268 



Parliamentary Publications. 



seeds were furnished to about 250 cottagers to encourage the 

 cultivation of vegetables : fruit trees were also distributed at 

 a low charge, and small numbers of forest trees were 

 supplied gratis. 



The Board provided twenty-six stallions, standing in 

 different districts, and the average number of mares served by 

 each horse was sixty-four. There were also twent3*-four 

 asses located for service in congested districts. Owing to 

 the marked scarcity of the old type of pony found in Conne- 

 mara and in the barony of Erris, the Board have purchased 

 thirteen mares, which have been crossed with a high-class 

 Arab stallion. From this experiment it is hoped that an 

 im proved Connemara pony will become available and will 

 help to maintain the supply of pony mares. During the 

 year 131 bulls w T ere sold under the system of three annual 

 instalments, bringing up to 270 the total number held and not 

 yet fully paid for under this arrangement. Sixteen Cheviot 

 and forty-nine black-faced rams and thirty-four boars or the 

 large Yorkshire breed were also sold by the Board on easy 

 terms of purchase. 



The Board distributed 130,535 eggs for hatching during 

 the season at id. each, but the price is to be reduced to Jd. 

 per egg in the present season ; 473 head of poultry, including 

 159 ducks and twelve turkeys, were also purchased and 

 distributed. The number of hives and beekeepers' outfits 

 sold by the Board, viz., 246, exceeded that of any previous 

 year. Considerable attention has now been devoted to 

 the encouragement ot local associations of beekeepers, 

 and it may be said that almost every locality in the con- 

 gested districts, in which there is any considerable number 

 of beekeepers working upon the improved system with wooden 

 hives, has now its own association. 



