School: Leitir Mhic an Bhaird (Robertson) (roll number 15283)

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1. Na Prátaí

   

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   439 Simon Elliot Farmer (40 years Longfield, Lettermacaward Na Prátaí ;- "The Spring Work" The land is dug with spades. Then the drills are opened. It is used to be all ridges in this part and now it is only very rarely that ridges are to be seen. The drills are made with the shovel. The spades are bought in the shop. The men cut the potatoes, that are for seed. They take care to leave eyes in the pieces. They are put into creels when they are cut and are left standing until they are dry. The refuse parts of the potatoes are boiled for the fowl. The potatoes for planting are carried out in the creels. The splits (they) are placed between every two drills leaving about a foot of space between each two cuts. The people say they are planting. Then a man covers them with the shovel taking the clay of the sides of the drills. Nothing more takes place until they are about a fortnight set. They then either put manure or seaweed on the top of the potatoes. The manure or seaweed is carted to both ends of the drills and then it is carried in creels through the drills, and it is left at suitable distances for spreading. Some spread it evenly on the top of the potatoes with qraips and others with their hands. I understand that the seaweed is always spread with the hands. If seaweed is put on nothing more is done until the plants come up through it as if it was covered immediately the potatoes would melt. The manure is covered immediately with the shovel. When the plants are up a couple of inches above the ground more clay is shovelled up on the two sides of the drill out of the shough.

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   Topics

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

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Nábla Nic Amhlaidhé

   Gender

   Female

   Occupation

   Múinteoir

   Informant

   Simon Elliott

   Gender

   Male

   Age

   40

   Occupation

   Farmer

   Address

   An Pháirc Fhada, Co. Donegal