324 



A HISTORY OF 



in spraying were extended, and spraying machines were 

 sent to thirty-four farmers, who subsequently sent 

 interesting reports on the results obtained. The value 

 of the treatment was becoming widely recognised. In 

 1895, the Society distributed 202 spraying machines, 

 and over five tons of copper sulphate. Eighty-five per 

 cent, of the reports received were favourable to the 

 treatment. It was no longer necessary for the Society 

 to continue the work ; the great value of spraying as a 

 means of combating the attack of phytophthora infestans, 

 and of prolonging the period of growth of the potato 

 plant, had been fully established. 



Farm Prizes 



In 1890, prizes were offered for the best cultivated 

 farms in the province of Leinster, and twelve farms 

 were entered for competition. In 1892, prizes were 

 offered for farms in the province of Munster, but only 

 five farmers entered. In 1893, tne province of Ulster 

 was selected, and fourteen farmers entered their farms 

 for competition. In 1894, a competition was again 

 held in the province of Leinster, and twelve farmers 

 entered. In 1895, Connaught was selected, but only 

 four farmers submitted their farms for examination. 

 In 1896, a second competition in Munster took place, 

 ten farms being entered. In 1897, Ulster was again 

 selected ; the number of farms entered was twelve, but 

 only three out of the nine prizes offered were awarded 

 by the judges. The disappointing results of the past 

 three years induced the committee of agriculture to 

 discontinue the competitions. The reports on these 

 competitions, which were published each year, are 

 interesting records of the state of farming during the 

 transition period that followed the early Irish Land 

 Acts. 



