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School: Ballyhahill (C.) (roll number 10686)

Location:
Ballyhahill, Co. Limerick
Teacher:
H. Fitzgerald
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0482, Page 234

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0482, Page 234

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  1. XML School: Ballyhahill (C.)
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  3. XML “The Potato Crop”

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  1. The Potato Crop (continued)

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    (continued from previous page)
    for potatoes, differ according to the various needs of each farmer. There is no hard and fast rule.
    The farmer himself prepares the land. he ploughs it up, if wants it for drills. After a while it is harrowed. but this is not enough, he has to plough it again. The woman of the house cuts the seed. For ridges, he must work with a spade. A green space is left between the rows; it is in this green space that the seed is spread. Then manure is put down on them, and the earth is turned over on each side to cover all.
    Spades are not made locally now; But in the old days, the smith in the district made a regular trade in spades, during the season. A man's neighbours always come to help him, the day he is setting the potatoes. A "Meirceal" the crowd is called, and many are the jokes that go around, and merry chat. Weeds must be kept from growing among the potatoes in the Summer. Potatoes are "dug to" that is the earth piled up in either side of them.
    A potato-digger that is a special machine, is used for digging out the potatoes in the Autumn. Some people use a plough for the purpose. Potatoes are usually stored in pits. "Kerr Pinks", "Aran Banners", "Up-to-dates", "Queens", are some of the many names, given locally. A supply of starch to supply the needs of the house, for a year was always made long ago, in autumn. When all the potatoes were dry out. Stampy used be made at the same time too.
    (continues on next page)
    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
    Teresa Danaher
    Gender
    Female
    Address
    Knocknabooly West, Co. Limerick
    Informant
    Dan Danaher
    Gender
    Male
    Age
    53
    Address
    Knocknabooly West, Co. Limerick