106 A LIFE'S WORK IN IRELAND. 



such. Their pride has been to go to mass better 

 dressed than the small farmers around. No one can 

 doubt that they have lived more comfortable lives. 

 As to ill-will between us, there never was a bit, but 

 thorough friendship. 



For many years it was very up-hill work. The 

 land was so utterly worn out that it seemed as if no 

 manuring would recover it. At length folding sheep 

 on turnips, for which at first I thought the climate 

 too wet, began to tell. But from not fully under- 

 standing it, we killed the sheep horribly. I have 

 seen five or six sheep hung up by their heels on 

 the hurdles in one morning. So the balance for rent 

 and interest at the year's end was for a long time 

 small. Then it improved, and made a jump. We 

 gradually learnt how to meet the difficulties, till the 

 hope arose that we could make the land pay more in our 

 own hands than if let to tenants. In time the profits 

 took to making a jump every third or fourth year, 

 and passed the old rent, and so went on till there 

 was a clear net balance of profit for rent and interest 

 of over forty shillings per acre, the old rent having 

 averaged a good deal under twenty shillings per acre. 

 And as the quantity of land in hand had now in- 

 creased to near 1000 acres, I need not point out that 

 such a profit as 1000 a year above the former rent 

 was comfortable. The balance-sheets since 1845 can 

 all be produced. At least it is certain from them 

 that I have not cheated myself. The accounts are 



