§ MR. BOLANDI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the people of Glencar, county Kerry, applied for a free grant of seed potatoes from the Department of Agriculture owing to the partial failure of the potato crop in some townlands and the complete failure in other town lands and can he say why they were refused subsequently seed potatoes, seed oats, lime, and manure under the same conditions as were granted in the neighbouring parish of Glenbeigh, in view of the fact that Glencar is not so favourably situated for procuring sand and seaweed.
§ MR. BIRRELLIt does not fall within the province of the Department of Agriculture to make free grants of seed potatoes. The Department have made arrangements for establishing demonstration plots in some of the congested districts, including the district of Killorglin, and in this connection small quantities of seed potatoes, seed oats, lime, and manure have been sold to certain persons in the latter district. The objects of these plots is to demonstrate the advantages of change of seed, and the use of lime and artificial manures. The Department have found it impossible owing to the limited funds at their disposal, to arrange for demonstration plots this year at Glencar. The question of extending these operations to other districts next year will receive consideration in due course.