CH. IV.] SMALL, TENANTRY. 57 



CHAPTER IV. 



OF SMALL, TENANTRY, WHOSE OCCUPATIONS DO NOT 

 EXCEED TEN ACRES. 



THE Commissioners inquired whether there are many offers 

 for small farms when they fall vacant. 



In the barony of Kilconnel a witness replied, that when 

 land is out of lease, if the vacant farm be large, it is adver- 

 tised in the newspapers ; but if small, fifty bidders would 

 instantly be found, all of whom would be ready to pro- 

 mise any rent that should be asked. 



In the barony of Dromahair it was stated, that if a farm 

 of five acres is vacant, all the neighbouring inhabitants 

 outbid one another so eagerly, that the one to whom it is 

 knocked down often does not obtain even potatoes for his 

 own consumption, being obliged to grow oats for the 

 market in order to pay his rent ; and that, to find food 

 for his family, he is obliged to take a plot of land of some 

 neighbouring farmer for a year, to grow potatoes, upon the 

 con-acre system. No amelioration in this class of people 

 can be expected ; for if they gained anything, the landlords 

 would take advantage of the competition to raise the price 

 of the land. 



In the barony of Mohill, as soon as a man has any 

 money, he directly gets possession of a little farm, pur- 

 chasing the lease of some one, even should he ruin himself 

 by it. 



In the barony of Murrisk the competition for small 

 farms is said to be so great, that if a farmer who is in 



