IMarch 189 6. J PARLIAMENTARY PUBLICATIONS. 



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themselves that a bull was a bad stock-getter, or was faulty in 

 other respects, the purchase agreement was cancelled, and the 

 bull taken off the purchaser's hands, provided that the unsatis- 

 factory condition of the animal did not result from negligence 

 or default on the part of the purchaser. 



The scheme under which bulls were located in parts of the 

 county Kerry for the improvement of the Kerry breed of cattle 

 has been discontinued, as it did not appear that the local breeders 

 appreciated the advantages offered. All the Kerry bulls but five 

 were therefore sold at the close of the service season, and these 

 five have been placed with persons who undertook to maintain 

 them for service free of cost to the Board. 



One hundred and twenty rams were distributed for service 

 in the counties of Donegal, Mayo, Galway, and Kerry during 

 the season of 1894, and satisfactory accounts of these rams have 

 been received. A few rams were sold for breeding purposes, 

 and a small number, which were not considered suitable to 

 retain, were also sold. The remainder were kept over for 

 service in 1895. One hundred and six ram lambs of the High- 

 land breed, and ten Cheviot rams were purchased in Scotland, 

 and will be available for service during the ensuing season. 



A sheep-dipping station has been provided at Doon, near 

 Clifden, County Galway, at which 1,368 sheep were dipped in 

 the autumn of 1894. Arrangements are being made for the 

 establishment of similar dipping stations at a few other places. 



The demand for boars during the period under review ha^ 

 not been large, probably owing to the fall in the price of pork. 

 Only fourteen boars and thirteen sows of the large York breed 

 were sent out by the Board during the year under their scheme 

 for the improvement of the breed of swine. 



The Board spent a sum of ] 43?. 4s. 7d. in the summer and 

 autumn of 1894, in giving demonstrations in the method of 

 spraying potato plants with sulphate of copper and lime 

 mixture. Demonstrations were given in the counties of Done- 

 gal, Lei trim, Sligo, Maj^o, Galway, and Cork ; and the great 

 success that attended the Board's efforts in this direction 

 caused them to decide upon expending a much larger sum 

 in the year 1895 upon these experiments, if indeed this word 

 can be used, having regard to the wonderful success of the 

 spraying operations. 



On the 31st of March 1895, 30 poultry farms were in 

 existence under the Board's scheme for the distribution of eggs 

 for hatching. These poultry farms are usually started with 

 about 20 to 30 pullets, or hens of the Black Minorca or 

 Plymouth Rock breed, with a proportionate supply of cocks. 

 Fifty -five Houdans were purchased in France and supplied to 

 the convents at Claremorris and Foxford, where the nuns are 

 zealously taking up the instruction of the country people in the 

 rearing of poultry. The distribution of eggs from poultry farms 

 during the season of 1894 showed a marked increase as compared 



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