APPENDIX D. III. REPORTS ON WORKHOUSE AGRICULTURAL SCHOOLS. III. Reports on Belfast Union 1.-BELFAST UNION WORKHOUSE, County Antrim. January, 1852. SIR,-I beg to transmit a statement of the management of a portion of the ground attached to the Belfast Union Workhouse, which has been under my care for the past year. It comprises 1A. 2R. 12P., statute measure, cultivated as a garden, but has recently been increased by the addition of two acres, on which I intend to follow a four-course rotation. The soil is a stiff clay, with an impervious subsoil. Not being previously drained, this operation was commenced in autumn last, and the whole will be complete before spring, each part being drained as the crop is removed. The drains are cut three feet deep, and filled with broken stones to the depth of 12 inches; the main drain is cut three feet six inches, and filled to the height of 18 inches. The crops cultivated last year were potatoes, turnips, parsnips, carrots, cabbages, onions, leeks, and parsley. As no expense attends the cultivation, I have not been able to fill up the printed forms sent regarding "cost of cultivation," &c., and "profit or loss per statute acre" on each-not having received them in time so as to value the probable cost attending the cultivation of each crop. I have kept the "Farm Account Book" from the period I received it (in June last), till the end of the year, during which time I marked down the different operations performed; but as no account was kept from the commencement of the year till that time, I cannot send an account for the past year. The boys who work on the farm at present amount to 24. They are from 11 to 14 years of age; and, in general, take great interest in their work. They work six hours daily in summer, and three in winter; the remainder of their time being engaged at literary instruction. The "Agricultural Class" consists of 45 boys, who receive instruction in agriculture for half an hour each day, except Saturday. They are selected from the higher classes in the school. The text book used is the "Agricultural Class Book," published by the Board. Subjoined is a statement of the crops cultivated, the period of sowing or planting, and produce per statute acre. The produce raised is all consumed by the inmates of the Workhouse. I am, Sir, your obedient Servant, Thos. Kirkpatrick, Esq., M.D., JOHN A'DRAIN. Inspector of National Agricultural Schools. STATEMENT of the CROPS Cultivated, the period of Sowing or APPENDIX D. Planting, and Produce per Statute Acre: III. Reports on Produce per Agricultural Statute Acre. Belfast Union A. R. P. 0 1 114 ton cwt. qr. ton cwt. qr. APPENDIX D. III. Reports on Workhouse Agricultural Workhouse Farm. 2.-LARNE WORKHOUSE NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL, County Antrim. December, 1851. SIR,-In compliance with your instructions, I have the Larne Union honour to submit to you a Report of my proceedings on the farm attached to the above school since it came under my management in October, 1850; also the Balance Sheet of the farm accounts for the year ending 30th September, 1851. When I entered on this part of the Workhouse Farm, which was stubble ground, I found that it required to be prepared for green crops the following year; and my first object as a preliminary preparation, was to dig it to a depth of 12 or 14 inches, removing stones, &c., so that it might be improved by atmospheric influences and the winter's frost. I may here mention that the pauper boys exerted themselves energetically at the digging, which enabled me to get the spring work commenced in proper time. Our farm contains 3A. 12г., statute measure; three acres were cultivated and cropped as follows: Potatoes, 3R. 14P.-This crop was planted in March, and almost all in drills, in which a compost of earth, night-soil, and other garbage was deposited. The potatoes came up, and grew admirably on this manure, and would have yielded a large return had the blight not made its appearance. Value of produce of this portion of ground, about £8 58. Turnips, 1A. 2R. 38P.-Having prepared and manured the ground for the reception of the seed of this crop, we commenced sowing it about the middle of May, and finished about the middle of June. Part of the manure for the production of this crop was a compost similar to that previously described, and part of it was purchased from small householders in the town; but in addition to this we applied 4 cwt. of dissolved bones as an auxiliary, which, no doubt, increased the weight of the crop. The produce of the two kinds cultivated-Swedes and Aberdeens-was nearly alike when estimated on the 8th December, being 24 tons of clean sound bulbs per statute acre, with five tons of tops of the former, and seven tons of the latter. On a small portion of ground under this crop, I sowed carrot seed in drills 18 inches apart; little of it, however, grew, but in due time I substituted transplanted Swedish turnips in the vacant spaces. Flax, 1R. 28P.-It was not my intention at first to introduce this crop, subsequently, however, I resolved on trying a little of it, for the purpose of showing the young lads how to prepare the ground and sow the seed; but, notwithstanding the was APPENDIX D, III. Reports on pains taken in performing these operations, the crop young. The pupils reading the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Lesson Books receive agricultural instruction on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from a quarter past seven till a quarter past eight o'clock, A.M. It is gratifying to witness the interest taken by all in this important part of their education. The Agricultural Class.-This class is composed of 16 of the most advanced boys, in literary studies, in the classes to which I have alluded; and it affords me much pleasure to have it in my power to inform you that their conduct and proficiency are both satisfactory and respectable. Of those who have left during the past year, all have given satisfaction to their employers, so far as is known to me. In conclusion, I beg leave to state, that at the Larne Workhouse, all circumstances are favourable for carrying out the system of combined literary and agricultural instruction. I have the honour to remain, Sir, your obedient Servant, JOHN WHITE. Schools. Larne Union Thomas Kirkpatrick, Esq., M.D. Inspector of National Agricultural Schools. [BALANCE SHEET. £ s. d. 10 13 6 Dr. BALANCE SHEET of the LARNE WORKHOUSE AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL FARM, for 1851. EXPENDITURE. To Amount of Valuation at commencement of year, 3 18 paid in Rent and Taxes, Cr. £ s. d. Seed and Potatoes, Flax Seed, £ s. d. By Balance Value of Stock Crop, and Farming Implements, 8 0 Bone-dust, . 20 tons of Swedish Turnips, at 15s. per ton, 15 0 0 20 tons Aberdeen Turnips, at 10s. per To Profit and Loss-Gain on the year, 17 16 91 . 10 0 0 10 cwt. sound Potatoes, at 3s. per cwt. 1 10 6 cwt. partially diseased Potatoes, at 1s. per cwt., £39 3 7 on the year's transactions. * As the labour has been performed almost exclusively by the boys, and as it would be difficult to approximate to the value of their work, the charge brought against the farm for labour is merely nominal, and this is one source of the profit Schools.. Agricultural Workhouse III. Reports on Farm. Larne Union J. W. £39 3 7 |