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S8 Ep1038: The Fragile Three-Legged Stool of Irish Agriculture. Guest: Patrick Scanlan. The discussion explores the specific mechanics of 19th-century Irish agriculture, which Scanlan describes as a "three-legged stool" of the potato, the pig, and turf fuel. The pot
The Fragile Three-Legged Stool of Irish Agriculture. Guest: Patrick Scanlan. The discussion explores the specific mechanics of 19th-century Irish agriculture, which Scanlan describes as a "three-legged stool" of the potato, the pig, and turf fuel. The potato acted as the "glue" for a system that was surprisingly productive; Ireland was a major agricultural exporter of beef, pork, and oats to Great Britain despite its own poverty. The potato provided a high-yield food source that allowed landlords to pay extremely low wages while ensuring their workforce did not starve. On the eve of the…
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