322 A HISTORY OF 



realised that improvement in potato culture could be 

 dealt with only as part of the larger question of 

 farming generally. It was decided to offer induce- 

 ments to farmers in a selected district to adopt better 

 methods of cultivation. For this purpose it was re- 

 solved to secure the services of a practical agriculturist, 

 known to be versed in the best methods of tillage 

 farming — " a man acquainted with the circumstances 

 and habits of the small farmers, and who would be 

 likely to command their confidence and respect." It 

 was arranged that this instructor should lay down a 

 plan upon which a certain number of example holdings 

 were to be cropped, that he should see that his instruc- 

 tions were carried out, and, by visiting neighbouring 

 farmers, endeavour to stimulate their interest in the 

 work, and enforce upon their attention such lessons 

 as might be conveyed by ocular demonstration on the 

 example holdings. Mr. D. O'Dowd, formerly National 

 School teacher at Dooncastle, co. Mayo, was appointed 

 to the office of practical instructor. The district of 

 Swinford, co. Mayo, was selected for the Society's 

 operations, and an advisory committee consisting of 

 influential persons resident in the district was appointed. 

 As an inducement to farmers to take an interest in 

 the scheme, prizes were offered for the best worked 

 holdings. At the first competition, the report states, 

 "no fewer than 134 small farmers entered for these 

 prizes. Considerable rivalry was aroused, and unusual 

 efforts were made by some to keep down weeds and 

 promote the growth of crops." 



The descriptions of prize holdings which are 

 appended to reports of the Council for the years 1891 

 to 1894 are interesting records of the condition of 

 farming in the district at the time, and show the 

 results of the first systematic efforts at improvement. 



