ITINERARY 



The Scottish Agricultural Commission landed in Dublin on 

 Sunday morning, 24th June 1906. Tlie members wanted, within 

 the limited time at their disposal, to embrace the whole of Ireland 

 in their survey. This was only possible by dividing the party into 

 two, which was accordingly done. Both sections were to study on 

 the spot the revival of agriculture in Ireland. One section was to 

 pay particular attention to the influence of the voluntary move- 

 ment on agriculture — the movement which preceded the revival, 

 and which ultimately developed into the I.A.O.S. This section, 

 designated " The Northern Section," because its work was for the 

 most part confined to the north, was under the guidance of Mr 

 E. A, Anderson, Secretary of the I.A.O.S., whose arrangements left 

 nothing to be desired. The other section was to pay particular 

 attention to the influence of the official movement on agriculture — 

 the movement which provided funds to help the Irish people after 

 they had first helped 'themselves. This section, called "The 

 Southern Section," because its work was mostly in the south, was 

 under the control of Mr J. Wood, whose arrangements were 

 also most complete. We propose, in this chapter, to describe the 

 wanderings of both sections. 



I. The Northern Section 



The Northern Section, whose wanderings are indicated on the 

 accompaning map by a black line, left Broadstone Station, Dublin, 

 on Monday, 25th June 1906, at 9.30 a.m., for Navan, County 

 Meath. The railway to Navan runs through some of the richest 

 grass lands in Ireland, divided into irregular fields by great 

 straggling hedges. On reaching Na.van, the members of the 

 Commission had an opportunity of seeing a typical Irish fair. The 

 live stock were occupying the main street of the town, and the 

 dealers were standing in little groups haggling over the prices of the 

 different animals. It was not a pretty picture, and it neither 

 added to the peace nor the sanitary condition of Navan. A drive 

 of half-an-hour, and Randlestown, the property of Colonel Everard, 

 was reached. The Colonel is President of the I.A.O.S., and a 

 member of the Agricultural Board. He is carrying out," under the 

 direction of the Department of Agriculture — though for the most 

 part at his own expense — experiments on the growing of tobacco. 

 It was these experiments the Scottish farmers had gone to see. 

 He has about 18 acres under cultivation. The experiments are being 

 made with a view of finding out whether or not it is possible to 



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