216 AGRICULTURE IN IRISH CONGESTED DISTRICTS. 

under this arrangement amounting to 229 animals, viz., 81 
Galloways, 80 Polled Angus, 52 Shorthorns, and 16 Red 
Polls. The average cost of the bulls purchased in 1899 
was £33, freight included, and they were sold as follows : 
the Shorthorns, Aberdeen Angus, and Red _ Polls 
for 415 each, and the Galloways at £10 a head. In all 
cases an additional sum of #10 is payable if the conditions 
in the agreement are not observed. The marked improve- 
ment that has taken place in the young stock in those 
districts where the scheme for the improvement of cattle has 
been in operation, and the increased prices that have been 
realised by the breeders, are reported to be most encouraging. 
The difficulty of obtaining suitable bulls at reasonable 
prices is, however, very considerable. 
The prevalence of sheep scab prevented the Board from 
sending out rams. Twenty-eight boars, all of the Yorkshire 
breed, were sold during the year on the instalment system, 
thus increasing the total number held on those terms to 43. 
Grants of £100 each were made to two poor districts in — 
County Donegal for the erection of small buildings to be 
attached to the cottages for keeping milk and butter. An 
expenditure of 4300 was authorised for carrying out experi- 
ments in the use of separated milk, alone or mixed with 
other foods, for feeding calves. Creameriss have now 
become so numerous in Ireland that the best means of 
utilising separated milk for calf-feeding is a matter of very 
great importance. Small contributions towards the list of 
prizes offered at local shows were also made last year to 
several agricultural societies. 
POULTRY REARING IN IRISH CONGESTED DISTRICTS. 
The improvement of poultry in the West ef Ireland was 
first undertaken by the Congested Districts Board in the year 
1892. A large number of birds were distributed, but the 
system was found to be too liberal and expensive. Under the 
