School: The Downs (roll number 8875)

Location:
The Downs, Co. Westmeath
Teacher:
S. Molloy
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0730, Page 206

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0730, Page 206

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  3. XML “The Potato Crop”

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  1. The potato is the principle food
    of the Irish people.
    It was introduced first into this
    country by Sir Walter Raleigh
    who brought it from the Canary
    Islands.
    The potatoes are sown in the Spring.
    First the people plough the ground,
    and then harrows it.
    Then he opens drills and put out
    the manure.
    Then he picks out the seed
    potatoes and cut the large ones and
    put them in the drills about a foot
    apart from each other.
    The manure is then spread over
    them and the drills are closed with
    a plough.
    When the potatoes come up they are
    cleaned.
    The potatoes are sprayed in the
    end of June to keep them from
    taking the blight.
    They are dug in the harvest and put into pits.
    There are a great many varities
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    Topics
    1. activities
      1. economic activities
        1. agriculture (~2,659)
          1. potatoes (~2,701)
    2. products
      1. food products (~3,601)
    Language
    English
    Collector
    Betty Dunne
    Gender
    Female
    Address
    The Downs, Co. Westmeath
    Informant
    Michael Dunne
    Gender
    Male
    Age
    64
    Address
    The Downs, Co. Westmeath