IRELAND, 1840-1880. 105 



labourers will soon have all the land to themselves." 

 That was the universal feeling. Many hundred acres, 

 the land of those who gave up, were thrown on my 

 hands. I tried to let at the old rents to those who 

 remained, but such was the state of prostration among 

 all that no one was willing to close. The rents were 

 low before, and I was unwilling to make a greater 

 sacrifice, so I had to undertake it myself. At first I 

 meant to hold it only till I could let it fairly. In 

 Norfolk, where most of my knowledge of farming was 

 gained, landlords' farming was thought never to pay. 

 And I knew no instance in Ireland of such farming 

 and land improvement having paid. Sheep, how- 

 ever, did not require buildings, and lambs were luckily 

 very cheap. Useful lambs, fit for any farmer, were 

 bought for five shillings each in July. Four hundred 

 lambs for 100 was not a serious pull on capital ; 

 they were equal to such as would now cost twenty- 

 five shillings each. Weaned calves in autumn cost 

 twenty-five shillings to thirty shillings each. 



Draining and improvements went on, for though 

 many tenants were gone, many labourers remained 

 and needed work. There was much wet land on the 

 farms given up. Any tenant who failed was offered 

 work on the improvements. Often they were allowed 

 to stay in their former houses as labourers till I could 

 build better ones. Some of the most trustworthy 

 labourers I have had were these broken tenants. I 

 have them still, after thirty-five years, and sons of 



