The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-07-28
Allen. Pollok's Farm in Ireland.

Having mentioned the forty-thousand
acre farms of this gentleman, in the pro-
vince of Connaught, Ireland, we cannot re-
sist the temptation of giving some further
account of them, derived from the cores
pondence of the Mark Lane Express, since
received. When the estate first came into
Mr.. Polloks possession, twenty years or
so ago, it was divided into the small hold
ines common among the Irish peasantry,
and yielded just enough to enable them to
live. The first task undertaken was a
complete system Of under-drainage, which
the wetness of the soil rendered especially
necessary; the consolidation Of the little
farms, the dwelling of old fences, and the
removal of almost innumerable cabins
The capital required must have been some
thing enormous Roads made, and large
fields enclosed stones and brush grabbed
out, and, at length, larger divisions laid
down, so as to give convenient farms oil
from 1900 to 5000 acres each: These
were all provided, in due course with srita-
BILE farm steadings, residence, and so on
the proprietor meantime constantly in
creasing his stock of feeding animals and
the acreage in crops. The largest of the
farm steadings are lighted by gas, made on
the premises, and the alley in the sheds so
constructed that feeding material is carted
in to the points at which it is wanted.
These byres aroused such curiosity that
they were visited, amongst Others, by no
less noted parsonage than the Emperor
of the French. The cattle here are chiefly
actresses from short-horn bulls with natives
COWS, pure West Highland oxen, Herefords
and Durham CATTLE They are Of immense
size, are speedily fattened aud eagerly
purchased by Dublin, London, Belfast,
Edinburgh and Glasgow victualers they
command the highest market price, and
this is not to be wondered at in view of
the nutritious feeding with which they al 0
supplied in ab li5ituna quantities. Many
of these huge animals are never allowed
out of doors from the period of their being
calyed up to their purchase by the butcher /;
they are housed up and fed in large stone
walled boxes, and there allowed to remain
till their obese proportions admit oil no
farther stage OF development. The cattle
fed thus by Mr.. Pollok have been noted
all over the cattle shows OF the United
Kingdom, where they have been invariably
the champions of the yard. For the win
ter feeding of the store cattle, immense
quantities of turnips, cabbages, hay, oats,
linseed- cake, cargoes of which are imported
direct, mangods, ETC., are always available. y
Guano was also imported by MIR. z. for
. himself, in addition to using the immense
quantities of homemade manures turned
out "The appliances for tillage purposes
arc of the most comprehensive, varied and
costly description. There is no imple
ment recognized in modern farming that is
not to be found"
1.-THE country is admirably suited for
sheep pasturage. The class OF sheep usual
" kept are the long wooded Roscommon
sheep, crossed with border Leicester rams.
The progeny is very prolific, and the ami
mails are of large proportions, yielding
heavy aeeccs, and when fattened sell at
about 1Nc per pound. The farm horses
are chiefly Glydesdaie, Suffolk Punch. with
occasional useful crosses with the Iish
breed The animals ere ofimmense power,
strength. and perfectly docilc."
Nearly the whole estate having been thus
thoroughly reclaimed, it was decided that
number of the farms should be rented to
tenants-to make room for whom the To-
600 sheep, 500 cattle 20 horses. etc, neil
toned i'll our last, were disposed Of at
public sale.-i Country Gentleman.