II. Appendix to Dr. Kirk Glasnevin APPENDIX D. In conclusion, I would again strongly urge upon the attention of the landed proprietors, and all parties wishing for the prosperity of Ireland, the great importance of attaching small patrick's Report. portions of ground, say from one to two acres, to as many of the National Schools as possible, to be cultivated as a garden Model Gardens. by the pupils attending the school; or, if thought more advisable, to be laid off in allotments, to a number of the more deserving boys. At all events, a small "Model Garden" should be in connexion with every school, where it is convenient, as this would be a sure means of laying that early foundation of industrial habits on which the future development of the energies of both body and mind so much depend. I have the honour to be, Sir, your very humble and obedient Servant, Thomas Kirkpatrick, Esq., ALEXANDER Campbell. Inspector of Agricultural Schools, &'c. [BALANCE SHEET. 2 BALANCE SHEET of the Kitchen Gardens attached to the MODEL FARM and TRAINING ESTABLISHMENT, GLASNEVIN, containing 3 acres and 22 perches, of which 2 roods 7 perches are under trees and hedges, leaving 2 acres, roods, 14 perches, available for cultivation. Dr. GARDENS. CONTRA. By Amount of Valuation of 1st January, 1852. Asparagus, Scakale, and Rhubarb, 30 tons Manure, at 3s. per ton, 6 tons Table Turnips, 1032 doz. Cabbage, at 2d. per doz., Strawberry Plants, Onions, Spinach, Celery, and Leeks, Three Hot-bed Frames, Permanent Improvements, Draining, and Gravelling Walks, 17 11 £3 18 0 7 4 10 0 4 10 0 8 12 0 5 0 1 29050610 1 15 £ s. d. To Amount of Valuation of 13th March, 1851 (Ma Asparagus, Seakale, and Rhubarb Plants, 11 12 6 5 1 10 Sale of Produce, 16 8 9 Profit and Loss for Balance, being Gain on the year, APPENDIX D. --- II. Appendix to Dr. Kirk patrick's Report. Glasnevin Industrial School. 4.-GLASNEVIN INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL. 13th January, 1852. SIR,-In my letter of the 18th of last March, which may be consulted on reference to the Seventeenth Report of the Commissioners of National Education, page 317, Appendix D, I laid before you a brief statement of the changes effected in the industrial department of this school, and the arrangements made for the purpose of carrying out the views of the Commissioners relative to the educational allotment system. Before entering upon the most important part of this Report, namely, the successful working and practical results of the allotment system, I wish to submit to you a short statement of the principal alterations and improvements made in the old school garden since last March. All the raspberry, gooseberry, and currant bushes, being old, overgrown, and producing only a very small quantity of inferior fruit, were removed from the two centre plots, which contain 24 statute perches. These plots were trenched three spadings deep, and now form two divisions of the regular sixcourse rotation, intended to be carried out instead of the four previously pursued. In order to afford the pupils an opportu nity of attending to, and receiving practical instruction in the pruning, propagation, and after-culture of these fruits, a small detached portion of the garden has been set apart for their cultivation; and for this purpose, plants of the best description and varieties have been purchased, as it is our intention to propagate them very extensively each succeeding year.—(See plot G in the annexed diagram). All standard fruit trees, and those trained to the brick wall with a south-eastern aspect along the road side, have also been removed; the standards, in consequence of their unsightly appearance, and injurious effects upon the crops raised-and the wall trees, being extremely old, with roots descending deeply into the subsoil, and, as a matter of course, worthless and altogether unproductive. The six plots into which the garden is divided, I am now enclosing with a neat lattice rail for the training of espalier trees, consisting of apples, pears, plums, and cherries, to supply the place of the standards, without, at the same time, interfering with the regular course of cropping; and the brick wall referred to above is to be occupied by peach trees, admirably adapted to its south-eastern aspect. DIAGRAM, SHOWING THE NEW ARRANGEMENT OF FRUIT TREES. Apples. PLOT A, 16 Statute Perches. Public Road. Brick Wall, with S. E. aspect, to which are to be trained Peach Trees of the finest varieties. Border containing 41 Statute Perches. Cherries. Raspberries. Cherries. Cherries. Site of SCHOOL-HOUSE. Apples. Site of the Allotment Gardens. This is a very excellent wall, and at present occupied by Plums in a very bad condition. Border contains 5 Statute Perches. PLOT D, 18] Statute Perches. Apples. PLOT G-7 Statute Perches. This alteration and arrangement of the Trees will insure an increased produce of an improved quality, give the entire garden a light and tasteful appearance, forming a favourable contrast to its former crowded condition, and afford a facility (all obstacles being removed) of carrying into operation the following regular "six-course rotation of cropping. Apples. |