QUEEN VICTORIA AS A FARMER

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4330, 13 April 1901, Page 3 (Supplement)

QUEEN VICTORIA AS A FARMER

WHAT HER STOCK CONSISTED OP.

Under the heading "The Queen as a Parmer," the "Parmer and Stockbreeder" has an interesting article, in the course of which it says: “Most of the Royal farms, as we know them: to-day, were organised half a century ago by that able and clear-sighted ruler, the Prince Consort. In everything that pertained to th r soil and stookbreeding. His Royal Highnees was deeply interested. > We know that sentiment was one of the ruling factors of our late Queen’s decision to maintain the farms, as the Prince Consort; organised them. Truly, the success which has attended the Royal herds at Windsor and elsewhere is proof positive of the wonderful ability and clear-sightedness of that noble prince. "At Windsor the farms occupied by Her Majesty are the Home, or Dairy. Farm, the Shaw Farm, and the Flemish Farm. The first of these include over 400 acres of good pasture land, and is devoted to the up-keep of the Royal Dairy, It is stocked with pure-bred Jerseys and cross-bred Shorthorns. Of the commodious and handsome dairy, which is well known to visitors to Windsor, it is not necessary speak, save that, architecturally, it is ornate; and for practical purposes it is all that could be desired. The cowhouse is in every sense a Royal building, accommodating 60 cows. A wide, raised gangway passes down the centre, and the cows stand on either side facing each other, the stalls being Oft, and divided with slate uartitions.

The piggeries at the dairy homesteads are stocked with Berkshiree and Prince Albert White Pigs. Shaw Farm, adjoining the Home Farm, extends to 308 acres, of which 120 are arable. The farm is named after a Frenchman, M. de Shawe. from whom the land was purchased about two and a half centuries ago. In 1849 the farm passed into the tenancy of 'the late Priaee Consort, and since his death has been under Her Majesty's direction, the rent being paid to the Commissioners of Woods and Forests. This commodious homes'rnd was erected by the Prince Consort. Thsre are many other improvements effected by the late lamented Prince', He was essentially a man of great business ability. At the Shaw Farm the herd of Shorthorn*, which is known all over the world, .rns established in the time of the Prince Onsort. Of'late years, undoubtedly, it ham been more successful than in any previous period of its history, under the able management of Mr William Tait, who succeeded his father, Mr Henry Tait. in 1882. "The type of Shorthorn cultivated at Windsor is well known to every frequent er of the showyard. Briefly, the object If to produce a rent-paying animal. The principal families that are now in the herd aye the Ruths, from Mr Trethewys herd its Cornwall, Sittyton Nonpariels, and the Benedicts, from Inglewood. j

"The herds of Devon and Hereford cattle, which are ken* on the Flemish Farm, which is also rented from the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, have been particularly successful at fat stock'shows. The Flemish Farm extends to nearly 400 acres. 190 of which are arable. It was established, along with the Norfolk Farm, in the reign of George 111., as examples of the Norfolk and Flemish systems of management. Here again the Prince' Consort effected many improvements—so much sc, indeed, that the farm was quite transformed; fields re-arranged, roads made, fencing formed, and a splendid and- commodious homestead erected. Indeed, this homestead is regarded as one of the typical homesteads of England. The hards of Devon and Hereford cattle number about thirty each. The Herefords contain ; a large percentage of Lord Wilton and Hot-, ace blood, while the Court House blood is also prominent. In the Devon herd, C.usrtly and Daw strains are largely represented. Mr Alfred Skinner and Mr Thomas Rieden supplied a good few females, whim that modem father of the breed. Mr John Rieden, of Golsoncott, has been largely instrumental in supplying Quartly and D-v»,r animals.

"Jerseys are kept solely for milking Purposes and a few prize Clydesdale# are maintained to breed for working on tin "Sheep are kept in fair numbers at Windsor. A Cheviot flock of about 300 ewes is brought in from the south of Scotland in the autumn, and a few Blackface'l sheep are used on thorn. They and then lambs are fed off together in the course of the summer, it being found inadvisable to retain a flock longer on the land on «6count of liability to foot-root. • For ing purposes Hampshire# and South do piss are acquired. “The fat stock sales are popular with butchers, and it is worthy of pote that lor many years now no animal -has bg®Q hibited from the Royal Farm at. Windsor that has not been bred there. The est which the Queen evinced m her forming may be understood when it is stated that animals intended for the showvwtd before they left home were drawn upi for her personal inspection, and she remaioed pb keenly interested as any exhibitor till the show was over. ■ , , . “At Osborne the estate extend# to 9900 acres 460 of which are in permanent •y----ture inlhe beautiful parks and grounds. 360 acres in woodland and 1200 acres arable and pasture. Balmoral, the Queen’s picturesque Highland home, so rich iu family associations, and so dear to Her Majesty, extends to 10 000 acres, while neighbouring esba*M owned also by the puemjj-JMmrtr. Birkhall, 6000: Ballochhuie 10.000 , Abs.rgeldie: 14.000 tin all 40.0 M acrea^ve Her Majesty a largo interest in the Highlands. At Balmoral Her Males tv s «“Sios herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle_ has Its home, and here the leading strain is Ericas of Ballindalloch. TOCC»Brf*l the late Commissioner. Dr Profeit. was, breeders know, and tbe work is by the present Commissioner, Mr Th«ans Forbes. For these particular wears indebted to the Highland SocicWs Trtusa* tions. It will be seen that the n-tnrr of the farming and her mawcUons snqcess in stock-raising were in everv sense worthy of their Royal patron. While evuress their’ great sorrow-at of their Oneen, they know that agncmtwd will still remain a. Royal prerogative, for (has not the King proved on his » a ndnn ; . ham estates not one whit less enthusiastic 1 than his mother.”