OF THE COUNTY OF DOWN. 41 



land feems to have taken too deep root in the fyflern, 

 to be either eafily or fpeedily altered. The further 

 fubdivifion of land may be prevented; claufes may be 

 inferted in leafes, to prevent the alienation of land in 

 fmaller portions ; but it will be impoffible, I fear, to 

 bring together the disjointed parcels, fo as to form, in 

 their flead, farms, on which a regular and profefTed huf- 

 bandman can exifl. The moft profitable fize of farms 

 has never yet been afcertained, but to common fenfe 

 it mufl be very plain, that no farm can be profitably 

 occupied, that will not give conftant employment to a 

 certain number of men, and a certain number of cattle ; 

 for every hour, that either the one or the other is with- 

 out an objecl: tending to the general end, is a certain 

 lofs. No farm, to fpeak of farming as a profeffion, 

 fliould contain fewer acres, than would give conftant 

 employment to two horfes or oxen, becaufe every day 

 they are idle is a charge againft the profit; but in this 

 country, could things be brought to that fituation, that 

 two farms, taken together, fhould employ two draft 

 beafts, all work, that requires two, being performed by 

 a mutual lending of cattle (provincially neighbouring), 

 a vtry great point would be gained, as much, I think, 

 as can be expected ; and even to advance fo far muft 

 be the work of time, not to be accompanied with cir-i 

 cumftances of hardmip to the prefent tenants or their 

 heirs. But, whilft thefe obfervations offer themfelves, 

 from the recent impreffions of the ruin and emigration 



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