IRELAND, 1840-1880. 113 



for the tenants and charged them an increased rent 

 of 5 per cent on the outlay. When, however, more 

 than a few acres of a farm needed draining, the 

 tenant usually begged me to take it off his hands, 

 and allow him a reduction of the acreable rent for 

 the number of wet acres taken. This was a gain, of 

 course, to him, but I agreed to it, his real reason for 

 asking it being that he had not horses strong enough 

 to plough rough land, nor skill or courage to turn it 

 to profit. After a time it paid me far better than 

 worn-out upland that did not need draining. 



At the present time buildings and all kinds of 

 other improvements are going on. In fact for over 

 thirty years there has been a steady outlay for im- 

 provements of 700 to 800 per annum. This for 

 more than thirty years amounts to upwards of 

 25,000 laid out on permanent improvements. Of 

 course the early improvements now yield, directly or 

 indirectly, the money required for the annual outlay 

 on more improvements. And so the work goes on. 

 When I began I can remember having thought, that 

 if I had the estate for ten years, with liberty to spend 

 as much of the income as I liked upon it, it would 

 be in good order. I have now been at work for the 

 best part of my life, and I see it will be necessary 

 that my son should work at it, as I have done, for 

 his life too, before the estate will be in the condition 

 it ought to be in. 



It is only by spending capital upon it that land 

 I 



