Dr. SUMMARY of the Year and BALANCE SHEET. Te Amount Valuation commencement of year, for Seeds, Lime, Manure, &c., for Cattle during the year, for New Farming Implements, Repairs, &c., of do., 18 14 6 Frofit and Loss for Balance, being Gain on the year, 13 14 21 £37 19 101 . 17 1 6 £57 19 2 By Amount of Inventory and Valuation taken at close of the year, inclusive of proportion of unexhausted Improvements, TABLE showing the CROPPING of the FIVEMILETOWN AGRICULTURAL NATIONAL SCHOOL FARM, for 1851. APPENDIX D. Model Farm, Firemiletown patrick's Report. to Dr. Kirk II. Appendix (Signed), HUGH LYNCH, Teacher. I certify that the above Returns are correct, according to the best of my knowledge and belief, 6th January, 1852. WM. PATTERSON, Manager. APPENDIX D. II. Appendix to Dr. Kirk 39.-PARTEEN ORDINARY AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL, Co. Clare. December 30th, 1851. SIR,-In submitting my Report of the farm connected with patrick'sReport, the above school, I beg to state that it contains 2A. 1R. 7P., statute, which is cultivated on the four-course shift, in the folModel Farm. lowing manner-one-fourth in green crops, one-fourth in grain laid down with grass, one-fourth grass cutting, and one-fourth in lea grain crops. The soil is a loam, resting partly on sand, and partly on a tenacious clay subsoil. Parteen Green Crops.-The weight of mangels seems rather small, being only 20 tons to the statute acre; but I believe this season was rather unfavourable to green crops. I grew no turnips; those which I sowed were cut away by the fly as soon as they appeared above ground, so that I had to transplant mangels instead. Grain Crops.-I have nothing particular to say on these, except that I grew some Indian corn (the forty-day maize,) on trial, which, though it did not fully ripen in the field, owing to the lateness of the time of sowing (May 15th), is fully ripe now. I intend sowing it next season. The seed was kindly given me by Mrs. Honan, who grows it in her own garden; the mode of culture is the same as for mangels. Flax.-Although I had a fine crop of flax, still, considering the low price at the Limerick market (4s. a stone average), 1 consider it one of the worst paying crops, except when prepared by the family for their own use. The flax which I grew from the seed I saved last year, was entirely too thin, although the seed was sown as thick as the foreign. The flax is to be prepared and spun by the pupils of the female school. Stolen Crops.-Immediately after pulling and rippling the flax, I subsoil and manure the plot, and transplant rape or cabbage; also, after taking away the oats and vetches, I transplant cabbage or rape, so that I have one-fourth of the whole farm under a stolen crop every winter, which will be of great service for spring feeding. House-feeding.-I fed only one cow last year on the farm ; this year I have fed the second since July, by the help of some mangel leaves I got; and, in consequence of having an increase of vetches, I expect to be able to feed two cows next season. Manuring. In consequence of house-feeding, I have always a good supply of solid manure; and as I have a tank connected with the cow-house, and another in the office yard of the school, I am enabled to have a constant supply of liquid manure of the best quality. I have also troughs in the school offices, which can be removed at pleasure, by which means I can have a quantity of valuable compost. Agricultural Class.-There is one hour devoted every day to agricultural instruction, either in the school or on the farm, and a portion of the "Agricultural Class Book" is read by APPENDIX D. the advanced pupils on those days that they are not engaged II. Appendix on the farm. to Dr. Kirk Parteen The "Industrial Class" consists of four boys, two of whom patrick's Report, are paid by the Board, and two by Mrs. Honan; and I have every reason to be satisfied with them as being very useful Model Farm. for light work, and also very willing little workmen. Together with working on the farm, they whitewash the schools two or three times a-year, Mrs. Honan supplying lime and brushes. Results of Agricultural Instruction. In consequence of the encouragement which you, Sir, held out to the boys, about a dozen of them got plots of ground from their parents for their own use; and though all were not equally successful, I have much pleasure in stating that some were eminently so. Some have saved the seeds of beans, peas, &c., to sow next season, and have early potatoes planted now, so that they seem to be quite alive to their business. I have also great pleasure in stating that some of the pupils, from observing my mode of managing liquid manure, and also from seeing their own flowing away as a useless nuisance, have persuaded their parents to put down tanks in their own yards, and I am sure others will follow their example. The above is the estimated value; I pay no rent. Observations. It would appear that the bill for labour is rather high on so small a farm, but the above sum includes £2 expended on permanent improvements; also the bill for seeds, lime, &c., seems high, but this includes hay, straw, grazing money, turnips, mangels, bran, &c., purchased; I have threefourths of the lea division dug for potatoes, which is here the best paying crop; and also as I can have a stolen crop after digging them. The remainder I have dug for spring vetches. I have great pleasure in acknowledging the kindness of my patron, Dr. Kane, who has supplied me with timber for corn and hay stands, and also for assisting me in every way he can. I have the honour to remain, Sir, your most obedient Servant, JOHN O'DEA. Doctor Kirkpatrick, Agricultural Inspector. APPENDIX D. patrick's Report. to Dr. Kirk II. Appendix Model Farm. Parteen TABLE showing the CROPPING of the PARTEEN ORDINARY NATIONAL SCHOOL FARM, for 1851. Thos. KANE, Manager. (Signed), I certify that the above Returns are correct, according to the best of my knowledge and belief, 5th January, 1852. |