88 . REPORT—1843. 
One hundred and thirteen of the working classes hold land varying from a quarter 
of an acre to seven acres, at an average yearly rent of 3/. per acre, exclusive of poor 
rate and county rate; the former of which may be averaged at ls. 10d. and the 
latter at 5s. 10d. per acre annually. ‘Those holding under Jeases are also subject to 
the payment of tithe, which averages 2s. per acre, but this is not now very strictly 
enforced from the small holder in this parish, the landlord being at present respon- 
sible to the minister. 
The soil is generally excellent, and capable of bearing the finest wheat crops; the 
course of tillage pursued by the working farmer is potatoes and wheat alternately ; 
the former being manured, but so indifferently, and the general preparation of the 
land being so imperfectly performed, that the potatoe crop seldom yields more than 
seven tons, or the wheat crop more than six barrels of twenty stone, or three and a 
half English quarters to the acre, being not more than two-thirds of the produce of 
the same description of land under a proper system of tillage. Great ignorance, or 
an indolent adherence to old habits, is exhibited in the application of the manure, 
which is often left for days exposed in small heaps to the action of the atmosphere, 
and consequently to the loss of its most fertilizing properties by evaporation. Many 
of the labouring classes hire small portions of manured land from the gentry for the 
purpose of speculating in early potatoes, which, if productive, and at the ordinary ave- 
rage price, yield them a fair profit. Such portions of land, varying from } to 3 acres, 
let at the rate of 10/. to 12/. per acre, which, although apparently high, often yield 
a profit of 6/. to 8/. per acre. But of late years the produce of potatoe ground has been 
very uncertain, and when the crop fails, either the poor tenant becomes a severe loser, 
or fails to make good his agreement with the proprietor: generally the emergency is 
met by abatements on the part of the landlord. 
The number of men and boys able to work, and dependent upon work for subsist- 
ence, is 653; of these 370 are employed, and 283 unemployed. A great portion of 
the latter subsist on the earnings of some member of the family who is employed ; 
others support themselves in a temporary manner by pledging or selling part of their 
effects, and others on the alms of the benevolent. The workhouse is the last resource, 
and although at the present moment 283 males, and 308 females, or more than one- 
fourth of the working population, are without the means of earning their livelihood, 
only three persons belonging to the parish are in the Cork Union Workhouse. 
Wages.—Tradesmen’s wages average 20s. per week. Labouring men receive 
5s.10d.; women 8s., and children 2s.; but many able-bodied men work for 5s. per week. 
For particular kinds of labour, such as quarrying, the wages are 7s. per week, and 
lime-burners receive 10s., in consideration of being employed by night. From the 
superabundance of labour, wages do not, as formerly, rise in time of harvest, and 
ood reapers can be had at the present moment at the ordinary average of 1s. per day. 
Food, Clothing, &c.—The food of the poorest labourer consists of potatoes and 
milk, or potatoes and salt fish, the cost of which is about 93d. per head per week, or 
4s. 8d. per week for a family of six. A considerable number, however, namely, 1900, 
or more than five-sixths of the whole working population, use bread and meat occa- 
sionally : 1200, or more than one-half, once a week; and 700 twice a week. The 
average cost of food of the whole is 1s. 7d. per head per week, or 9s. 6d. per week for 
a family of six persons. The precarious condition of the fishermen is much to be 
deplored. According to a late act of parliament, they are prevented from fishing 
nearly one-half the year, and are often unsuccessful at other periods; they can con- 
sequently seldom put by anything to meet emergencies, and only three Blackrock 
fishermen have deposits (averaging 7/. each) in the Savings’ Bank, 
The cost of clothing annually is 18s. per head for a family of six; of coal 9d. per 
week for the same number; 1200 men and 800 women, or nearly nine-tenths of the 
working population, wear shoes and stockings ; 320 have one or more pigs ; 290 out of 
the 413 inhabited houses have pigsties; 230 only are furnished with privies, and the 
want of sewers, drains, water-shoots, and appropriate means for carrying away dirt 
and drainage from the houses of the labouring poor, are great impediments to their 
cleanliness. One of their greatest wants is that of wholesome water, as well for 
drinking as domestic purposes. There are only two public pumps, and these of hard 
water, about a mile apart, in the parish, but the water in one of them is so indifferent 
in quality as at times to be scarcely available for any domestic purpose, and the poor 
of this part of the parish are frequently obliged to provide themselves from a spring on 
