his  requirements  and  pocket,  and  when  the  choice 
has  lain  between  one  too  large  and  another  smaller  than  his  ideal,  the 
lot  has  too  often  fallen  to  the  larger  undertaking  ;  he  has  taken  a 
gambling  risk  to  win  or  lose,  for  taking  too  large  a  farm  and  trusting 
to  luck  is  gambling  pure  and  simple. 
With  high  prices  for  grain  has  passed  away  all  chance  of  making 
large  profits  out  of  agriculture,  and  wm  are  sure  that  in  the  future  only 
those  who  have  their  farms  well  in  hand,  whether  large  or  small,  will 
be  able  to  sustain  the  struggle  against  modern  competition  and  make 
a  living  on  the  land. 
Work  on  %  Home  Farm. 
November  may  be  called  the  dull  season  in  agriculture,  for  the  daily 
and  weekly  task  now  attain  a  sort  of  monotony  which  lasts  until 
January  is  out.  We  have  heard  a  foreman  complain  bitterly  of  the 
dulness  of  farm  work  in  winter,  but  we  ourselves,  though  finding  the 
appearance  of  the  fields  dull  enough,  and  horse  work  less  interesting 
than  in  summer,  find  a  visit  to  the  Turnip  fold  or  to  the  cattle  in  the 
yards  a  never  ending  source  of  pleasure,  particularly  so  late  in  the 
afternoon  when  the  yardman  has  got  all  fed  and  is  just  putting  his 
shovels,  hampers,  and  buckets  away  for  the  night,  and  every  animal  is 
contentedly  absorbing  a  good  meal,  chewing  being  the  only  audible 
sound. 
Martinmas,  with  its  hiring  fairs,  is  a  thing  of  the  past  once  more, 
and  we  must  again  record  extreme  difficulty  in  obtaining  servants. 
Wages  have  again  risen,  but  farm  men  are  so  scarce  that  it  is  almost 
impossible  to  get  them  at  any  price.  Any  young  lad  who  can  feed  and 
groom  a  pair  of  horses  and  guide  a  plough  may  command  from  £16  to 
£20  per  annum,  while  plenty  of  waggoners  get  £30  and  £35  in  addition 
to  board,  lodging,  and  waggoning  fees.  Farmers  are  trying  to  do  with 
as  few  men  as  possible,  but  some  they  must  have. 
Extra  hands  for  threshing  days  now  require  3s.  6d.  per  day  with 
bread  and  cheese  and  sundry  pints  of  ale.  The  farmers  of  our  village 
are  making  a  stand  against  such  prices,  and  have  arranged  to  help  each 
other  and  do  without  extraneous  assistance.  Large  imports  of  foreign 
Potatoes  have  put  a  decided  damper  on  the  trade,  and  for  two  or  three 
weeks  there  has  been  a  lull  in  the  loading  of  home  grown ;  whether  it 
is  that  the  foreigners  are  not  satisfactory  to  the  consumers  we  know 
not,  but  once  more  there  is  movement  amongst  the  pies,  and  the  women 
are  again  in  constant  work. 
Swedes  are  still  growing  rapidly,  and  some  crops  will  surely 
approach  record  dimensions.  We  are  very  much  struck  by  the 
uniformly  large  size  of  those  we  see  our  neighbours  carting  home. 
Sheep  are  doing  very  well.  Trouble  amongst  the  lambs,  or  rather  we 
may  now  say  hoggs,  is  happily  passed  away,  and  the  flockmaster 
may  begin  to  count  his  saleable  sheep  with  some  certainty.  Losses 
have  been  greater  than  we  had  supposed.  We  met  a  farmer  a  day  or 
two  ago  who  had  lost  twenty  out  of  eighty,  surely  a  serious  diminution  in 
the  prospective  income  of  a  small  holding.  Store  sheep  are  dearer  than 
ever,  and  store  cattle  have  not  been  so  scarce  and  dear  in  November  for 
many  years.  Considerable  numbers  of  cattle  are  still  out  at  grass. 
They  may  do  fairly  well,  but  should  have  some  kind  of  added  food  from 
the  yard,  hay  or  cake. 
Notwithstanding  the  mild  season  eggs  are  very  scarce,  but  hens  have 
got  well  over  the  moult,  and  are  looking  well  and  healthy,  so  with  good 
forcing  food  we  may  have  a  better  supply  before  Christmas. 
Gardeners’ Charitable  and  Provident  Institutions. 
The  Gardeners’  Royal  Benevolent  Institution.  —  Secretary, 
Mr.  G.  J.  Ingram,  175,  Victoria  Street,  S.W. 
United  Horticultural  Benefit  and  Provident  Society. — Secretary, 
Mr.  W.  Collins,  9,  Martindale  Road,  Balham,  London,  S.W. 
Royal  Gardeners’  Orphan  Fund. — Secretary,  Mr.  Brian  Wynne, 
8,  Danes  Inn,  Strand,  London,  W.C. 
Webb  &  Sons’  Hoot  Competition. 
The  awards  in  the  above  competition  for  the  valuable  prizes  offered 
by  Webb  &  Sons,  Wordsley,  Stourbridge,  for  root  crops  grown  from 
their  seed  and  with  the  aid  of  their  special  manure  have  just  been 
decided.  The  judges  were  Mr.  E.  Bennett,  Patshull  Farm,  Wolver¬ 
hampton  ;  Mr.  W.  Hier  Evans,  Radyr  Court,  Llandaff,  Cardiff  ;  and  Mr. 
Lewis  Roach,  Qua^t,  Bridgnorth. 
District  1. — Five  acres  of  Webbs’  Swede,  open  to  the  counties  of 
Salop,  Stafford,  Montgomery,  Warwick,  and  Leicester.  First  prize, 
£15  15s.,  Mr.  F.  H.  Sbarrod,  Cherrington  Manor,  Newport,  Salop, 
35  tons,  5  cwt,,  2  qrs.,  24  lbs.  per  acre  ;  second  prize,  £10  10s.,  Mr.  W. 
Nunnerley,  Kenwlck,  Ellesmere,  Salop,  34  tons,  7  cwt.,  0  qr.,  16  lbs. 
per  acre ;  third  prize,  £5  58.,  Mr.  Edward  James,  Donnlngton  Farm, 
Newport,  Salop,  27  tons,  14  cwt.,  1  qr.,  4  lbs.  per  acre.  Three  acres  of 
Webbs’  Mangold,  prize  £5  Ss.,  Mr.  J.  E.  Weaver,  Stone  Mill,  Stone, 
Staffs.,  58  tons,  12  cwt.,  3  qrs.,  12  lbs.  per  acre. 
District  2. — Five  acres  of  Webbs’  Swede,  open  to  the  counties  of 
Hereford,  Monmouth,  Brecon,  Glamorgan,  Carmarthen,  and  Pembroke. 
First  prize,  £15  15s.,  Mr.  John  Davies,  Hardens  Down,  Reynoldstone, 
R.S.O.,  Glam.,  35  tons,  12  cwt.,  3  qrs.,  12  lbs.  per  acre;  second  prize, 
£5  5s.,  Mr.  A.  F.  Partridge,  Wharton  Court,  Leominster,  33  tons,  5  cwt., 
2  qrs.,  24  lbs.  per  acre.  Three  acres  of  Webbs’  Mangold,  prize  £5  5s., 
Mr.  Philip  Price,  Howick  Farm,  Chepstow,  63  tons  10  cwt.  per  acre. 
District  3. — Five  acres  of  Webbs’  Swede,  open  to  the  counties  of 
Oxon,  Berks,  Bucks,  Wilts,  Hants,  Surrey,  Worcester,  and  Gloucester. 
First  prize,  £15  15s.,  Mr.  H.  W.  Stilgoe,  The  Grounds,  Adderbury,  Ban¬ 
bury,  30  tons,  8  cwt.,  2  qrs.,  8  lbs.  per  acre  ;  second  prize,  £5  53.,  Mr.  J.  R. 
Butler,  Churchill,  Kidderminster,  30  tons,  5  cwt.,  2  qrs.,  24  lbs.  per  acre. 
Three  acres  of  Webbs’  Mangold,  open  to  the  counties  of  Oxon,  Berks, 
Bucks,  Wilts,  Hants,  Surrey,  and  Worcester.  Prize,  £5  5?.,  T.  Simpson 
Jay,  Esq.,  Warren  Farm,  Wimbledon,  54  tone,  1  cwt.,  1  qr.,  20  lbs. 
per  acre. 
District  4. — Three  acres  of  Webbs’  Mangold,  open  to  county  of 
Gloucester.  Prize,  £5  5s.,  Mr.  F.  Rymer,  High  Woolaston,  Lydney, 
42  tons,  14  cwt.,  1  qr.,  4  lbs.  per  acre. 
District  5. — Five  acres  of  Webbs’  Swede,  open  to  the  county  of 
York.  First  prize,  £10  lOs.,  Mr.  W.  Scorer,  Skelton,  Ripon,  34  tons, 
8  cwt.,  2  qrs.,  8  lbs.  per  acre ;  second  prize,  £5  53.,  Mr.  J.  Barker, 
Ellerton  Hill,  Scorton,  33  tons,  2  cwt.,  3  qrs.,  12  lbs.  per  acre.  Three 
acres  of  Webbs’  Mangold.  Prize,  £5  5s.,  Mr.  W.  Moore,  Holtby  Manor, 
Dunnington,  York,  49  tons,  10  cwt.  per  acre. 
District  6. — Five  acres  of  Webbs’  Swede,  open  to  the  counties  of 
Norfolk  and  Suffolk.  Prize  £10  10s.,  Mr.  T.  Kidner,  Halvergate  Hall, 
Norwich,  39  tons,  4  cwt.,  1  qr.,  4  lbs.  per  acre.  Five  acres  of  Webbs’ 
Mangold.  Prize,  £5  53.,  Mr.  S.  Nightingale,  Scratby  Hall,  Great 
Yarmouth,  39  tons,  14  cwt.,  1  qr.,  4  lbs.  per  acre. 
District  7. — Five  acres  of  Webbs’  Swede,  open  to  the  counties  of 
Bedford,  Cambridge,  Cornwall,  Cumberland,  Cheshire,  Derby,  Devon, 
Dorset,  Durham,  Essex,  Herts,  Huntingdon,  Kent,  Lancaster,  Lincoln, 
Middlesex,  Northumberland,  Notts,  Northampton,  Rutihnd,  Somerset, 
Sussex,  Westmoreland,  Cardigan,  Carnarvon,  Denbigh,  Flint,  Merioneth, 
and  Radnor.  First  prize,  £15  15s.,  Mr.  S.  S.  Raingill,  The  Grange, 
Ringway,  Altrincham,  48  tons,  8  cwt.,  2  qrs.,  8  lbs.  per  acre ;  second 
prize,  £5  5s.,  Mr.  W.  Little,  Oulton  Hall,  Wigton,  Cumberland,  40  tons, 
11  cwt.,  1  qr.,  20  lbs.  per  acre. 
District  8. — Five  acres  of  Webbs’  Swede,  open  to  the  counties  of 
Roxburgh,  Haddington,  Berwick,  Edinburgh,  and  Linlithgow.  Prize, 
£10  10s.,  Mr.  John  Meikle,  Grougfoot,  Linlithgow,  31  tons,  17  cwt., 
0  qrs.,  16  lbs.  per  acre. 
District  9. — Five  acres  of  Webbs’  Swede,  open  to  the  county  of 
Perth.  First  prize,  £10  lOs.,  Mr.  John  McLaren,  Powside,  Errol, 
33  tons,  10  cwt.,  2  qrs.,  24  lbs.  per  acre ;  second  prize,  £5  58.,  C.  A. 
Murray,  Esq.,  Tay  mount,  Stanley,  32  tons,  8  cwt.,  2  qrs.,  8  lbs.  per  acre. 
District  10. — Five  acres  of  Webbs’  Swede,  open  to  the  counties  of 
Forfar,  Fife,  and  Kinross.  Prize,  £10  10s.,  Mr.  James  Auchterlonie, 
Leckerstone,  Dunfermline,  34  tons,  0  cwt.,  2  qrs.,  24  lbs.  per  acre. 
District  11. — Five  acres  of  Webbs’  Swede,  open  to  the  counties  of 
Aberdeen,  Banff,  Kincardine,  Inverness,  and  Elgin.  Prize,  £10  10s., 
Mr.  G.  A.  McLean,  Westfield,  Elgin,  33  tons,  4  ,cwt.,  1  qr.,  4  lbs.  per 
acre. 
District  12. — Five  acres  of  Webbs’  Swede,  open  to  the  counties  of 
Dumfries,  Kirkcudbright,  and  Wigton.  Prize,  £10  lOs.,  Mrs.  A.  Craig, 
Cumstown  Mains,  Kirkcudbright,  42  tons  per  acre. 
District  13. — Five  acres  of  Webbs’  Swede,  open  to  the  counties  of 
Stirling,  Dumbarton,  and  Clackmannan.  Prize,  £5  5s.,  Mr.  Alex. 
Lucas,  Craigton  Farm,  Causewayhead,  Stilling,  34  tons,  14  cwt.,  1  qr., 
4  lbs.  per  acre. 
District  14. — ^Five  acres  of  Webbs’  Swede,  open  to  the  county  of  Ayr. 
Prize,  £10  lOs.,  Messrs.  J.  &  W.  McKerrow,  Dalmilling,  St.  Vuivox,  Ayr, 
35  tons,  12  cwt.,  3  qrs.,  12  lbs.  per  acre. 
District  15. — Five  acres  of  Swedes  or  Turnips,  open  to  the  county 
of  Peebles.  Prize,  £5  5s.,  Mr.  Chas.  A.  Graoie,  Easter  Happrew,  Stobo, 
28  tons,  11  cwt.,  1  qr.,  20  lbs.  per  acre. 
District  16. — Five  acres  of  yellow  Turnips,  open  to  the  county  of 
Lanark.  Prize,  £5  5s.,  Mr.  Geo.  Findlater,  Jerviswood  Mains,  Lanark, 
44  tons  per  acre. 
