294 CENTRAL IRELAND 



who would have anticipated that Norfolk barley would 

 be selling in October at 405. a quarter ! The potatoes 

 we had seen in Ulster had rather spoiled us for 

 ordinary crops, but the considerable acreage on this 

 farm was by no means ordinary, but fit to set beside 

 the results of the most intensive growers in any part 

 of the United Kingdom. The climate of Ireland 

 certainly suits the potato ; the equable temperature, 

 the abundant moisture, and the long period of growth 

 that ensues all make for heavy yields, and again, the 

 plant is none the worse for the touch of peat in so 

 many of the soils. The permanent grass was also in 

 excellent heart and showed a fine sole full of white 

 clover, always prominent in the late summer when 

 rains have followed a period of heat and drought. 

 But we were told the pastures always carried a good 

 deal of clover, as a result of careful management and 

 applications of basic slag, to which the land responded 

 freely. The grass was occupied by pedigree Aberdeen- 

 Angus cattle, of which our host possessed a notable 

 herd. Though they are very far from being the cattle 

 of Ireland, our host yet found a good market for bulls, 

 because on the ordinary Irish Shorthorns they get stores 

 with exceptional capacity for quick growth and fattening. 

 The stores would be mainly sold to England to be 

 finished on the turnips of the eastern counties, for the 

 Aberdeen- Angus crosses, like the pure breed, are essen- 

 tially animals to be tied up rather than to fatten on the 

 grass. Our host also bought in a certain number of 

 native yearlings to carry on, or if occasion served, to fatten 

 for local markets. Altogether it was a thoroughly 

 modern, energetically-managed farm, and the occupier 

 was not only making the land do its duty, but by his 

 example and his advice was a factor of great value in 

 tuning up the whole of the agriculture of his district. 



