THE IRISH LABOURER. 113 



hcuJed by those who are practically acquainted 

 with labour and can handle both the English 

 and Irish spade and shovel. Such an one, 

 although but slightly versed in mechanical 

 science, will readily perceive from the Irish- 

 man's method of working his long-handled 

 implements over his knee, that with half the 

 power applied in equal times, he performs a 

 given quantity of work in twice the time ; or 

 he performs in two days, what he ought to do 

 in one with actually less muscular waste of 

 the body. Hence, the excessive hurry and the 

 bustling evolutions of the workmen the moment 

 they are put upon taskwork and begin to 

 exert themselves in order to advance their 

 wages; and hence also the deception passed 

 on observers ignorant of the cause of this ex- 

 cessive activity. 



To illustrate this by an instance : In 1843 

 we drained and trenched some sixteen to twenty 

 acres for green crop. The work was done by 

 the task. The workmen wrought furiously as 

 if determined to triple their wages. Their 

 activity was admired by the generality of on- 

 lookers, but differently appreciated by different 

 individuals; while we were striving as fast 

 I 



