2 A LIFE'S WORK IN IRELAND. 



formed, What degree of truth there is in either or 

 both of them ? 



The estate is in the South of Ireland. It origin- 

 ally consisted of about 2000 acres, but has gradu- 

 ally been increased by purchase to near 4000. It 

 had been left wholly to agents, and thoroughly 

 neglected. One hasty visit in two generations of 

 owners was all the personal care known to have 

 been given to it. It need hardly be said no money 

 had been laid out on it. From accidental causes 

 the farms were less subdivided than on many 

 estates. They averaged about 25 acres. Some 

 contained 50 acres or more, and many were from 

 10 to 15 acres. 



It is on the Carboniferous slate formation. The 

 surface is undulating, with somewhat rounded hills, 

 300 or 400 feet high. The soil on 'the hills is 

 generally rather thin, i.e. the rock not far from the 

 surface and often breaking out, but in quality a fair 

 turnip loam. The bottoms, and sometimes sides of 

 the hills were wet with springs, and peaty, often cut- 

 out peat-bog, but occasionally deep good land. On 

 the whole it is land of fair quality, but Very little 

 could be called thoroughly good land. The climate 

 is one of the wettest in Europe, cool in summer 

 and mild in winter. 



The course of treatment (farming it can hardly 

 be called) pursued formerly was paring and burning 

 for potatoes, with such manure as there was applied 



