Advancement of Agricultural Science. 379 



ground, which is situated on the chalk itself, is dry, and eminently 

 salubrious. But as no wells could be obtained on the latter with- 

 out great expense in boring, the cottages were all built on the low 

 ground, for the convenience of water. Mrs. Gilbert, however, 

 has obviated this necessity, by constructing water-tanks in the 

 chalk itself, rendered impermeable by plastering the sides with 

 mortar made of the grey lime, the lowest stratum of chalk that 

 occurs near the spot ; so that these serve as recipients for the rain 

 which falls upon the roofs of the buildings. The amount of this 

 is found considerable enough to furnish a supply of wholesome 

 water sufficient for a family throughout the year ; and, in conse- 

 quence, has enabled her to remove the cottages of many of her 

 peasantry to the slopes of the hills above, where they breathe a 

 better atmosphere, and at the same time reside contiguous to 

 their respective farms. 



In one of her letters to me, Mrs. Gilbert states that she has, in 

 the course of the summer, constructed six water-tanks, generally 

 12 feet deep and 8 feet in diameter; rendered water-tight with 

 the grey lime, as it is called, found in the neighbourhood. 



I may add, that the water from one of these, which I tasted in 

 the month of September, though not so brisk and sparkling as 

 well-water, was clear^ and not unpalatable. 



I will allude to one other plan adopted by Mrs. Gilbert, though 

 aware that it will be considered by many of those who hear me 

 rather as an expedient calculated to meet a temporary evil, than 

 as a proceeding worthy of imitation under circumstances in gene- 

 ral. During the period of agricultural depression which pre- 

 vailed in 1831, this lady, at the suggestion of the present Arch- 

 bishop of Dublin, found employment for her labourers, by causing 

 them to transport four inches of soil from the surface of a rich 

 alluvial clay land adjoining, to a bed of barren shingle lying near 

 the sea- coast, which, from the nature of its composition, was 

 absolutely unproductive — an equal quantity of the shingle being 

 at the same time transferred to the marsh : and the whole labour 

 was performed either on men's backs or in hand-carts drawn by 

 men After this was completed, the shingle let for 406". per acre, 

 and the rent upon it has been paid for five or six years past. 



Many, however, may be disposed to think that the expense of 

 this preliminary labour would, in the majority of cases, swallow 

 up all the profits ; and although it is stated that the land from 

 whence the alluvial soil was extracted continues to pay the same 

 rent as before, yet it may be anticipated that a time will come, 

 when the loss it has sustained will require to be replaced by the 

 addition of manure or by other expedients, and thus that the 

 vulgar proverb of robbing Peter to pay Paul may be applicable 

 to this part of her system. 



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