i84 



thin covering of mold, have the mod beautiful verdure ; {heep-walks 

 feem to be pointed out by nature, as the proper deflination for a great 

 portion of the foil of this ifland. 



The abundance of excellent limeflone, that is found in moft parts 

 of Irelmid is not only eminently fertile, but affords with a confiderablc 

 inequality of furface, a great variety of foil, fo as to be capable of 

 furnilhing a correfpondent variety of natural produftions ; the greateft 

 part of the furface of Ireland is adapted to every operation of tillage, 

 yet particular parts are applicable, with fuperior advantage, to particu- 

 lar deflinations. 



There are vaft trafts of rocky and mountainous ground, thefe are 

 befl; adapted for rearing and breeding numbers of black cattle ; which are 

 cxpeditioufly fattened, in the rich and moifl: plams below ; and furniflx 

 a number of articles for export, which are of great value, and in con^ 

 ftant demand ; and the mountains and plains, which in concurrence 

 breed fat cattle, that yield all thefe, could not be tilled, with equal 

 advantage, by the hulbandman. Where the foil is both thin and light, 

 on the extenfive downs, numerous flocks of fiieep may be raifed and 

 maintained, and the flieep of Ireland afford wool of a peculiar good 

 quality. This country yields an abundance of excellent grain of every 

 kind. The hop plant feems to be indigenous, and grows wild in all 

 our hedges, and may be cultivated here, with the greateft fuccefs ; fo 

 might liquorice, faffron, madder, woad. Rape is aftually extenfively cul- 

 tivated in Ireland, and returns a large profit to the farmer. It is known 

 that the tobacco plant might be fuccefsfuily cultivated in this country. 

 As to flax, which is a plant that requires a rich loam, the fuccefs 

 with which it is cultivated, in every part of Ireland, fliows how well 

 the foil, whofe prevailing charafteriftic is luxuriant fertility, is calcu- 

 lated for its produftion. A fimilar foil rendered Egypt fo famous, of 

 old, for her fine linens. 



The deep and boggy trafts of country, which occur fo frequently in 

 this ifland, are chiefly allotted to the produftion of rape, but would 

 produce inexhauftible (lores of excellent hemp, a plant which requires 



a deep 



