APPENDIX D. II. Appendix to Dr. Kirk patrick's Report. 43.-KILDINAN NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL, County Cork. December 31st, 1851. SIR,-In compliance with your request, I beg to transmit to you the following statement respecting the Kildinan National Model Farm. Agricultural School Farm. Kildinan When this farm came into my possession in March, 1848, it contained five and a half acres statute measure, three acres of which, being then recently reclaimed, and the remainder a barren mountain composed of stones and rocks of various sizes, from a few pounds to many tons, and so firm in the ground, that the most powerful levers were found ineffectual to raise them. The three acres reclaimed had but a few inches of surface when it came into my possession, so that manure had but very little effect on the soil, in consequence of the rays of the sun parching the gravelly surface of it, and thereby rendering it unfit for the growth of crops, so that the produce did not pay for my labour. Having ascertained that the cause of the failure of my crops arose from the light surface of a mountainous nature, I mustered all my means to remove the evil. I dug as much of the farm as my means allowed, to the depth of twelve or fourteen inches, and raised a great quantity of stones out of the subsoil. I dug about an acre each year since the farm came into my possession, and reclaimed an acre of the mountain land, so that I have now four acres of arable land, and three acres under mountain, road, and premises-in all, seven acres. The cropping last season was as follows:-1A. 3R. of oats; 2R. 30P. of flax of fine description, along with which I sowed hay-seed and clover, this division being intended for soiling the ensuing year. I saved the flax according to the directions given by the Flax Society. 14. 1R. of potatoes of sorts, which proved very productive, considering the failure of the potato crop this year, scarcely one-tenth being blighted. This was chiefly owing to the time they were sown, which was early in March. One rood of turnips, which proved exceedingly bad, though very well treated. This arose from two causes- -1st, being attacked by the fly; 2nd, what remained was eaten by rabbits, which proved more destructive than the fly. These invaders are sheltered on the boundary line by a thick wood, and consequently, will prove most injurious to my green crops. This is the reason I sowed so little turnips; but I expect I will be permitted to lessen the number of those destructive pests the ensuing year; I may then be enabled to sow an acre of turnips, without which, my exertions will, in a great degree, prove useless-for without turnips I cannot have stock, and, I had ten Appendix D. II. Appendix consequently, not a sufficient supply of manure. perches of cabbages, which proved very productive. In consequence of the bad state of the farm when it came to Dr. Kirkinto my possession, I have not yet been able to carry on any regular course of cropping, but henceforward I will be able to adopt the four-course rotation. It would be impossible to expect that I could show a profitable result from such land as I have described; but for the future, I expect fair remuneration for my labour. As manure is the source of all good husbandry, I have been most anxious to impress on the minds of my agricultural pupils the necessity of collecting and converting into manure all refuse and every thing calculated to increase the amount of this article. With this view I made a clay kiln, in which I burned a portion of the mountain surface, and rough and useless headlands, from which I got a valuable mass of manure: this attracted the notice of my neighbours more than any thing hitherto done on the farm. I remain, Gentlemen, your most obedient Servant, It is to be observed in the Balance Sheet, that I have paid two years' rent out of the produce of this year, which has lessened my profit. Thomas Kirkpatrick, Esq., M.D., Agricultural Inspector. patrick's Report. Kildinan Model Farm. [BALANCE SHEET. Amount of Potatoes used in house, Amount received for Cattle sold, Amount received for Dairy Produce, Amount received for Flax, Amount of Inventory and Valuation, taken at the close of the year, inclusive of propor tion of unexhausted Improvements, 4 9 0 £ s. d. 8 2 6 By Amount received for Grain, 3 3 8 6 7 6 4 0 0 8 3 4 £34 16 4 £34 16 4 Amount paid for Cattle, during year, ,, Amount paid for new Farming Implements, ,, Profit and Loss for Balance, being Gain on the Observations. TABLE showing the CROPPING of the KILDINAN AGRICULTURAL NATIONAL SCHOOL FARM, for 1851. There was more than one rood lity. 2 4 4p. The potatoes were good, considering the failure of that crop. The turnip crop proved exceedingly bad, being attacked by the fly, and afterwards by rabbits, which proved more destructive than the fly. 12 0 Op. There is not a more profitable crop than cabbage for the feeding of stock, £ s. d. A. R. P. 1 3 0 7th April, September, 0 2 30 3rd May, August, 1 1 0 March, November, 12 stones, 21 bushels, 2 tons, 4 barrels, 32 barrels, 5 barrels, 1 12 5 (Signed), GARRETT FLYNN, Teacher. I certify that the above Returns are correct, according to the best of my knowledge and belief, 30th December, 1851. C. O'DONOVAN, Manager. APPENDIX D. II. Appendix to Dr. Kirkpatrick's Report. 44.-GLOUNGARRAGH ORDINARY AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL. December 31st, 1851. SIR,-In conformity with your instructions, I beg respectGloungarragh fully to submit the following Report on the Gloungarragh Model Farm. Ordinary Agricultural School, in which agricultural and literary education have been combined since November, 1850. Content of Farm, Situation, and Soil.-The farm contains ten acres-about nine acres of it are arable; it is situated in a mountainous district, among a rural population; the soil is of a clayey peat nature, having a moderately pervious subsoil; the greater part of it being in an elevated position, only a small portion requires drainage. It is fit for the growth of oats, barley, and green crops, and suited to a five-course rotation, which will be carried out when the farm is systematically arranged. Proportion of Cropping.-Meadow, 4A., (laid down the previous year, at the expense of the patron, during my course of training at Glasnevin Model Farm,) turnips, 3R.; mangels, 1R.; potatoes, 1A. 2R.; oats, 2A.; and flax, IR. 20P. Remarks on some of the Crops.-The meadow was good for the quality of the land, and attracted much notice. Meadowing, properly laid down, being quite a new thing in the neighbourhood, there seems little doubt, but that the example will be followed, which, it scarcely needs be added, would be an important step to improved husbandry. Turnips. The cultivation of this valuable root was only a few years ago introduced among the rural population of the place, through the agency of the Practical Instructors, and is, as yet, but very imperfectly performed. I regret to say, a striking instance of mismanagement, arising either from ignorance or indolence, came under my notice this year; the people of the neighbourhood lost nearly the entire turnip crop by not keeping the ground regularly stirred, and cleaned after the plants were attacked by that destructive insect, that unfortunately, more or less damage all crops of the same kind. The turnips grown on the farm, though they suffered materially from the same cause, were partially preserved by due care and attention to the after-culture, and according to the quality of the land, may be rated at three-fourths of an average crop; this has struck many of my neighbours forcibly, and I have not failed to point out strongly the cause and effect of their error. Such an example (though it were to be wished there was no occasion for it) should make them more cautious and attentive for the future, and produce more effect than a whole series of lectures in rooting out old customs and prejudices. I beg also to remark the result of a simple experiment |