ON AGRICULTURE TO IRELAND 1/' 



kindly provided by Sir Josslyn, the party left for CoUooney. 

 They were joined there by the Dromahair contingent. From 

 Collooney both contingents proceeded direct to Dublin, where 

 they split into four. One section went to Enniscorthy, in County 

 Wexford, and inspected the prosperous Co-operative Agricultural 

 Society Stores for the sale of agricultural implements, manures, etc. 

 Another left the train at Ballyragget for the North Kilkenny 

 Poultry Fattening and Egg Export Society, the first co-operative 

 society which has attempted to start a trade in properly fatted 

 fowls in Ireland. Afterwards it drove to Kilkenny, where the 

 members were entertained by Mr Houghton. The third section 

 went to Limerick Junction to see the Solohead Co-operative 

 Creamery and some rich dairy farms in the district. The fourth 

 section visited the Agency Society, Limerick. The members 

 lunched with Mr Eoche and then left for Roscrea, where they 

 heard a good deal about the Co-operative Bacon-Curing Factory 

 to be started in that district. The different members of the party 

 got together once more in Dublin. 



We have said that the Northern section was divided into two 

 at Sligo, and we have described the wanderings of one section. 

 The other section left for the congested districts of the West, to 

 study on the spot the work of the Congested Districts Board. At 

 Claremorris, County Mayo, they were taken in charge by Mr 

 Kelly, of the Congested Districts Board, and had an opportunity 

 of examining holdings in the congested districts with new cottages 

 and steadings erected on them. From Claremorris they took train 

 to Castlerea, in Eoscommon. They were met at the station by 

 Mr Fitzgibbon, a well-known Nationalist, who acted as their guide 

 in the district, showing them the Dillon Estate and all that was 

 to be seen in connection with it. From Castlerea they proceeded 

 to the town of Eoscommon. Some miles into the country they 

 examined one of the largest grazing farms in this district, and 

 thereafter lunched with Mr W. E. Holmes, one of the best-known 

 land agents in Ireland. From Eoscommon they went direct to 

 Dublin, to join the other section of the Northern party. 



2. The Southern Section 



The Southern Section, whose wanderings are indicated on the 

 accompanying map by a dotted line, began operations on Monday, 

 25th June 1906, by a visit to the Albert Agricultural College, 

 Glasnevin. This College stands midway between the local 

 agricultural schools and the Eoyal College of Science. It 

 teaches both agriculture and horticulture. Theory and practice 

 go hand in hand. The students' time is divided between the 

 work in the class-room and the practical work on the farm, where 

 Shorthorn cattle, Yorkshire pigs, and pure-bred poultry are kept. 

 The fee for the year is £25, which includes board, residence, 

 laundry, and medical attendance, as well as instruction. Bursaries 

 are provided, so that the clever student may have his training free. 

 The College will turn out good farmers. Monday afternoon was 



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