Clare Island Survey — Agriculture and its History. 



5 45 



divided in two halves ; and each half grows oats and potatoes year about for 

 eight or ten years. At the end of that time a new patch is broken up and the 

 patch that has been tilled is left down to pasture. Till recently it was the 

 custom to let the patch sow itself; but now mixtures of grass and clover seeds 

 are sometimes sown down. The remaining fourteen acres are grazed by the 

 farmer's cows and calves and by the pony, if he have one. 



Here and there some barley and a small quantity of rye are also grown ; 

 there are a few patches of turnips ; and recently mangels have been tried. 

 This, of course, means drill cultivation. 



The land is manured as follows : — The stubble or grass intended for 

 potatoes is heavily manured with seaweed in Xovember, and again in spring. 1 

 Ridges from six to ten feet wide are then marked out; and two or three feet of 

 a trench is dug out between them : the dug-out soil being thrown on the 

 ridges to cover the manure. When the potatoes are planted, dung is also 

 added ; and, when they appear above the ground, a little more soil from the 

 trench is spread over them. 



This farmer's stock is usually two cows ; two calves which are sold when 

 they are from fifteen to eighteen months old ; thirty sheep ; a pony mare 

 which rears a foal nearly every year ; and one or two 

 bought to fatten the pigs. 



His annual export is approximately as follows 

 2 yearling cattle, value 



one or two pigs. 



Indian meal is 



follows : — 



. £10 5 









. 7 4 









. 9 









. 4 10 









. 1 10 









12 sheep, 

 2 pigs, 



1 foal, „ 



60 lbs. of wool, „ 

 Mr. Kilgallon, who was instructor in agriculture on the island till recently, 

 estimates the annual total export of agricultural produce as follows : — 

 45 one-year-old cattle, value . £225 

 55 two-year-old cattle, 



25 three-year-old cattle, 

 5 cows, 



300 sheep, 

 120 pigs, 



26 horse foals, 

 Wool 2 



£1822 



385 











235 











40 











180 











540 











117 











100 











The seaweed thus used is about three times as much as the quantity of farm-yard manure. 

 ; An equal quantity is kept in the island to be woven into eloth. 



