314 



STATISTICAL SURVEY OF IRISH AGRICULTURE. 



The above estimates redound to the credit of our Irish farmers, as well 

 as emphasize the natural richness of certain districts of Ireland for grain 

 raising, and also the differences of soil and climatic conditions between this 

 country and Great Britain. In considering their significance regard must be 

 had to the comparatively small areas under wheat and barley. It will be 

 noticed that Scotch farmers with a still smaller area under wheat, succeed in 

 raising, on an average, fully 5 bushels per acre more than is raised in 

 Ireland ; while in the case of barley, of which cereal 73,000 more acres were 

 grown last year in Scotland than in Ireland, the estimated yield per acre for 

 this country was but 4 bushels more than that recorded for Scotland. It is 

 probable, again, that there is no soil in the United Kingdom more suitable 

 for growing good barley crops than certain districts of the County Wexford, 

 the Cloyne district of County Cork, and portions of Lower Ormond, in 

 North Tipperary. 



As illustrating the difference of gross yield in the " extensive " farming of 

 a new country as distinguished from " intensive " culture, the following 

 statement showing the estimated yield of the chief cereals in bushels per 

 acre for the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland in the year 

 1897 is of interest : — 



Average Yield per Acre (Bushels), 1897. 



In regard to green crops, while Ireland more than holds her own in the 

 case of turnip production per acre, the estimate of the yield of the potato 

 crop in this country is rem.arkably lower than that of England. It must be 

 remembered, however, that the area under potatoes in Ireland is, on an 

 average, betv/een three and four hundred thousand acres more than the 

 same area in England. 



Estimated Yield per Acre (Tons) of certain Crops. Average for Ten Years 1889-1898, 



