asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state, with reference to experiments in ploughing and re-seeding old pastures, (a) to what extent and over what period such experiments have been carried out by his Department and by county committees of agriculture; (b) what results were obtained; and (c) whether definite conclusions have yet been drawn.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ploughing and Re-seeding Experiments.
Trials in the re-seeding of pastures were carried out on the farms at my Department's schools at Athenry, Ballyhaise and Clonakilty during the seasons 1940 to 1943. A report on these trials, which includes particulars of the results obtained, will be found in the journal of the Department, of March, 1945 (Volume 42, No. 1).
The carrying out of similar trials through committees of agriculture commenced at 39 centres in 23 counties in 1944. A further series of trials was commenced at 38 centres in 21 counties in 1945. Reports on these trials have been published in the annual reports of committees of agriculture and further reports will be published in due course. Observations continue to be made of both series of trials. It will not be possible to draw definite conclusions until the observation periods have terminated and results have been examined.
The Minister is aware that the results obtained on the four farms belonging to the Department showed that the old pasture put up more weight on animals than the new? Are the experiments in the country giving the same results?
Any old farmer in Limerick could have told them that 15 years ago and they would not have believed him.
I should not like to say what the results of the county committee trials are yet, because they will not conclude until next year.