CHAPTER I.

AGRICULTURE.

Agriculture.—Defective in general.—Improvements in, attended with success. — Usual rotation of crops practised.-Drainage and Subsoiling required.-Remunerative operations.--Causes stated to impede.-Remedy proposed for.-Cause of inertia amongst small farmers attributable to extensive growth of potato.-Agricultural Societies, Failed to excite a spirit of emulation amongst small farmers.— Ballinasloe Agricultural Society an exception, and most successful.-Agriculturists, Good effects produced by superintendence on estates.-Agricultural Schools, The Arrangements, rules, and objects of, detailed, viz., Larne, Cloghan and Loughash, Glasnevin, Templemoyle.-Manures in general use, Use of lime extensive and profitable.-Sea Manures, Right to, frequently disputed between landlord and tenant.-Frequent use of sea-weed on land injurious.-Bog Mould, Application of, under judicious treatment, beneficial.-Burning of Land, Its effects on different soils.-Stock, Relative value of amount of, in each county.-Deficient for agricultural purposes.-Introduction of superior breeds of stock by landlords.— House-feeding, Little practised.-Grass Lands, Their extent, effect, and profit, compared with tillage.

140, Q. 4.

506, Q. 52.

15.

THE general tenor of the evidence given before the com- 26, Q. 20, 24, missioners proves that, with the exception of some districts districts,79 in the north, and some particular localities and estates, or 338, Q. 20, individual farms in other parts of the country, the usual 22. agricultural practice throughout Ireland is defective in the 693, Q. 5. highest degree, whether as regards the permanent prepara- 326, Q. 14, tion and improvement of the land essential to successful tillage, 244, Q. 20, the limited selection of the crops cultivated, or the relative 32. succession and tillage of those crops. But it likewise gives, at 722, 0.3. the same time, the encouraging proofs, that where these ex- 700, Q. 4. ceptions exist, where judicious exertions have been made to improve the state and texture of the soil, and to introduce more desirable and extensive selection and rotation of these exertions have been attended with the most striking 105, Q.5, 6. success and profit.

430, Q. 8.

322, Q. 16, a 18.

962, Q. 16.

crops,

773, Q. 12.

15-p. 61.

514, Q. 17

19-p. 23.

90, Q. 8, 9.

The ordinary methods pursued, however defective, are still 655, Q. 5-9. reducible to their several rules or rotations, which are, in 416, Q. 89. some degree, regulated by the quantity of land occupied, as 511, Q. 10. where the holdings do not exceed an acre, of which there 220, Q. 8. appear to be 64,839.-See Appendix 95. The only crop may 19.

283, Q. 17

199, Q. 3. 1049. Q. 8. 684, Q. 10. 491, Q. 8.

716, Q. 15.

962, Q. 16. 99, Q. 22. 318, Q. 22.

320, Q. 15. 706, Q. 9. 713, Q. 4. 722, Q. 3. 276, Q. 10. 499, Q. 5.

be said to be the potato; the ground being manured as a garden every year. On holdings above one acre, and not exceeding two to two and a half acres, the practice has generally been a two years' rotation of potatoes and grain in continued succession. Up to three or four acres, a three years' rotation, consisting of-1st, potatoes; 2nd, grain; 3rd, grain, with a small portion occupied in what is called grazing. The holdings above these classes are most generally cultivated on a seven or eight years' rotation-1st, manured for potatoes; 2nd, grain; 3rd, grain; 4th, grain again, or else "left out to rest for grass," but producing little or nothing, from the exhausted state of the land, and from no seed having been sown; 5th, grass getting a little better; 6th, grass still improving; 7th, grain on lea, after which the same rotation commences again with potatoes. When the third grain crop 727, Q. 15, is taken, the land is left for the following three years to rest as grazing, and this would extend the rotation to eight years.

734, Q. 13.

507, Q. 9, 10.

896, Q. 11.

558, Q. 13. 251, Q. 13,

14.

737, Q. 16, 18.

17. 326, Q. 14,

15. 924, Q. 5.

From this it would appear that there are only about threesevenths of the farm which give something approaching to a tolerable crop, viz. : the manured land, the first crop of grain, and the lea grain.

As to the remaining four-sevenths, it may be doubted whether their scanty produce would be sufficient to pay their proportion of the rent and charges of the farm, without bringing any profitable return to the occupier.

Upon the whole, this principle of farming consists, first, by the application of manure to bring up the land to a certain capability of production, and then, instead of seeking to keep it either in that condition, or in a progressively improving state, the effort is to take every thing from it by a continued succession of the same class of exhausting crops, until it becomes incapable of returning the cost of seed and labour; after which it is left to the unaided and gradual operation of nature to recover it from the effects of this destructive treatment, that it may be again exhausted, and again left for years unproductive to recover.

It has been stated almost universally throughout the evidence, that the lands in nearly every district of Ireland require drainage; that the drainage and deep moving of the lands or subsoiling have proved most remunerative operations

wherever they have been applied; that these operations have 88, Q. 50, 51. as yet been introduced but to a very limited extent. That the mass of the lands is held by small working farmers.

That the small farmers and labourers are for considerable portions of the year in search of employment which they cannot obtain.

That the most valuable crops and the most profitable ro. tations cannot be adopted on wet lands, &c., &c.

514, Q. 15, 18-p. 23. 899, Q. 14,

17.

773, Q. 1216-p. 61.

12.

These apparent contradictions are variously accounted for 45, Q. 43, 46. by different witnesses. Some attributing the apathy that 777, Q.6, 11, exists to want of capital, which they strongly recommend to 276, Q. 9. be supplied in some way or other. But this cause would not prevent the small farmer from draining the wet field of which he is the occupier, and which is situated at his own door, instead of sitting idle for several months of the year, and complaining all the while that he cannot find profitable employment!

71.

921, Q. 18.

Others, and by far the most extensive class of witnesses, 274, Q. 9. attribute the inertia to the fact of the occupiers not having any 1023, Q. 68, certainty of receiving compensation, if removed immediately 924, Q. 36. after having effected valuable improvements; and to their not 881, Q. 18. generally having leases, or that security of tenure of their 881, Q. 18. farms which would justify them in expending labour or 1003, Q. 6— money in their improvement, as, if they did so, the proprietor 976, Q. 37, would then have the power of immediately increasing the rent. 38. The remedy suggested by these witnesses is the establish- 62, Q. 31. ment of some principle of compensation for judicious improvements made by tenants, and the granting of leases.

p. 17.

The argument advanced by this class of witnesses is, no 135, Q. 13. doubt, a most reasonable and substantial one, although there are not many cases on the evidence to prove that proprietors have taken such advantage of improving tenants, nor indeed would many cases be required to produce a most mischievous effect in this respect. It does not appear either, as a general rule, from the evidence, that those tenants who have the longest leases, and the most beneficial interest in their farms, have brought the lands they hold to a more pro- 52, Q. 72. ductive or improved state than others, not possessing such advantages or security. It is even broadly asserted by many

8, Q. 45,

791, Q. 19,

20.

630, Q. 27. 678, Q. 6.

595, Q. 9.

See chapter

that lands held under long leases, at nominal rents, are in a worse state than those held from year to year.

A close analysis of this subject would probably lead to the conclusion, that the potato is the main cause of that inertia in the population, and that want of improvement in the lands and tillage, which is so striking throughout Ireland.

This root, as compared with other food stuffs grown in this climate, supplied the largest amount of human food on the smallest surface. Its peculiar cultivation enabled the occupier of land to plant it in the wettest soils; because the ridge or lazy bed, universally adopted in such cases, supplied the most minute system of drainage that can be imagined for that one crop, although it did not permanently drain the land, or extend any substantial benefit in that respect even to the following crop.

The indolent occupier, therefore, passed his winter inactively, consuming this food which he preferred to all others, and neglecting to prepare his land permanently for more profitable crops, of which he had heard little, and for which he cared less. Enjoying all the while the pleasing delusion, that, as sure as the spring came round, any portion he might select of his farm would be ready to receive his favourite root, and to furnish a certain supply of food for his numerous and increasing family.

This delusion is now broken, but its evil consequences continue.

The short time that remains for getting in the next year's on Draining." crops does not admit of that regular preparation by draining and tilling the soil to the depth that the substitutes for the potato require; and the fearful period which impends can only be mitigated by the immediate vigorous and unanimous cooperation of the government, the proprietors, the farmers, and the labourers of this country, in adopting such a modification of the preparation required, as shall give the present use of the lands for those crops, with but little labour, and leave the full completion of what may be thus commenced to be carried on after next harvest.

26. Q 20, 24,

79.

924. Q. 5.

Many witnesses attribute the general apathy in farming improvements to a want of knowledge amongst the farming 514. Q.7 classes, and they recommend as an obvious remedy the exten

p. 21.

7

Societies.

sion of agricultural schools, with model farms, and agricul- Agricultural tural societies on an improved principle of action throughout the country.

199, Q. 3.

579, Q. 10

p. 34.

Much difference of opinion appeared to exist among the witnesses as to the relative efficacy of the different means 103, Q. 10. adopted to assist and stimulate the improvement of agriculture. But such difference of opinion was, perhaps, most strongly manifested with regard to the agricultural societies. Many attributed to them much influence in improving the system of cultivation in the neighbourhood of the localities where they exist, but this opinion was by no means universal, and many seemed to look upon them as little calculated to serve or improve the tenant farmer.

John Brennan, esq., land agent, county Kerry.

Evidence.

The agricultural societies do not afford much benefit to the Extracts from small farmer. They do not know how to expend money if they had it; and I think an agriculturist, if appointed, would benefit the country very much. There is no getting many of the small farmers to change their old habits.

Thomas Herrick, esq., land proprietor and landholder,

County Cork.

680, Q. 46.

There is one farming society connected with this union. At 733, Q. 9. its commencement it had a very good effect in improving the implements of the farmers, particularly the ploughs; but at this time I do not think it has much effect. It is confined to the gentry of the country. I do not think among the class of farmers it has done much good. It brought iron ploughs and Scotch ploughs into the country very generally.

Did it improve the cattle much ?—Yes; there is some improvement in the cattle.

Mr. Patrick Lacy, farmer, King's county.

The proprietors are, it is generally believed, unwilling to give 1003, Q. 6. leases, from political motives. Leases under the courts are short,

and, like every thing in law, uncertain. Under middle-men they are generally at a rackrent; and yearly tenants, or tenants-at-will, which are, I fear, becoming the most numerous class, is, of all others, the very worst kind of tenure both for landlord and tenant, -first, because the man that would expend his money in permanent improvements on a farm without some kind of fixity of tenure would, to say the least of it, act unwisely; second, the tenant holding by yearly tenure will not be likely ever to get his land into a proper rotation of crops, for such a system would require an additional outlay to keep the land in a high state of cultivation, which might be the cause of its being coveted by his neighbour, or advantage taken by the cupidity of the landlord. This being the case, I am convinced that premiums offered by agricultural societies for fat cows or bullocks, large mangel-wurzel, and big turnips, will all prove

C