SNIPPET: "In the spring of 1847 an English Quaker, William BENNETT, arrived in Ireland with the intention of touring the worst-hit areas. He believed that as the potato had proved to be an unreliable source of food there was a need to encourage a greater diversity of crops. To this end he and his son acquired seed from W. DRUMMOND & SONS in Dawson Street His main choice was turnip seed together with carrots and mangelwurzel and later he included cabbage, parsnip and flax. William BENNETT distributed most of his seed in Mayo and Donegal and while he was there he also made cash grants to local craft industries that had been set up to provide employment. After six weeks he returned to England where he published a book entitled "Six Weeks in Ireland" and this was influential in encouraging the flow of donations. Some of the local Quaker committees became involved in the distribution of seed but the central committee in Dublin was hesitant, believing that any crops grown would be distrained by the landlords in lieu of rent owed. However, in May 1847, Sir Randolph ROUTH, the government's Commissary-General, gave some eighteen tons of seed to the committee for distribution. The task of organising distribution was given to William TODHUNTER, who managed to do so by means of the postal system together with free carriage donated by a coach company and a steampacket company. Some 40,000 smallholders received grants of seed and it is estimated that 9,600 acres of crops were sown. Following the success of this operation the Quaker central relief committee repeated the exercise in the spring of 1848, laying out an initial sum of 5,000 pounds to purchase and distribute almost sixty tons of seed. It is estimated that 32,000 acres of crops were grown as a result and that about 150,000 people would have been supplied with food as a result." -- Rob GOODBODY, member of the Historical Committee of the Religious Society of Friends in Ireland, excerpt from article Dublin's "History Ireland" magazine Spring 1998 issue. For further reading: R. GOODBODY, "A Suitable Channel: Quaker Relief in the Great Famine" (Dublin 1995), and M. J. WIGHAM, "The Irish Quakers: A Short History of the Society of Friends in Ireland" (Dublin 1992).