TWENTY-FIVE YEARS' WORK. 9 



against the universal opinion of everybody about 

 him, Still it had to be done. It was partly 

 smoothed over by the idea that at the worst it would 

 answer to improve somewhat the very poorest of the 

 land, and perhaps in a year or two times would 

 mend, and it might be relet at the former rent. 

 During the famine years a good deal of draining 

 and reclamation of waste land had been carried on, 

 for the sake of giving employment. It was intended 

 that the tenants should pay the interest on this, but 

 they were generally unable or unwilling to do so. 

 So a good deal of this sort of land had also to be 

 held. 



.Thus another new system was started. The 

 buildings of the former model farm of 5 acres were 

 enlarged, and partially adapted for 500 acres now in 

 hand ; and it was resolved to try sheep largely, as 

 not requiring outlay for buildings. The land was 

 greatly scattered, just as it happened to be given up 

 by the tenants. Some of it was three miles from 

 the buildings, but it was well placed for roads. It 

 has since been constantly changing to some extent, 

 parts being let to adjoining tenants when it could be 

 done to advantage, and other farms of tenants who 

 failed added instead. One advantage there was. 

 Much tillage was clearly unsuitable both to the soil 

 and climate. The rainfall and constantly mild 

 moist atmosphere, so unsuited to corn, were the very 

 conditions needed for grass. There was no trouble 



