tgo4' PRAKGKR. — T//e flora of A chill Isla7id. 27 1 



twi7iSi among which are Carcx cxtensa^ C. distans^ Triglochin 

 vimilimum, Glyceria viafilima, Aster Tripoliuin, Salicornia 

 htrbacea^ and species of Spergiilaria. 



The maritime plants as a whole have their headquarters on 

 the eastern shores of Achill, and only about one-third of them 

 reach the western part of the island. 



The Farm-land. 



As already mentioned, only 15 per cent, of the surface of the 

 island is reclaimed. The farm-land lies either around the 

 bays, or in sheltered hollows among the hills, and the soil is 

 occasionally sandy, but generally peaty. In the west of the 

 island, hedges are unknown. About Dugort there are a few 

 of Thorn and Fuchsia and more of Gorse, planted on the top 

 of solid banks. In the east these Gorre hedges become more 

 frequent. Owing to the absence of stones on the bogland, 

 walls are likewise uncommon. The divisions between the 

 fields generall}' consist either of solid banks of boggy earth, or 

 of deep drainage trenches. In the west of the island, rye and 

 potatoes alone are grown, and the cultivated land is a patch- 

 work of grey-green and dark green. About Dugort some good 

 meadowland is found, and further eastward oats and turnips 

 put in an appearance. The actual present state of agriculture 

 on Achill is shown by the following figures, taken from official 

 statistics for the current year, as 5'et unpublished^ : — 



Reclaimed land, 5,693 acres (or 15 per cent, of the total 

 surface), made up as follows : — 



Corn crops, . . 656 acres, or r'8 per cent. 



Green crops, . . 958 „ 2'6 „ 



Hay, . . 716 „ 17 



Pasture, - . 3,363 „ 9-0 „ 



Unreclaimed land, . 31,283 „ 85*0 „ 



The cereal weeds consist mainly of Chickweed, Spurrey, 

 Persicaria,and Wild Radish, and of three Brassicas i^B. Sinapis^ 

 B. alba, B. campestrii) in about equal quantity. Among the 

 potatoes AchillcEa Plarinica, Poteiitilla Anserina, Slachys 

 pabistris, Artemisia vulgaris, and occasional!}" Bidens tripartita^ 



'" For these figures I am indebted to Mr. E- A. Mortmoreucy Morris, 

 of the Department of Agriculture. 



