Of the many inmates who have left this establishment, it is APPENDIX D. cheering to state that no impropriety of conduct has been yet III. Reports on reported. On the contrary, the accounts received are such as Workhouse to exceed my most sanguine expectations. Agricultural Workhouse It was hitherto a source of deep regret that the embarrassed state of the Union funds precluded the boys from acquiring a Dangan Union knowledge of cattle-feeding, management of manures, &c. ; but I am now happy to state that this impediment to progress has been obviated by the kindness of one of our visiting Committee, who lent £20 for the purpose. With this sum two cows have been purchased, which are now yielding 24 quarts of milk per day. The Guardians have directed that the crops on hands shall be disposed of to increase the stock, so that this indispensable feature of farm management will create and secure additional interest and information. Sheds for stalls and other farm purposes have recently been added; and the surplus green crops on hands will thus be disposed of. This will prove an additional profit. Six gallons of milk will, at contract price, cost 2s. per diem. 1 cwt. of turnips will support two cows, thus realizing £2 per ton instead of 12s., the value of the raw material, besides affording much valuable information in this important branch of husbandry to the boys and girls of the establishment. The general approval which the Dangan farm has obtained, even in remote districts, is to all interested therein a source of great satisfaction; and it is cheering to reflect, that in the present dearth of labour we shall henceforth, (as the age and strength of our boys increase,) be able to send out from this labour-nursery, bands of practical and experienced agriculturists, capable of earning an independent livelihood for themselves, and of proving of great utility to any locality in which they may be placed. I am, Sir, your obedient Servant, Thomas Kirkpatrick, Esq., M.D., Agricultural Inspector to the Commissioners of National Education. MICHAEL MEARA. FARM ACCOUNT and REPORT of DANGAN FARM, and MR. Fort Eyre, Galway, April 21st, 1851. SIR,-I enclose you herewith, according to your request, the Report of the Committee of the Guardians of the Galway Union of the Dangan Farm. APPENDIX D. III. Reports on Farm. The farm of Dangan is about two English miles from Galway, and is on the west banks of the River Corrib, which connects Lough Corrib with the sea. The soil is naturally of a tolerably good quality. The lands under cultivation are 15 statute acres. Dangan Union The farm, until very lately, has been cultivated entirely Workhouse by the spade labour of pauper youths, from 15 to 20 years of age, under the superintendence of an agriculturist, who was fully qualified to instruct them in green crop husbandry, the cultivation of flax, and the cereal crops; also to instruct them in the system of rotation of crops and the advantages of taking stolen crops under certain circumstances. The proper management of the manure heap has also been pointed out to them by the agriculturist. The night-soil, and the ashes, and other refuse from the Workhouses are the only manures used upon the farm; and the quantity that can be supplied from these sources is much greater than what is required for it. I have stated above that the farm, until lately, was cultivated entirely by lads from 15 to 20 years of age; but latterly some of the pauper school boys from 10 to 15 years of age, have been engaged for a portion of their time in weeding, hoeing, and other light work, by way of habituating them to labour, and being in other respects useful to them, at the same time not interfering with their literary education. The various crops that have been grown at Dangan by pauper industry, have been of the finest descriptions, and the premiums of the Royal Agricultural Society have been awarded for some of the root crops exhibited at their shows. As the produce of the farm is for the use of the Workhouse, such crops as are best suited for the dietary of the paupers are those which are principally cultivated. I will enumerate them according to their merits for that purpose: 1st, onions; 2nd, cabbage (varieties of); 3rd, Swedish turnips, parsnips, carrots; 4th, other varieties of turnips. Potatoes are also grown to a small extent, but not in a sufficient quantity to make me include them in the supply of vegetables to the Workhouse from the farm. Mangel wurzel is also grown to a small extent. The cultivation of flax is particularly attended to, not only with the view of its subsequent manufacture in the Workhouse into various useful articles for pauper clothing, bedding, &c., but also with the object of imparting a good knowledge of its cultivation and after-management to the paupers. Some few boys who have acquired a knowledge of the management of the flax straw, the removal of the seed therefrom, and other processes to which it is subject, have been employed by parties for that particular purpose; showing APPENDIX D. thereby that an industrial education was attended with good III. Reports on effects-alike of advantage to the rate-payer and the recipient Workhouse of relief. Agricultural Workhouse Farm. Some few boys have been taken out of the Workhouse as farm labourers, but not to that number which one might be Dangan Union led to expect; but, with an improving state of the country, and a progressive improvement in agriculture, I have little doubt that after a short time very many of the Dangan lads will find employment throughout the Union, and perhaps in many cases beyond its bounds. I will conclude these observations by stating, that the general appearance of the Dangan lads is superior to that of persons of the same age throughout the neighbourhoodthey certainly have acquired a degree of smartness and general bearing superior to the ordinary peasant. The Agricultural Class averages in numbers about 200. Any further information that you may require, I will readily supply you with on your applying to me for it. I have written this statement somewhat hastily, (I have not taken a copy of it,) I therefore fear that I have not drawn it up in as perfect a manner as either you or I could wish, but press of time and press of business must be my excuse for its imperfections. Sir, your obedient Servant, RICHARD A. H. KIRWAN, Vice-Chairman, Galway Union. To Dr. Kirkpatrick, Board of Education, Dublin. GALWAY UNION BOARD MEETING, 26TH MARCH, 1852. The following Report was handed in by the Committee appointed to report on the Dangan farm : In accordance with instructions from the Board of Guardians, your Committee visited the farm of Dangan, and have great pleasure in reporting that, with little exception, they found the farm and establishment connected with the Agricultural Class in a satisfactory condition. The land appears to be very well cropped, but the walks and roads in connexion with it are not kept in so creditable a condition as your Committee could wish, and the neglect in this respect has given a slovenly appearance to the farm which detracts from its general aspect. Your Committee would recommend that the agriculturist should not cultivate the cereal crops to so large an extent as has been the practice during the last two years, but that the cultivation of flax, onions, turnips, carrots, &c., should be more extended. The growth of the cereal crops should be solely with the object of imparting to the Agri APPENDIX D. cultural Class a knowledge of the best means of cultivating them, but not as a source of profit to the Union. III. Reports on Agricultural Dangan Union The Committee would also recommend that, for the present, the keeping of cows at the farm should be dispensed with, but think that at some future time it might be attended with advantage to keep them. The Committee have great pleasure in referring the Board to the schedule of expenditure and receipts, or to what may be more properly called the farm account, from which it will appear that in the debtor side there is an expenditure of £179 13s. 7d., and in the creditor side a credit to the farm of £399 18s. 7d., showing a clear profit by the farm in the year from the 15th March, 1851, to the 13th March, 1852, of £220 5s. No debit is taken in this account for the manure used on the farm, or the labour of the Agricultural Class; but when it is remembered the useful and industrial education the growing men in that class are receiving, it may be fairly hoped that the knowledge that they have acquired in agriculture will be attended with beneficial results, not only to them individually, but also to every district in the Union. A. O'FLAHERTY, Chairman. R. A. H. KIRWAN, Vice-Chairman. BALANCE SHEET of the DANGAN AUXILIARY WORKHOUSE FARM, for the year ended 13th March, 1852. ANALYSES of the Sons of some of the MODEL FARMS in connexion with the BOARD OF NATIONAL EDUCATION IN IRELAND, showing their MECHANICAL and CHEMICAL CONSTITUTION, as ascertained by JOHN F. HODGES, Esq, M.D., Professor of Agriculture in Queen's College, Belfast, &c. Chemical Composition. VOL. I. Carbonate of Coarse Sand. Total. Potash. Soda. Lime. Carbonate of Alumina. Peroxide of |