182 EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE. 



quainted with scientific and practical agriculture in all its 

 branches, and be able to teach it ; the government being deter 

 mined that it shall form an indispensable part of the school 

 instruction throughout the island. The great objects, then, of 

 the establishment, are to qualify these young men for teachers by 

 a thorough and practical education in the science, so far as it has 

 reached that character, and in the most improved methods and 

 operations of agriculture. Besides this, it is intended to furnish 

 an opportunity to the sons of men of wealth, who may be placed 

 here as pupils, to acquire a practical knowledge of, and a familiar 

 insight into, all the details of farming. This must prove of the 

 highest importance to them in the management of their own 

 estates. 



The superintendent was pleased to show me his accounts in 

 detail, which evinced, as far as I could ascertain, a successful and 

 profitable management ; but as there were several material 

 elements to be taken into the calculation, I shall not speak with 

 any confidence on this subject, without further information, 

 which cannot now be had, but which I shall take pains to give 

 in the fullest manner hereafter. 



As the crops were uncommonly fine, and the whole cultivation 

 and management, as far as it appeared, excellent, I shall detail 

 some few particulars in a cursory manner. 



The first object was to illustrate the best system of rotation of 

 crops ; and three systems of alternate husbandry were going on ; 

 one of a course of three crops, one of five, and one of nine ; and 

 one especial object pursued in one department of the farm was to 

 show the most eligible course of management of a single acre of 

 land, so as to give an example of the best system of cottage 

 husbandry for the poor man, who might have only a small allot 

 ment of land, and whose object would be to feed a cow and a 

 pig, and to get what supplies he could for his family. Such 

 lessons, it is obvious, must appear of the highest importance in 

 Ireland, when we consider the condition of its peasantry, and 

 cannot be without their advantages to every cultivator of land. 



Another object aimed at is to show that a farm is capable of 

 being kept in condition from its own resources, and from the 

 consumption of the principal part of the produce upon the land. 

 No manure is ever purchased here ; and the manager professed 

 to have an ample supply. Six years trial, with crops of the 



