M‘Sweeny, on the Climate of Ireland. 227 
Sir John Davis in his time, stated as follows :—‘* During the time of my service in 
Ireland, I have visited all the provinces of that kingdom, in sundry journies and cir- 
- cuits, wherein I have observed the good temperature of the air, and the fruitfulness of 
the soil.” 
We find its character at different periods to agree with its character of the present 
day, if we except the title of ‘glacialis Ierne,’ given in poetic description ; to this it 
has been shown, it never could have just claims. 
Cambrensis says—“ Pascuis tamen quam frugibus, gramine quam grano foecundior 
est insula.” 
Wakefield observes, that in the south of Ireland, the value of the mountains of 
Tipperary, Cork, and Kerry, was frequently mentioned to him, as the climate allowed 
them to be grazed throughout the whole year ; a statement which agrees with the fol- 
lowing—* sicut aestivo, sic hiemali tempore, herbosa virescunt pascua, unde nec ad 
pabula feena secari nec armentis unquam stabula parari solent, aeris amoenitate tempe- 
rieque, tempora fere cuncta tepescunt.” 
The woods have been cut down since the time of Cambrensis, with the exception 
of the woods ; this description of the country may be received as applicable at the 
present day. 
* Hibernia quidem terra inaequalis est, mollis, et aquosa, sylvestris, et paludosa.” 
The names of the letters in the Irish alphabet, show that a vegetation familiar to 
the present generation, was known to the inhabitants of the island, at a distant period. 
» Ledwich, on the authority of Lombard, says :—‘ About 1632, artichokes, colly- 
flowers, pompions, and hops, seem to have been first introduced and grew very well.” 
These vegetables growing in Ireland at that time, do not prove any change of cli- 
mate, if they had been introduced at an earlier period, there is little doubt but that 
they would have succeeded as well. The same reasoning holds good for the tobacco, 
cultivated at present to such an extent in the county of Wexford. 
In the Preface to the Translation of Dandolo, on the silk-worm, the writer states, 
that ‘‘ during the last century, some French refugees in the south of Ireland, made 
considerable plantations of the mulberry, and had begun the cultivation of silk with 
every appearance of success; but since their removal, the trees have been cut down.” 
An attempt has been made of late years in the south of Ireland, to produce silk on 
the estate of the Earl of Kingston. 
The following queries were transmitted to a person in the neighbourhood. 
Have the mulberry plants thriven or died ? 
Have the silk worms died ; the cause ? 
Are any attempts continued to rear plants or worms ? 
| To which the following was received :—‘ The plants did not thrive, the silk worms 
. died, the climate did not appear congenial. No attempts are now made, the ground 
has been let to tenants. Lord Kingston went to much expense, in this attempt to es- 
| VOL. XVII. 3c 
