200 AWAKENING OF ENGLAND. 



their antiquated methods in growing potatoes 

 and cereals, but the agricultural instructor 

 showed them the new methods — methods in 

 which native wit played its part in convincing 

 the Gael. 



Finding that the farmers in County Limerick 

 were using an antiquated form of plough, the 

 instructor went to a well-known blacksmith 

 and showed him how to make a plough suit- 

 able for their land. Then he attended a 

 meeting of farmers and exhorted them thus : 

 "Men of Limerick, many a dark deed has 

 been done by night in poor old Oireland, now 

 I want you to do another dark deed this very 

 night. I want you to collect together all the 

 old ploughs you can lay hold of and throw 

 them into the Shannon." 



When the new plough was made, it is said 

 that the blacksmith grew so enthusiastic over 

 it that he ploughed with it from morning until 

 night, forgetting to go home for his midday 

 meal ! Though 1 will not vouch for the 

 veracity of this part of the story, for it might 

 bring me into trouble with the S.P.C.A., I 

 can say it is true that he could not cope with 

 the orders given to him by the farmers for the 

 newly modelled plough. 



