School: Baile an Daingin (B) (roll number 1676)

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1. The Potatoes

   

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   There were no iron ploughs in Ireland in the olden days. They used to have ones made of timber. They were small and light. They used to have four asses pulling the plough. They straw ropes for the traces. The asses used be very slow.
   When the ridges would be made another person would bring the slits with the ass and baskets. They used never plough the land for potatoes. They used score it with a spade. They leave three feet of a space between each scrape. Two scrapes used make a ridge. This land used be called lea land.
   Then he would put manure between each scrape. They wold have the slits cut about a month before the time. They would spread the manure along the ridge. They would start leaving the slits. They wold leave three slits across the ridge. They wold keep on leaving till they would have the ridge finished.
   When they would have that ridge sown they would leave another ridge of slits. The wooden ploughs were called "scolbeens."

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. activities
      1. economic activities
         1. agriculture (~2,659)
            1. potatoes (~2,701)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Patrick Grogan

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Newtown South, Co. Mayo

   Informant

   Thomas Gilmore

   Gender

   Male

   Age

   71

   Address

   Ballindine, Co. Mayo