A FARM THAT PAYS.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1168, 20 December 1879, Page 5 (Supplement)

A FARM THAT PAYS.

The farm management of Mr Prout in England is just now attracting a good deal of attention in the Homo papers, owing; to the fact that ho has io variably farmed with a balance on the right side. The North British Agriculturist of 20th August hai the following on the subject : — In spite of bad seasons and low pvices, whilst oiber owners and occupiers of clay lands are dispirited and losing money, Mr John Prout, of Sawb ridge w or ht, Herts, who sells the whole of his crops annually by public auction, continues to prosecute his continuous corn-growingr, to keep his land clean, grow good crops, which are above the average of his district, and which thia year stands out in favorable contrast to the couutry generally. Th« English wheat crop will this year be 20 per cent, under an average, arid barley is still more deficient. Mr Prout's 110 acr-iS of wheat promises to average four quarters, consists mostly of square head and B.owick red, with one field of Itivetts ; most of it is manured when drilled with a mixture of superphosphate and guano, and top dressed in spring with superphosphate, dissolved bone and nitrate of soda ; these dressings cost from 50s to 60a p?r acre. These . concentrated chemicals are the only manures which the farm has received during 16 j ears ; yet in spite of grain crops being taken for 5 or 6 yea?a in succession, without any fallow or even clover crop intervening, and the whole of th3 produce being annually sold, the cereals show no evidence of starving or malnutrition. The only faulty wheat ia about 20 acres which was victimised by grub ftud wire-worm, but which has been literally top dressed, and will still yield about three quarters to the acre. 60 acres after clover ley promises four quarters without any manure beyond what the wheat gets from the decay of the well-developed roots of a twice mowed clover crop. Barley, extending to 220 acres, in a very uniform and excellent crop, going off rather prenaatu r ely ripe in a few p'aces, likely \o be ready in a fortnight or ten days before any of the wheat, promising- to average 6 quarters. Nowhere in JSssex, Norfolk, or even in Lincolnshire, certainly nowhere in the midland counties have I seen on one farm, or even in one paußb, 200 ores of jsuch level, good barley. Oats generally are late, and will not pay as well as the barlpy, although there ia one piece of black Tartar which will cast 10 quarters to the acre. The chief part of eleven acres of excellent vetches are now also being cut for bay. The cost of growing these good crops average £8 5i an acr?, made up of the following items :— £2 tor rent, or a3 Mr Prout is hi3 own landlord, for interest on capital expended in the purchase of the farm and in its permanent improvements - } 10s for interest on the working capital of the farm, estimated at £5000; £2 for steam,, horse, and manual labor ; £2 153 for manures j and £1 for seed, selling crops and incidentals. This outlay, judiciously made, has, during a dozen years, secured an acieable incom3 of £10, Equally good results will doubtless be obtained this year ; and, unlike most arable farmer*!, Mr Prout will thus n*v a ptofic of upwards of 30^ an acre.