Introduction to Irish Farming

Introduction To Irish Farming by Thomas Baldwin. A comprehensive nineteenth-century manual on Irish agriculture, presenting a structured program for improving soil fertility and farm productivity. Baldwin explains how land becomes exhausted and the means to restore fertility, emphasizing the central role of farm-yard manure, lime, and artificial phosphates. The book then surveys the crops suited to Ireland, from potatoes and root crops to grains, flax, and forage plants, with detailed cultivation methods, rotations, and recommendations for soil preparation and drainage. The livestock chapters cover feeding, dairy management, calf-rearing, cattle fattening, horses, sheep, pigs, and poultry, offering practical routines for year-round feeding, shelter, and housing. The work also includes illustrated examples of successful small- and large-scale farms, and a full cottage-gardening section for kitchen gardens and family plots. Throughout, the author reframes agriculture to fit Ireland’s climate and resources, advocating tillage and mixed farming as a path to increased national wealth and resilience, drawing on empirical results and economic assessments.