CH. V.] CONSOLIDATION OF FARMS. 79 



tion. The long duration of leases has not permitted the 

 ejection of the farming tenants. The improved rotation of 

 crops has been tried by a number of landlords and 

 farmers, although the want of capital sometimes impedes 

 the advantage otherwise derivable from the system. 



Whenever small farms have been consolidated into large 

 ones, they have been converted into grazing farms. 



The poverty of those who cultivate farms of less than an 

 acre is beyond conception, and whenever any of them have 

 been ejected, they have emigrated, others have begged, or 

 others, assisted by the neighbouring villages, have taken 

 forcible possession of small plots of the commons in their 

 neighbourhood, in despite of their landlords. 



These wretched people have endured every kind of pri- 

 vation, and misery has brought on disease. It is a dreadful 

 cruelty to eject these people, without giving them the means 

 of going to America, or providing them with some re- 

 source. 



The rent charged for small farms is from ten to fifteen 

 per cent, higher than that charged for the large ones, be- 

 cause the competition is greater ; and if a man possesses 

 some money, he hires his farm cheaper, as the landlord is 

 more sure of receiving his rent punctually. 



In the barony of Philipstown the size of farms has been 

 decreasing ; and in those cases in which consolidation has 

 taken place, the land is converted into grazing-land ; for 

 the soil is so exhausted that corn cannot be grown upon 

 it, and the small farmers moreover can neither work it 

 themselves nor pay for labour. The landlords care little 

 for consolidating their estates, because they cannot let 

 large farms at the same price as small ones. 



