School: Woodland (roll number 8464)

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1. The Potato Crop

   

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   The names of the potatoes that are grown locally are Kerr's Pinks, Arran Banners, and in the early part of the year Ruby Queens and May Queens. In years gone by the names of the different potatoes were Skerry Blues Champions and Irish Whites. In olden times when children were gathering the potatoes they would get some potatoes as payment. They would light a fire and put the potatoes in the middle to toast them. They they would eat the potatoes and drink buttermilk.

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   Topics

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

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Henry Mc Cafferty

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Oldtown, Co. Donegal

2. The Potato Crop

   

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   James Mc Cafferty, Oldtown, Lettrkenny.

   In early days potato planting in Donegal was mostly done in ridges. These ridges were made about four feet broad and were generally made to hold four rows of potatoes on each ridge. As this work could not be carried out by horse and plough it was mostly done by spade and shovel. It is said that by this system more potatoes can be planted per acre than by planting them in drills. This method was better for the land, and was the means of keeping it dug as small trenches were dug along each ridge to get clay to cover the potatoes and to mould them.

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

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