1S03. Survey of the CoU7ity of Kilkenny, 91 



i[c6led to tillage, the farmers have derived their practices from a 

 period when none of the modern improvements were yet fuggeiled ; 

 and iiiiding themfclves in general ilill able not only to pay their 

 rent, and to lubfill without difTiculty, but, by the increafing value 

 of corn, to acquire additional profits, tliey have little thought o£ 

 making any ukcration in tlie old Irilh liufbandry, tliough the cul- 

 tivators of fonie of the neighbouring diilri£ls in Tipperary and 

 Wexford, where tillage did not extend to fo great a degree, until 

 it was accompanied by a fyflem fomewhat improved, and a little 

 better underftoo^l, have in feveral points fet them a laudable ex- 

 ample ; agriculture is, therefore, upon the wh'ole, in a worfe 

 flate here than in fome of the adjoining counties ^ and little infor- 

 mation can be expelled from the recital of practices long con- 

 demned by the intelligent farmers of the modern ichool : that 

 mode of cultivation is indeed too well known in Ireland, by which 

 'Al foil naturdly fertile, but exhaufted by repeated crops of com, 

 is abandoned to noxious weeds for feveral fucceeding years; is again 

 -broken up, flightly manured, exhaulled,and again abandoned, wheri^ 

 culture, in'iead of improving, deteriorates ; where no effort is madt^ 

 for permanent utility ; where every operation of the farmer, and 

 every work of the farm, is ju.ft calculated to meet the prefent r.e- 

 ceflity, and no more ; where the ditTerent branches of rural econo- 

 my, fo far from afTiiling each other, remain unconnected and dif- 

 tincl, in a ftate of unnatural repulfion. 



* This deicription, however, admits of much alleviation : many 

 gentlemen, and fome intelligent farmers, have adopted practices 

 founded on better principles ; and have applied their minds to 

 the improvement both of tillage and of ftock, in a manner which, 

 while it contributes to their own advantage, will confer an eilen* 

 tial fervice on their country : this furvey, then, ought to feetcli 

 the common modes of agriculture, and to notice, wherever they 

 occur, the improvements that have taken place. 



* Wheat. — This grain is almoft always fown either after fallow, 

 or after potatoes ; but as fcaree any more potfitoes are cultivated 

 than are neceffary for the confumption of the inhabitants, by far 

 the greater part is fown in the former v;ay, either with or with- 



''out lime ; and the produce after a good fallowing is reckoned to 

 be at leaft one-fourth more than after potatoes. When wheat ii 

 to be raifed upon potatoe-ground, the field is ploughed and har- 

 rowed as foon as the crop has been dug out, and the grain fown 

 moft ufually under the plough : one difadvantage attending this 

 practice is, that it is often fown too late ; and that is a pvincipai 

 caufe of the fuperiority obferved after a fallow ; this name, how- 

 ever, is often given to potatoes by farmers, being the only fallow 

 crop diey are acquainted with, 



* Fallows 



