Book I. AGRICULTURE IN THE BRITISH ISLES. 133 



of the rebels would in part be divided among the troops. This might end in introducing 

 some agricultural improvements ; but there is no evidence that such was effected before 

 the time of Elizabeth, when the enormous demesnes of the Earl of Desmond were for- 

 feited, and divided amongst a number of English undertakers, as they were called, who 

 entered into a stipulation to plant a certain number of English families on their estates, 

 in proportion to the number of acres. Among others who received portions were, Sir 

 Walter Raleigh, and Spenser, the poet. The former is said to have then introduced the 

 potatoe. 



797. The reign of James I. was one of comparative tranquillity for Ireland : the power 

 of the judges, and of the English government, was extensively fixed ; the Irish laws and 

 customs were abolished, and the English laws were established in all cases without ex- 

 ception, through the whole island. Numerous colonies were also sent from England 

 and Scotland, especially the latter, to occupy the forfeited estates ; and seven northern 

 counties were wholly allotted to undertakers. This was called the "plantation of 

 Ulster," and was attended by the introduction of an ixnproved agriculture, and by the 

 linen manufacture, which is still carried on by the descendants of the first colonists in the 

 same counties. 



798. The city of London participated in this distribution of land, the corporation 

 having accepted of large grants in the county of Derry. They engaged to expend 

 20,000/. on the plantation ; to build the cities of Derry and Colerain, and at the same 

 time stipulated for such privileges as might make their settlement convenient and re- 

 spectable. Under a pretence of protecting this infant settlement, or perhaps with a 

 view of raising money, the king instituted the order of Irish baronets, or knights of 

 Ulster ; from each of whom, as was done in Scotland with respect to the knights of Nova 

 Scotia, he exacted a certain sum, as the price of the dignity conferred. (Wakefield.) 



799. Of the husbandry of Londonderry, a curious account was published about a 

 century ago, by the archbishop of Dublin. He states that there was little wheat grown, 

 and that of very inferior quality ; the soil being considered as unsuitable to its production. 

 Potatoes remained three or four years in the ground, reproducing a crop, which at the 

 best was a very deficient one. Lime was procured by burning sea shells. The ap- 

 plication of them in an unburnt state arose from accident. A poor curate, destitute of 

 the means for burning the sea shells v/hich he had collected, more with a view to remove 

 an evidence of his poverty, than in any hope of benefit, spread them on his ground. 

 The success which attended the experiment occasioned surprise, and ensured a rapid and 

 general adoption of the practice. ( Wakefield. ) The improvements made since the period 

 of which the Archbishop treats, Curwen remarks, are undoubtedly very considerable : and 

 whilst we smile at the very subordinate state of agriculture at that time, may we not on 

 reasonable ground expect that equal progress will at least be made in this century as in 

 the last? (Letters on Ireland, vol. ii. p. 246.) 



800. A considerable impulse was given to the agriculture of Ireland after the rebellion of 

 1641, which was quelled by Cromwell, as commander of the parliamentary army in 

 1652. Most of the officers of this army were yeomen, or the sons of English country 

 gentlemen ; and they took pleasure in instructing the natives in the agricultural practices 

 to which they were accustomed at home. Afterwards, when Cromwell assumed the 

 protectorship, he made numerous grants to his soldiers, many of whom settled in Ire- 

 land ; and their descendants have become men of consideration in the country. Happily 

 these grants were confirmed at the restoration. Some account of the state of culture in 

 that country at this time, and of the improvements which it was deemed desirable to in- 

 troduce, will be found in Blythe's Improver Improved. Blythe was a colonel in the 

 parliamentary army. 



801. The establishment of the Dublin Society in 1749, gave the next stimulus to agri- 

 culture and general industry in Ireland. The origin of the Dublin Society may be dated 

 from 1731, when a number of gentlemen, at the head of whom was Prior of Rath- 

 downey. Queen's county, associated themselves together for the purpose of improving 

 the agriculture and husbandry of their country. In 1749, Prior, through the in- 

 terest of the then lord lieutenant, procured a grant of 10,OOOZ. per annum, for the 

 better promotion of its views. Miss Plumtree considers this the first association ever 

 formed in the British dominions expressly for such purposes ; but the Edinburgh Agri- 

 cultural Society, as we have seen (775.), was founded in 1723. 



802. Arthur Young's. Tour in Ireland was published in 1780, and probably did more 

 good than even the Dublin Society. In this work he pointed out the folly of the bounty 

 on the inland carriage of corn. His recommendation on this subject was adopted; and 

 according to Wakefield, "from that hour may be dated the commencement of ex- 

 tended tillage in Ireland," ( Wakefield's Statistical Account,, and Curwen s Letters.) 



803- The present state of the agriculture of Ireland is given with great clearness and 

 ability in the supplement to the Encyclopedia Britannica ; and from that source we have 

 selected the following condensed account ; 



K3 



