APPENDIX D.

II. Appendix to Dr. Kirk

patrick's Report.

Garryhill

45.-GARRYHILL MODEL FARM, County Carlow.

SIR,-In compliance with your directions I beg to transmit the following Report of the farm in connexion with the Model Farm. Garryhill Ordinary Agricultural National School, containing 4A. 2R. 37P. statute measure.

On entering on the farm, in May, 1849, I found it in a very exhausted state, overrun with couch-grass and other weeds, from long neglect and want of cultivation.

The useless fences having been removed, and a four-course rotation marked out, 2A. 1R. 184P. were sown with grain, of which one-half was sown with red clover and Italian ryegrass seed. There was also an excellent fence to the south side, faced with broken stones which had been taken out of the land and backed with earth. My first business was to prepare for a green crop, which was no easy matter from the state of the land, and so far advanced in the season. One half was under turnips and a small quantity of potatoes; the oat crop was very bad, and the root crop only medium.

I must say, I would have found it difficult to get on, (as 1 was limited in capital on my entry into the farm,) were it not for the kindness of my landlord, the Right Honourable the Earl of Bessborough, and his excellent agent, Mr. Blacket, who is also my patron, who credited me to the amount of £5 7s. 1d., which was expended on the farm previous to my taking charge of it, until such time as I was able to pay it, and also most kindly advanced me the price of a milch cow, as it was at that time I was prepared to keep one. He also, with his usual liberality, made a present of farming implements for the use of the young lads working on the farm.

General Remarks.-The division for green crops is dug from 10 to 12 inches as soon as the oat crop is removed; each ridge is formed into three raised drills in order that it may receive the full benefit of the winter's atmosphere. When the time of sowing comes it is levelled with prongs made for that purpose; any weeds that are not decomposed are carefully laid on the surface and removed off the land. The division for grain crop is dug into a ribbed surface to the depth of six or seven inches for the same reason as the division for root crops, and levelled with the prongs in like manner. I have an increase of 18p. of reclaimed land this year from an old and useless gripe which lay to the west side of the farm. The old gripe was cleaned up and mixed with a raised bank adjoining it, levelled and sown with cabbages; the middle of February the cabbages were the greatest in the neighbour

hood, and were consumed in time to transplant Swedish APPENDIX D. turnips and mangels.

The crops which are grown on the farm this year are-
First Division Four-Course Rotation.

No. 1. Turnips, mangels, parsnips, and potatoes.
2. Oats, with grass seeds.

3. Oats.

4. Clover for soiling.

My root crop was so much better than I anticipated, that I was induced to become a competitor for the premiums offered by the "Idrone Farming Society" for the best cultivated root crop and for the best managed farm; and the judges appointed by the Society awarded me £2 12s. 6d.-for my root crop £1 12s. 6d., and management of my farm £1. I also had the pleasure of producing the largest Swedish turnips the day of the Cattle Show, the 1st of October, 1851.

A "Paid Industrial Class" was established in this school in June 1850, consisting of four pupils, who are paid monthly by the manager. I feel pleasure in having it in my power to state that nothing can be more gratifying than to observe the great benefits this institution has conferred, and is likely to confer on the pupils attending this school. It is highly pleasing to observe the willingness with which both paid and unpaid pupils work on the farm every day: the paid pupils work for two hours, the others one; during their hours of work they have drawn the attention of many, as the farm lies adjoining the public road. The young children are left in school in charge of a pupil who is capable of giving them instructions during the time of working, except in fine weather, when all the pupils are admitted on the farm. When a vacancy occurs in the "Industrial Class," it is filled up out of the "Agricultural Class," with those who are found to improve most in both literary and agricultural instruction, their general good conduct being also considered. From this it plainly appears that the Industrial Class adds much to the literary instruction of this school. Scientific instruction on agriculture is given for half an hour each day; the number in the Agricultural Class is 12.

In conclusion, I beg to remark, that the Garryhill Ordinary Agricultural National School and Model Farm has done much good and is likely to do much, as the small farmers in this neighbourhood are this year following my example, to a great extent, in the cultivation of their green crops, and in the sowing of winter vetches. Some are preparing for housefeeding, and I hope in short, to see many in this locality following a regular rotation, house-feeding their cattle, and

II. Appendix
to Dr. Kirk.
patrick's Report.

Garryhill Model Farm.

APPENDIX D. by so doing they will have their lands in better condition, and, of course, a far greater amount of produce.

II. Appendix

to Dr. Kirkpatrick's Report.

Garryhill Model Farm.

I remain, Sir, your obedient Servant,

To Thomas Kirkpatrick, Esq., M.D.,

&c., &c.

LOUGHLIN RYAN.

I now give you the Farm Inventory for December, 1850, and also the Inventory for December 1851. I also give a Balance Sheet, showing the expenditure and receipts.