The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1917-04-21
GREAT TILLAGE
CAMPAIGN ON IN
IRISH COUNTIES

TiIIage Industry in a Generation All
Over lreland-Every County Shows
Great Interest in Growing a Big
Crop.
Dublin, April 5.-The Department of
Agriculture announces that the follow
ing further information has come to
hand in regard to tillage operations in
the country:
A Brave Effort.-One of the cases of
application for exemption recently
dealt with by the Department was that
of an old farmer whose two sons are
at the war and the only remaining
member of whose family, daughter,
is working at munitions in England.
He had only one laborer and one horse.
When, however, following the applica-
ton for exemption, an inspector went
to see the farm, he found the old man
in the fields being instructed by the
Departments instructor in the art of
blowing, of which he had up to then
known nothing. He has undertaken to
till total of over seven acres.
County Tipperary North Riding).-
This county is fairly sclf-contained as
regards seeds, the tillage districts be-
ing almost entirely so. Every parish
has been visited and organized by the
officers of the County Committee of
Agriculture, and strenuous efforts are
being made to comply with the Regula-
ton.
County Cork (Mallow, Fermoy, and
Mitchelstown).- The increased tillage
on many holdings in these districts
will exceed the extra 10 per cent re-
uuired. The labor supply is generally
sufficient. Orders for supplies of seeds,
manures, and other requirements are
unprecedented.
County Cork West Cork .-Tillage
operations are in full progress every
where, blowing is being done in many
districts on the hire system. The food
production meetings held in the dis
trict have been very we'll attended,
and 35 parish committees are in opera
ton.
County Wexford.-One farmers So
ciety in this county has already taken
delivery of six times as much sulphate
ammonia as is their usual order. AS
many as six teams of horses are to be
seen working in one field. Many of
the laborers have HAD their plots
plowed by the farmers, and in some
cases are receiving seed from them. A
fair supply of seed is available and a
great many farmers have secured their
supplies of manures. The staff of the
County Committee of Agriculture have
addressed about sixty meetings in the
county, the audience at some of these
numbering as many as 800 persons.
County Cavan.-Plowing has been in
full swing all over the county. The
farmers are, as body, fully alive to
the two-fold call for action-the nation
al demand for food and their own inter-
ests. A large proportion of farmers
are preparing tillage areas consider
ably in excess of the strictly legal re-
quirement.
County Kerry.-Plowi,.g is very gen.
eral all over the country. At least
double the usual number of ploWs have
already been sold. Some farmers have
purchased double-furrow plows. Some
of the meetings held in the county
were attended by as many as 800 peo-
pie.
County Clare (West Clare) Smiths
are busy in certain districts repairing
the old swing" plows; a dozen of
these have been recently counted at
the door of one forge. A certain
amount of blowing work is being done
on the hire system, and by "couring
with his neighbor the small farmer is
endeavoring to get over the one-horse
difficulty.
County Glare EAST re).-There
has been a considerable demand all
over the district for wheel plows and
spring-tooth harrows. For the pur
chase of these implements the Depart
ment's loan scheme is being awaited OF
to a fairly large extent. Small farm
ers are doing the blowing for the larg
er holders at very good rates of re
Enumeration. Many occupiers of grass
lands are letting in conacre, for which
mand. The majority Sf farmers are
sowing some wheat, though the cereal
most favored is oats. Extensive prep
arations are also being made for the
sowing of early potatoes.
County Waterford.-Thec countryside
with plowed fields, and everywhere
teams can be seen at work. The in
creased area will be largely under
oats, but some wheat has been sowr
during the past few weeks. Prepare
lions for potato planting are proceed
ing rapidly. 1T reminus me of wher
was boy" said an old farm laborel
in the county to his employer, refer
ring to the amount of new blowing il
his district, which was not notable fol-
tillage in recent years.
County Monaghan :Northern por
tion).-Energetic efforts are being
made to cultivate every possible root
of ground. Flowing las progressed