A history of Irish farming, 1750–1950
Jonathan Bell & Mervyn Watson
‘Describes in detail the changes in methods of crop and livestock production over two centuries and how this shaped our rural landscape … There is of course far more to this fascinating record of our farming history and virtually every aspect of agriculture, from the “making” of soil on the Aran Islands using seaweed and sand to the evolution of farm machinery, is cover in great detail … There are many fine photographs and illustrations … Whole chapters are devoted to ridges and drains, ploughs, spades, harrows and techniques of sowing seed, potatoes, hay making, growing and harvesting corn, as well as pigs, sheep, cattle and poultry … Do purchase a copy. Every home should have one’, Joe Barry, Irish Independent (March 2015).
‘A fascinating read for those interested in agriculture … wonderful photographs ... The editorial content of this book covers the entire island’, Irish Field (31 May 2008).
‘[I]it is strange that so little has been published on agriculture in Ireland. Bell and Watson take a big step in correcting this omission in this comprehensive study … By concentrating on specific elements, they chart the bigger changes over the centuries and more importantly highlight social and regional variations’, Books Ireland (Summer 2008).
‘[The book] succeeds as a description of the hows and whys of pre-industrial farming systems in Ireland. The authors’ style makes reading the text like conversing with old farmers in a pub’, M.S. Coyne, Choice (November 2008).
‘Bell, a curator for the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, teamed with colleague Watson to present this history on crop and livestock production during Ireland’s “Age of Improvement,” which lasted from 1750 to 1950. The author documents how farming methods evolved during these two centuries, and how modernization impacted life in the towns and cities of the Emerald Isle. The simplicity and sensibility of Irish farming innovations are emphasized in this volume, which should be of interest to students of Irish history and agriculture’, Book News (August 2008).
‘Building in 30 years of investigation and fieldwork, undertaken at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Jonathan Bell and Mervyn Watson have compiled an encyclopaedic narrative of Irish agriculture and rural life, over the past two centuries and more. The comprehensive documentation of changes to rural housing and of the progressive development of Irish crop and livestock farming systems are complemented by an exceptional collection of close to 150 illustrations and photographs. These are an important feature of this very informative publication', Liam Downey, Irish Farmers Journal.
'Bell and Watson’s work can be more accurately described as a history of Irish farming practice, although the opening chapter provides an introduction to the structure of agricultural holdings in pre-Famine Ireland. The book describes in fascinating detail the changes that occurred in breeding practices, cultivation techniques and in implements used in Irish agriculture, especially for the pre-Famine period … this is a work of fascinating detail, generously illustrated with a range of evocative black-and-white photographs and coloured plates', Raymond Ryan, Irish Historical Studies (May 2009).
