THE IRISH LABOURER. 105 



unbounded desire for small holdings, which at 

 present reigns in every province of Ireland. Any 

 one practically acquainted with the dependence 

 of an Irish labourer at present, will readily excuse 

 his ambition to possess a small farm of land to 

 grow him potatoes. Elevate his condition above 

 this dependence, and you at once annihilate this 

 ambition for such a farm, and make him am- 

 bitious only to excel as an industrious labourer. 

 The effects of innutritions food upon the 

 physical system are obvious. The Irish la- 

 bourer knows nothing else but the almost 

 exclusive diet of potatoes. He has been ac- 

 customed to this species of food from infancy, 

 and it is the only one which is naturally relished 

 by him. There are theorising parties, however, 

 who have themselves been brought up on more 

 substantial food, who appear to think that a 

 " belly-full of potatoes " is sufficient for an Irish 

 labourer ! nay, who in the reduction of their 

 theories to practice even attempt to reduce the 

 daily allowance of them ! Such theories, how- 

 ever, unfortunately for the Sister Isle, cannot be 

 supported by facts ; but, on the contrary, are 

 entirely overthrown by them. We have had 

 such theories preached up to us, Irish la- 



