Bennett's of Ballinacurra Descriptive List (Ref. B609)

B609/

regular rooms, and so will require to ship a further 6-7000 barrels to AGS, if convenient. A letter of 30 June expresses disappointment and surprise at the damage to some of the malt sent as cargo aboard the ‘Margaret [Roster]’. A letter of 19 August to Thomas Smith notes the balance of company profits for the last three years. A letter of 5 September to AGS notes that farmers are using steam threshing machines, which are available on hire. A letter of 6 October comments on malt samples from Old Barley sent by AGS (‘the best we ever saw from Old Barley’), and expresses regret at McCall & Co’s lack of success in malting its own Old Barley. That this was not owing to want of kiln-drying is stressed. In a letter of 5 March 1866 to ‘Dear Sir’ [AGS Officer], William H Bennett agrees it is probable that stock at the company’s premises could be insured in Dublin at a lower rate than is possible locally. A letter of 7 July to AGS comments favourably on prospects for the coming harvest. It is noted that ‘potatoe blight is showing itself in many places on the leaves but it does not spread much and the crop is fast approaching maturity’. A letter of 5 September notes that the poor prospects for wheat will increase demand for malt, raising prices. In a letter of 8 September it is stressed that, while AGS ‘do not approve of our purchasing Barley’, the market in Cork is such that ‘if we do not buy actively while the supply is offered we will be without stock to keep our Malt Houses at work unless you allow us to purchase from speculators, which we seldom have found satisfactory’. A letter of 2 October remarks on the storage capacities of three malt houses: ‘Village’, ‘Connolly’s’, and the Bridge. A letter of 22 October discusses purchases of barley for AGS, both directly from farmers and through the agent Mr Jago. AGS is requested to pay Mr Jago’s commission, it being necessary to buy from him to ensure a full stock. It is added ‘we are very anxious to get a full stock as much for men’s interest as our own to give them employment and prevent emigration’. In a letter of 23 January 1867, reference is made to AGS’ intention to send some Danish barley for malting, and to the shipping of barley bought from Mr McCowan of Tralee. A letter of 4 September discusses return of remnant of Danish malt by rail, and notes the amount of Danish malt shipped this season, and the total malt shipped for the season. A letter of 16 October comments on Cork and other markets. Some letters from 1862 to 1864 occur at the back of the volume. [Gen] B609/1/B/4 General Letters Letterbook, 10 December 1867 to 21 September 1886. Damp press letterbook. Partially indexed. There is water damage to many of the pages.There is a gap in the letters from 24 April 1878 to 30 January 1885. A letter of 12 December 1867 to AGS reports the purchase of a parcel of Limerick barley on the Cork market. A letter of 14 December to ‘My Lord’ refers to Kilshannig and Trabolgan barley. Letters of June and July 1868 comment very favourably on the season’s corn crops and potatoes. In a letter of 7 April 1869 to Messrs J O’Shea & Son [grain merchants], it is remarked ‘We think it would be friendly if you would occasionally let us hear from you as to the Markets, you are in the way of hearing all the news, we are not and often had a friendly hint from your Father’. There are many letters from July 1869 to AGS relating to difficulties in the sale of barley screenings to Messrs J Corcoran & Sons, Dublin. A letter of 20 August 1870 to AGS reports favourably as to the season’s crops, but notes the difficulty of predicting prices, as ‘the markets seem so uncertain under the influence of War’. A letter of 3 September to Thomas Smith concerns income tax and profits for 1869-70. A letter of 24 June 1871 to AGS draws attention to