1803. of the County of Down. 4^9 



The Ein^litb Ch'^.pt'^r treats of Grafs. — The natural meadows of 

 this county are not well manaj^^ed ; tliougli the Reporter has lug- 

 gelled leveral improvements. Among the artificial grafies, we 

 find the white grafs, kolciis mollis. Town on clny foils where the 

 red clover has not yet fucceeded (v/e fuppofe bccaufe the land has 

 been too foul and too much exhauiled), and that trefoil {tnedriafo 

 Inpulina) is recommended as much fuperior to red clover for 

 grazing or cutting green, though as cheap as hay feed. We have 

 fome doubt as to the fa£):, where the red clover is properly cul- 

 tivated ; but it may be worth w^hile to try an experiment in Scot- 

 land, where the land is in good order. 



This chapter contains an accomit of the principal grafies found 

 in Downfhire. Here we were furprifed to find the avena elatiory 

 or knot-grafs, a mcft trouble fome \ATed in arable land, had, when 

 moderately dunged, produced a moft luxuriant crop of hay. 



In the fame chapter, under the article feedings we learn, that 

 two bullocks, weighing eighteen hundred weight, were, in 1801, 

 fold for 96I. — a proof of the high price of butcher meat, as well 

 as of the rich feeding at Hiliroorough. 



The Ninth Chapter, on Gardens and Orchards, informs us, that 

 gardening is not much attended to ; that potatoes feem to be 

 gaining ground on all other roots and vegetables, except among 

 gentlemen, and in the neighbourhood of Belfaft. 



The Tenth Chapter is on Timber, Plantations, and Yv^oodlands, 

 We learn, here, that Downfliire is not a well-wooded country ; 

 but a lift of various kinds of timber trees, fraught with ufeful in- 

 formation, is given us •, and we have a table of the circumference 

 of various kinds of trees, between 50 and 60 years old. 



On the fubjecl of Walles, wliich forms the Eleventh Chapter, we 

 are happy to find, that the only part of the county, which can in 

 any degree be referred to the above title, is contained in the 

 mountains of Mourne and Upper Iveagh ^ and even thefe afford, 

 in moft places, fupport to a hardy race of cattle and flieep j and 

 that the turf bogs, in the vallies between the mountams, by open- 

 ing of new roads, are like to become of great value, being worth 

 four guineas an acre for the pur pole of fuel. We hope that 

 coals will be found in this county, or, even if imported, will be 

 fubftituted in place of thefe diitant turf bogs ; and that the good 

 women, who diflike the fmut of the coals, will lay afide their 

 prejudices, and allow their hnfbands to improve their lands, in- 

 flead of carrying turf from a great diftance. 



The Twelfth Chapter, entitled Improocmctits, treats of Draining, 

 of Paring and Burning, pf Manuring, of Weedmg, of Irriga- 

 tion, 



Unrfcr- 



