§ Mr. JOHN O'DONNELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will state what was the total amount of money spent in connection with the upkeep, administration, and general management of the Athenry Agricultural Station during the year 1909 and each year since its formation; the amount paid to the 247 Congested Districts Board as purchase money; and the amount paid to tradesmen in Athenry and firms in Scotland and England, respectively, for articles of consumption, machinery, and other such things during the same period of time?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)The answer to the first part of the question is as follows: 1905–6, £1,225; 1906–7, £1,370; 1907–8, £1,820; 1908–9, £1,580; 1909–10, £1,440. No money was paid by the Department to the Congested Districts Board in respect of purchase. The estate was bought from the owners. To answer the last part of the question would involve a detailed examination of the accounts of the station, but it may be stated that purchases were made outside Ireland only in the case of special requisities not stocked in the country.
§ Mr. JOHN O'DONNELLasked the Chief Secretary whether he can state the number of acres of land under tillage at the Agricultural Station, Athenry, in 1909; what proportion was given over to barley, oats, potatoes, turnips, and mangolds respectively; what was the approximate yield per acre of potatoes, mangolds, and turnips; and what was the cost of tillage at this farm during the same period, including salaries, expenses, artificial manures, implements, fuel, and horses?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThere were 125 acres under tillage at Athenry Agricultural Station in 1909, of which eighty acres were under oats, fourteen under potatoes, seventeen under turnips, and five under mangolds. No barley was grown. The estimated yield per acre of potatoes was thirteen tons, of turnips thirty tons, and of mangolds thirty-six tons. The cost of tillage cannot be stated separately.
§ Mr. JOHN O'DONNELLasked the Chief Secretary whether, through the neglect of the officials in charge of the Athenry Agricultural Station, over 70 tons of potatoes were destroyed by frost during the winter of 1909 through having been left exposed; that the greater part of the crop of mangolds and turnips raised on the same farm was also lost through an attack of what was officially described as bacterial rot; and, if so, whether it is the intention of the Department to put in a crop of turnips and mangolds this coming season?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI understand that some potatoes—nothing like seventy tons— 248 were affected by disease. This was not e due to any neglect. The turnips also suffered, a common occurrence, as I am informed, where the crop is grown on land long under grass. The mangolds were not injured. The Department intend to continue the cultivation of turnips and mangolds at Athenry.
§ Mr. JOHN O'DONNELLasked the Chief Secretary whether he will state the number respectively of Shorthorn, Polled Angus, Hereford, and Dexter cows kept on the agricultural farm at Athenry for breeding purposes; how many premium bulls have been purchased from the officials at this station by farmers in the several counties where the Department's live-stock schemes are in operation, and the average pries obtained for each; and whether the Department of Agriculture has decided to continue sending premium bulls of the Galloway and Polled Angus breed to Connemara for the improvement of live stock in that district?
§ Mr. BIRRELLShorthorn cows only are kept at the Agricultural Station at Athenry. The number varies from thirty to forty. Two hundred and eighty-seven premium bulls have been purchased from the station by farmers at an average price of £29 14s. The Department will continue to sell to farmers in Connemara bulls of the breeds referred to in the last part of the question if there is a demand for them.