KENT’S BEST FARM

North Canterbury Gazette, Volume 7, Issue 59, 26 November 1937, Page 7

KENT’S BEST FARM

Winner of 50-Guinea Cup

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR

GRAIN

A Special Representative of the “Farmer and Stock-Breeder” here describes some of the more interesting features of the 500-acre farm which *was deemed the best in competitions open to a county where farming is of an exacting standard. milk retailing, market garden crops, barley and wheat growing are some of the numerous operations carried on at Alland Grange Farm, Mansion, Mr Ernest Philpott’s farm that won the 50-guinea cup in competitions (open to all Kent) organised by the Ashford Fat Stock Show Society for the best managed farm of over 50 acres. Alland Grange Farm lies in the north-east corner of Kent on land renowned for quality malting barley. On some 500 acres of typical Thanet soil —lightish and near the chalk—there are few things that Mr Philpott does not go in for, and with Margate, Ramsgate, and Broadstairs “on his doorstep,” accredited milk retailing forms an important part of his activities. Shorthorns predominate in a mixed herd of 37 cows, which also - includes Guernsey and Friesian blood. ' Notices on the delivery vans announce that the milk is delivered “from cow to customer in 30 minutes,” Mr Philpott being particularly keen on delivery in the freshest possible condition. Milking times are at 4 a.m. and 3 p.m., and the first vans are loaded and on their way a quarter of an hour after the milk comes to the cooling and bottling room. There are only about 20 acres of permanent pasture (the Isle of Thanet does not grow good grass) so that summer grazing is principally on clover and lucerne leys. Forage crops of tares, -kale, etc., provide autumn and winter greenstuff, and 35 acres of mangolds are grown each year.

Cowsheds constructed to Mr Philpott’s own design are models of lightness and airiness. There are no gutters, the standings being some two or three inches above the rest of the floor, which slopes gently away to an open drain behind. By this means, it is found, there is less danger of tho cows slipping and injuring themselves, while urine drains quickly away and makes for easier cleaning. The best of the heifer calves are kept on, but. it is not possible to supply all herd replacements in this way, cows being bought in local markets as required. As well as being a useful market, the nearby resorts provide enough hotel waste to form a large proportion of the food for an annual output of 800 bacon pigs. This waste is all boiled in coppers and fed in the proportion of two parts of swill to one of meal. Great care has to be taken in sorting this over, for such “impurities” as knives and forks are sometimes found! The fattening quarters are somewhat novel in design, having a 15 x 15 feet outside run both at the back and the front of the sleeping quarters. Thus there is through ventilation, while the pigs can always get into or out of direct sunshine. Straw or sawdust litter is used, sawdust finding finding great favour as being easy to handle and very absorbent. The baconers are never loaded by hand, concrete ramps having been built wherever it is likely that they will be needed. There are a few Large White sows and a grand, long, fineshouldered boar of the same breed from Lord Daresbury’s herd, but most of the pigs are bought in as youngsters. Among the crops, malting barley, of course, figures largely, and Mr Philpott has in the past secured the world’s championship at the Brewers’ Exhibition. There are about 52 acres of Plumage Archer to harvest this year. The rotation is, roughly speaking, potatoes; wheat, barley; oats; but various crops share tho root break with the potatoes, and oats may sometimes follow wheat if it is thought that tho land is still too rich for malting barley. 1 Potatoes get as much as 15 loads of dung and 10cw-t. artificials, while seaweed is a favourite manure, being delivered very cheaply by the Margate Corporation—4oo tons have been ordered for next month. Cauliflower and broccoli occupy about 70 acres, and are always done really well. The plants were being set out in July to be ready for cutting at the end of September. An interesting crop, which Mr Phil* pott believes is the only one in Kent, is 10 acres of table beet being grown for seed.