School: Moynalty (B.)

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1. The Potato Crop

   

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   My father plants about two acres of potatoes each year. The amount depends on the acreage under corn the previous year, because he plants the potatoes on the stubble land. He prepares the ground himself in the following manner. First of all he ploughs the stubbles with a wheel plough, about the month of March. Then he harrows it with a wooden harrow. If the ground has alot of weeds he harrows it a couple of times. Then he harrows it with a spring-tooth harrow. This harrow goes deeper and cultivates the soil better. Then he makes drills with a double moulded plough. Then he puts manure into the alley with a horse and cart. He leaves the manure in little heaps in the alleys. Then it is spread with forks and when all this is done the ground is prepared. The sowing of the potatoes is done by splitting each drill with a double moulded plough. The best kind of potatoes to sow in my district are "Kerrs pink" and "Aran Victors." The preparation of the seed potatoes requires care also. Firstly my father picks the best shaped potatoes making sure that each potatoe has at least one "eye" or bud. Sometimes he cuts the larger ones that have several

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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

   Francis Mc Intyre

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Moynalty, Co. Meath

   Informant

   Joseph Mc Intyre

   Relation

   Parent

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Newtown, Co. Meath