burren agriculture in the nineteenth century

[matthewmacnamara]

Would anyone know of sources of information on agricultural practice
in the Burren in the nineteenth century?

[murf]

Hi Matt
Not sure how relevant this may be for it relates to Co Clare in general rather than the Burren in particular.
A few years back while wading thru pages of the Clare Journal I came upon an article in the issue of Mon 8 Aug 1859, entitled Rural and Domestic Economy - FARM OPERATIONS FOR AUGUST.
The article provides a rundown of recommended practices in tending to the various crops and farm animals for this time of the year. It may have been a regular feature in the Journal, but I don't really recall, it was a while back. I still have a copy of this one, so if you don't have ready access to the CJ I could send you a copy.
Cheers, murf

[kbarlow]

Hi Matt - does Lewis's A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837) assist in any way? When a friend and I (visiting from Oz) did a guided walk (from the Corrofin end) last year we heard talk about some farming techniques using kelp brought from the coast and packed into the fissures between the limestone outcrops. I haven't been able to find any reference to this practice in my brief searches, though.

Kerry

[matthewmacnamara]

Many thanks for replies
What interested me was the preponderance of grazing and the
role of the herdsmen - called the herds.
And the balance between grazing and milk production.