THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



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unite with tiie carbonic acid gas. Hence it follows tbiat 

 when such a salt is absorbed during digestion, and con- 

 veyed by the blood to the lungs, it will seize the carbonic 

 acid gas there generated.' It is, however, imperative 

 that the acid with which the base was at first combined 

 be of a perfectly harmless character, or one that will 

 decompose and resolve itself into its original ele- 

 ments (oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon), which is the 

 case with vegetable acids. This arrangement causes the 

 compound to remain perfectly inert until it comes in 

 contact with the very object we wish to seize, and the 

 presence of that object at once fits it for entering into 

 combination with it. 



2. This depends upon similar principles, and is in 

 fact only a slight variation, viz,, that in this case the acid 

 must have a greater affinity for elements it will meet 

 with in the lungs than for the base with which it was at 



first combined ; consequently in the lungs it will sepa- 

 rate from the alkali, which will then seize the carbonic 

 acid gas. Of course it is here also requisite that all the 

 compounds formed must be harmless, and this can not 

 only be accomplished, but they shall be highly conducive 

 to the health and vigour of the animal. 



These are not " theories," for there is large and ac- 

 cumulating evidence of the results obtained by their 

 application. Orthodox professors, having contradicted 

 each other until it it has become a proverb that " doc- 

 tors disagree," may attempt, when the evidence be- 

 comes irresistible, to show that they have been for years 

 advocating the principles now being brought forward ; 

 but to which, as far as regards cattle-feeding, I lay ab- 

 solute claim as the sole advocate. 



G. H. Bolton, 



Warrington. Agricultural Chemist. 



IRELAND AND IRISH FARMING. 



BY A PRACTICAL FABMER. 



It is not my intention to occupy your pages by a 

 history, or any especial report, of Irish agriculture ; but, 

 having had the pleasure to pay two short visits to that 

 country, within the past two years, I am desirous to give 

 a short outline of my journeys, and some remarks of a 

 general character, chiefly relating to the improvement 

 of its agricultural practice, its small farms or occupa- 

 tions. 



No one can be more sensitive of the presumption I 

 assume to myself in writing upon a subject of such vast 

 importance on such shallow information as can be ob- 

 tained in passing so rapidly through a country as an 

 express train can take you. My first excuse is, that no 

 one can pass through that interesting country, possessing 

 any knowledge of agriculture, without remarking the 

 poverty of its farming, and the slovenliness of its graz- 

 ing, and at once coming to the conclusion that much re- 

 mains to be done for Irish agriculture. My next excuse 

 is, that I am anxious to add my mite to the general fund 

 of information by which it may be improved, and that 

 without " turning the world upside down," but taking 

 Irish farming as it is, i. e., that system of small farms, 

 or cottage farming, which you see everywhere predomi- 

 nant. My chief object then is to attempt, in a very few 

 papers, to show that great good may ensue to the Irish 

 peasantry by the adoption of an improved system of 

 cottage farming, besides giving a passing view of those 

 parts of the country through which I passed so rapidly 

 along. 



My visits were both upon the eve of the Irish harvest, 

 and in giving in detail "jottings from my note-book" 

 on passing, something may be gathered of the state of 

 the country at the time, and the various methods of 

 farming, harvesting, grazing, and cropping pursued in 

 different districts, with other useful memoranda. This 

 I propose shall form my first papers ; and my second will 

 refer to the improvements I would suggest, and the 

 means for carrying them into general practice. 



First Journey, August 12, 1857. — Dublin to 

 Waterford ; started by train at 12,40 ; pass the beautiful 

 Phoenix Park, the Hyde Park of Dublin. The Park is 

 very fine, soil good, and well grazed. Enjoyed much a 

 drive over it this morning previous to leaving. The 

 beautiful undulations, tastefully arranged with shrub- 

 beries and forest trees, the Vice-Regal Lodge, the sol- 

 diery, the equestrian and splendid equipages, gave the 

 whole park a most enlivening effect ; and the number of 

 Irish cars, to a stranger like myself, gave additional in- 

 terest to the whole. I was loath to quit a scene so 

 pleasing and exciting ; but to my journey. On our left 

 was the Railway Company's extensive works ; soon into 

 the country. The first thing I noticed in farm practice 

 was the mode of securing the hay. It was got together 

 in rather large hay-cocks, and was then fastened down 

 with hay-bands to the soil by means of stakes. Soon 

 come to some good grass pastures, and fair crops of 

 corn. Some rich land now ; hay still in cocks, none 

 carried ; wheat crops good, set out in stoukes of threes, 

 and securely capped. Now pass through a dead level for 

 some distance; pass some capital swedes; grass land 

 foul, burrs, thistles, sow-thistles, ragwort, &c., &c. ; 

 oat crop green, very backward ; potatoes all right ; soil 

 apparently a heavy clayey loam ; oats green ; wheat 

 ripe ; abundance of tall daisy weed and docks in the oat 

 crops ; wheat crops thin here, and very little cut ; land 

 cold and wet ; barley quite green ; oats ditto ; notice 

 some shorthorned cattle grazing near and along our 

 route ; arrive at Lucan Station. 



The soil here is poor, the subsoil shale or slate ; hay 

 not carted anywhere. We pass ob ; now a fine country 

 for grazing ; land roughly grazed ; the herbage is not 

 very rich, but with good grazing would surprisingly im- 

 prove. Nothing benefits fair grass land like good judi- 

 cious grazing — never bare, never rough, and always to 

 be kept clean. Rough grazing destroys the finer herb- 

 age and moht nutritious grasses. Oat crops good; the 



