The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-05-10
IMPROVING IRELAND'S
FARM CONDITIONS

While the total import and export
trade per head of the population
places Ireland in a position vastly SUI
perior to that of Great Britain con-
sidered as a whole on the same basis,
yet the Irish people are not unaware
of the fact that during the last year
they imported into the country agri
cultural commodities to the value of
something over $100,OO0,000, which
the farmers of the island can and
should have produced at home This
amount is equal to two-thirds or the
total exports of farm products, which
is probably a fair annual average, and
consists of bacon, eggs, poultry, but
ter, grain, flour, foodstuffs, fruit and
vegetables, in addition to flax, hides,
wool, skins, etc, included under raw
materials. Intelligent Irish farmers
are not content with the fact that
Denmark exports to Great Britain
three times as much butter as they,
and they are coming to recognize IN
Russia a most effective competitor of
theirs in British markets as regards
the importa MT articles of butter, eggs
and poultry. While recognizing that
Irelands agricultural life is becom-
ing more organized and awake they
at the same time realize that~it is not
yet sufficiently organized or suff1-
GENTLY awake. And so it comes about
that there is probably a greater alert
day than is to be found anywhere
else on the globe, for, hand in hand
with agricultural education, designed
to increase production, there is being
carried on an active campaign of or
ganization for the purpose, among
others, of opening new markets and
of securing in the market the best
prices for the increased production.
An excellent system of agricultural
education has been provided and is
H. u
agriculture and technical instruction
for Ireland established in 1899. The
department is assisted in this work by
the council of agriculture consisting
of 104 members, two being appointed
by each of the thirty-two county agri-
cultural councils, and the remainder
appointed by the department from
among the residents of the four prov
inces); by board of agriculture
composed of the president and vice
president of the department, two per-
sons chosen from each province, the
other four being selected by the de-
partment), and a board of technical
instruction. The system, as it is be-
ing carried out embraces, first of
all, a central institution for the high
est form of technical training for
teacher and specialists in agriculture.
This is provided at the Royal College
of Science at Dublin, which has an
agricultural faculty or department.
The course provided in this institu-
ton is of an advanced nature, suit
able for students who have had ex-
tensive practical experience in farm
ing, and have received a good sec
ondary education.
Second it embraces a high class
a agricultural college (Albert Agricul-
tura1 college, at GlaSnevin, Dublin)
for preparing students for the Royal
College of Science and for the train
ing of young men in practical and
technical agriculture creamery man
agement, horticulture and cognate
subjects. Students in this college are
required to take an active part in all
the work of both field and farm yard.
The fam al this college contains one
hundred and seventy acres.
Third, 1t includes provincial insti-
tutions in which young men may be
taken as apprentices for year and
taught practical and technical agri-
culture. These give training in all
branches of farm work to young men
Intending to become Irish farmers
other Qualifications the appli-
cants must show good prospects of
obtaining farms in Ireland" The
training is mainly practical, the class
room instruction being made to bear
directly on the outdoor work, which
is carried on, as far as possible, by |
the students
Fourth, Agricultural classes during
the winter in which farmers and their ,
sons may obtain technical instruction
during the time when the work of
the farm does not require constant
attention. These classes are held at +,
% centers scattered throughout IA |
counties.
Fifth, A system of itinerant instruc- |
ton in agriculture, horticulture and
iairying, by means of which farmers !