people seem determined it shall be a dying blow to their APPENDix D. career as cultivators. No doubt, the only obstacle to improve- II. Appendix ment, with many intelligent farmers, is the want of capital; to Dr. Kirkbut the moneyed men who take up the forsaken farms, are patrick's Report. pursuing any thing but an improved system of cultivation. Ballinrally I cannot conclude without acknowledging the liberal en- Model Farm. couragement which I have received from the Right Hon. W. F. Tighe, and C. W. Hamilton, Esq.; and their kindness in promising further to contribute to the support of an "Industrial Class," with a view of securing for the youth of this locality the blessings of a sound education.

If other proprietors, whose tenants have their children educated at this school, would only contribute a small proportion to so desirable an object, there is little doubt the intentions of the Commissioners would be effectually carried out, to the great advantage of the neighbourhood.

Trusting you will deem the school deserving of a paid "Industrial Class," towards which, if necessary, I will myself contribute,

I remain, Sir, your obedient Servant,

To Dr. Kirkpatrick,

Agricultural Inspector.

JOHN LYONS, Teacher.

INVENTORY, &c.

£ s. d.

Implements,

0 1 0

APPENDIX D.

II. Appendix

to Dr. Kirk

patrick's Report.

Clonmellon

53.-CLONMELLON AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL, County Westmeath.

January 1st, 1852.

SIR,-I forward the Balance Sheet of the Farm annexed to Model Farm. the above School, for 1851, with a few remarks on the past and present state of the Farm, the course of cropping, and the mode of cultivation pursued.

The Farm, which wants some perches of 4 acres Irish, was annexed to this school in November, 1848; but in consequence of the deteriorated state of the land I found arable, the difficulty of removing useless fences, and the reclaiming of a part which was cut up at random into pits, it is only for the next year that I find myself enabled to establish a four-course rotation.

As such farms as mine are intended as models for the occupiers of a few acres, I confine myself as much as possible to spade husbandry, which is admitted by those who have visited my farm, to be so much superior to work done by the plough, as more than to compensate for the difference of expense in the two modes of cultivation; thus showing that the system is feasible to the occupier of a few acres.

My potatoes were planted during the first week of March, in beds 4 feet broad; their growth was rapid, and the tubers attained a large size, but they became diseased about the middle of August-the produce was only 30 cwt. of sound potatoes to the statute acre. Cabbages were transplanted in the brows of the beds, and afford a large supply of food for cattle and pigs; and I find that the cabbages were not in the slightest degree injurious to the potatoes, so that I think the practice is likely to be followed up by many in this locality.

The mangels, yellow globe, were sown from the first to the fourth of May on reclaimed land, in drills twenty-seven inches apart. The produce was sixteen and a quarter tons per statute acre, which is pretty fair, succeeding dwarf reeds and sedge.

As I am directed to be brief, my flax-crop is the only other I will mention. It was sown on the third of May; three bushels of Riga seed to the statute acre. The experience of the two past years induced me to try a little more than the usual quantity of seed, in hopes to obtain a finer fibre, and the result realized my expectations. I had one-half of the ground occupied by this crop top-dressed with a mixture of night-soil and eight times its bulk of water, just after sowing. The plants on the part thus treated attained the length of forty-nine inches, while those on the other part grew only to about thirty-eight or thirty-nine inches; but the heavy rains in July injured considerably. The yield was only 5 cwt. 3 qrs. per statute acre.

Clonmellon

Green crops are more generally cultivated in this neigh- APPENDIx D. bourhood than they were heretofore, and many compete with II. Appendix me in raising heavy green crops. Some have attempted to to Dr. Kirkgrow turnips and mangels on a compost devoid of farm-yard patrick's Report. manure, but the attempt only led to disappointment; so it is now fully admitted that a good supply of farm-yard manure Model Farm is indispensable, and that a sufficient supply of that cannot be procured except by house-feeding the cattle-a practice to which I have always paid the closest attention. I have, to a great extent, removed the objection to the feeding of milch cows with turnips, by teaching such as have applied to me, the method of rendering the milk and butter as well flavoured as if the cows were fed on the best pasture.

My pupils exerted themselves well and willingly during the time of thinning, hocing, and weeding the turnips and mangels; but only a few of them are able to do much with the spade, an employment in which they take the greatest pleasure. They hope to be recommended for remuneration at your next visit, as having double the quantity of work to do as some of their neighbours, who are raised to the rank of an 66 Industrial Class."

I think it right to mention, that a boy belonging to my Agricultural Class caused his father to sow mangels, last spring, in some ground he intended for potatoes; and lately the boy's father came to me to tell me that he made up a good part of his rent by the sale of some of the mangels, and that he is feeding pigs with the remainder of them. He is highly pleased at having taken the boy's advice, and says he will always contrive to sow as much as he can of this crop every year for the future.

The profit appears very small, but it is owing to the expense incurred by reclaiming a portion of waste ground, and paying rent of con-acre meadow, as I had no meadow on the last year. Had I not been under these costs, my profit ou the year would be very fair.

I am, Sir, most respectfully, your humble and obedient Servant,

To Doctor Kirkpatrick.

MICHAEL M'DERMOTT, Teacher.

[VALUATION OF STOCK.