APPENDIX D. patrick's Report. to Dr. Kirk II. Appendix Model Farm, Ballinahong TABLE showing the CROPPING of the BALLINAHONE NATIONAL SCHOOL FARM, for 1851. £ s. d. 6 11 0 £ s. d. 29 0p. I certify that the above Returns are correct, according to the best of my knowledge and belief, 1st January, 1852. J. A. PRENTICE, Manager. 31.-DRUMKERL NATIONAL SCHOOL.-TABLE showing the CROPPING of the FARM, for 1851. †The remainder under grass and boundary fences. I challenge the county in which I am to produce the same quantity of Oats off the same quantity and quality of ground. AFPENDIX D. patrick's Report. to Dr. Kirk II. Appendix Model Furm. Drumkerl (Signed), PHILIP RODEN, Teacher. I certify that the above Returns are correct, according to the best of my knowledge and belief, 29th December, 1851. P. DONEGAN, Manager. APPENDIX D. II. Appendix Lough Ramor 32.-LOUGH RAMOR AGRICULTURAL NATIONAL SCHOOL. January 3rd, 1851. SIR,-I beg to submit to you my First Report on the above school, and on the progress of agricultural improvement on the farm connected with it. Be You are aware of the difficulties I had to encounter. ginning without sufficient capital, and with the land in such an exhausted state, I thought it most advisable to have a fivecourse shift on the part of the farm having a northern aspect. The lower part, having a southern aspect, I have divided for a four, and the more elevated for a three-course rotation. As the soil was very shallow, I began by taking a plot in each rotation every year; first ploughing it early in winter, and then digging it about fourteen inches deep in spring, picking out the weeds and couch-grass with which it was overgrown. I will have the regular rotation of crops in operation this year. The part I have deeply tilled is very much improved, and far exceeds the anticipations of the persons who saw it a few years ago. They now see and believe that my course of culture is far preferable to their own; and I have no doubt but it will have the desired effect, in a short time, of showing that there must be a regular system adopted before they can have success in cultivation, and that without having always a regular supply of green-cropping, to house-feed their cattle, they cannot have an adequate supply of manure to keep up and increase the productive powers of their farms. I am, Sir, your obedient Servant, PATRICK O'REILLY, Teacher. To Thos. Kirkpatrick, Esq., M.D., Agricultural Inspector. [TABLE SHOWING THE CROPPING, &c. APPENDIX D. patrick's Report. to Dr. Kirk II. Appendix Model Farm. Lough Ramor (Signed), PATRICK O'REILLY, Teacher. I certify that the above Returns are correct, according to the best of my knowledge and belief, OWEN O'REILY, Manager. 3rd January, 1852. APPENDIX D. II. Appendix to Dr. Kirk patrick's Report. Balleighan Model Farm. 33.-BALLEIGHAN NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL. 7th January, 1832. SIR,-In accordance with your directions, I beg to submit the following brief detail of my proceedings on the Model Farm connected with the above school, during the year ended 31st December, 1851. When I got possession of the farm at November, 1850, it presented a sad picture of the ignorance and negligence of its former occupant. The farm-steading was in a state of complete dilapidation; the land extremely sterile, intersected by seven broad crooked fences, that not only imparted a very disagreeable aspect to the farm, but presented a serious obstacle to its cultivation. My attention was first directed to the erection of a dwelling-house, and such office houses as would afford me the advantages which accrue from house-feeding. This being accomplished, I turned my attention to the old gripes, which I had cleaned out, filled with broken stones, to the depth of 14 inches, and levelled with the soil dug from the old fence, by which I added to the farm 2 roods and 26 perches. I had the land intended for green crops thorough drained, and the after-preparation of the ground was executed in the manner I considered best calculated to clean and pulverize it. It would, I conceive, be superfluous to particularize the operations on the various crops; suffice it to say, that they were chosen with due regard to their adaption to the soil and climate, and, on the whole, produced average returns. It could not be expected that the advantages resulting from a judicious and scientific system of husbandry would all appear in one season; but I entertain a firm conviction, that practical results of a highly beneficial nature will accrue from this institution. I am, Sir, respectfully, your very obedient Servant, Thos. Kirkpatrick, Esq., M.D., WM. A. CAMPBELL. TABLE SHOWING THE CROPPING, &c. |