Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1911-09-23
Infused Into Agricultu
Industries within Tv
Years.
What the Department of A
culture Has Accom-
plished. -
Her ADVVNCE HAS BEEN {

Iwatchful of Ireland's best inte
noting an article in one of the
ular English monthly magazin(
the "Pigheaded British Fari
says it illustrates John Bull with -
imaginary boar's head on his broad
shoulders, and IL discusses his out
of-date methods, his want of up-to-
date scientific knowledge and of en-
lterprise, and his obstinate adher-
ence to the lines followed by his
great grandfather. It tells OF the
millions that go out of England an
lnually-not alone for breadstuffs
and beet sugar, but for bacon and
butter and poultry and eggs and
vegetables and fruit, while thousands
of acres of good land lie untitled be-
cause British farming according to
the antiquated methods of the eigh-
teenth century docs not pay"
Contrast this, 1t continues. With
the new spirit of inquiry, of enylA
prise and of energy that has been in
fused into Irish agriculture and it's
allied industries during the past
twelve years. Unquestionably we
owe debt of gratitude to the men
who founded the Department of Ag-
lriculture in Ireland and to the men,
who are directing its useful activities.
There have been many faultfinders
with the department; for we are
fond of faultfinding in Ireland-and
the department has not been without
faults, being human institution. But
we must fairly take a broad view
OF its work and credit IL not only
with tangible results, but with the
more progressive spirit infused into
Irish farmers and the advance that
has been made in many directions to-
ward improved methods of produc-
ton and marketing and better condi-
tions of living. The department be-
gan its work under happy auspices.
1t found the Irish farmer newly
franchised and shaking off
apathy engendered of an evil sys
of land tenure, which permitted
landlord to tax the industry of his
tenants and put a premium on
slovenliness. The soil was therefore
ready for the seed, and there are
signs that We shall have a harvest of
happiness and prosperity in the
future.
Secretary Gill was justified in
claiming at the Dundalk Show that
there has been a marked advance in
the condition of rural Ireland since
the department commenced it's work.
The great bureau of which he Is the
official mouthpiece has certainly
guided and directed the newly awak-
ened energies of our agricultural
classes into many profitable and
worthy channels. II has helped also
to encourage a spirit OF Industrial en-
terprise and to enable struggling in
fant industries to find their feet.
in this latter line II has
had many failures; but that has not
been the fault of the department. An
industrial community is not built up
in day or year, and the slower the
growth, so long as It is growth, the
more certainty of endurance.
Mr.. Gill is an optlmist, and It is
we'll to have an optimist in a posi-
tion such as he occupies, especially
In country where prophets of fail
ure never cease to croak. II is the
optimists who achieve things and
make others achieve them. And when
the Secretary of the department says
that he believes Ireland is on the
road to becoming one of the most
and progressive nations in
the world, We think he Is not exag-
any rate the possi-
bilities. While the ''pig-headed
British farmer" Is letting his land
run waste, the more intelligent Irish
man is feeding not only himself but
his neighbor across the channel. He
has developed the side-lines OF ag-
rieulture as we'll as agriculture itself.
irish butter, bacon, poultry and eggs
have got into the first rank In the
market. II was inevitable, once the
milestone was taken from the Irish
neck. and once he had an
opportunity and a helping hand on
he path OF progress. II will be the
'ame with industrial Ireland. The
men with brains and energy-the
iort OF men who used to go America
'r Australia and found great indus
rial enterprise there-will be en-
outraged 10 stay at home and work
or ireland and for their kind. We
lave progressed already in the twelve
ears Of the departments work.
We shall progress at an accelerated
ate In the years TO come, when IreA.
and's destinies win be more largely =
committed to the keeping OF her own
ons, and when national pride will
'e encouraged. the factious warfare
Il Orange and Green ended, and
rishmen make laws for the benefit