28 TIREY. AGRICULTURE. 



both these great steps, as well as of many parts of the 

 ancient practices, have been introduced, so as to pro- 

 duce in effect changes of great importance. The reader 

 will easily trace in the following details that which 

 has been done, and that which is yet wanting to bring 

 the more antiquated districts to a level with those 

 which have already adopted the improvements of their 

 more enlightened neighbours. The first step in innovation 

 is the most difficult. 



The stranger who for the first time visits this country, 

 sees with surprise scanty crops of corn distributed in 

 detached beds of earth which have been collected for 

 its cultivation ; or so disposed among a labyrinth of 

 rocks that scarcely an uninterrupted space of half a 

 rood, often of only a few square yards, is to be seen 

 together; while the shortness of the straw and the 

 thinness of the ear, mark the struggles which even this 

 miserable crop has made for existence. He again sees 

 this crop exposed to the storms of August, or drenched 

 in the rains, perhaps for weeks after it has been cut 

 down, and probably laments that human industry should 

 be so far mis-directed ; while, like many even of the 

 natives themselves, he will condemn any further attempts 

 to increase or improve this department of rural economy. 

 The prevalence of this opinion among the natives has 

 been one leading cause of the very evil thus lamented ; 

 since by tying them down to the ill-conducted practices 

 of their ancestors, it has prevented those improvements 

 in the agricultural department of farming which more 

 experienced observers and more enterprising cultivators 

 have shown to be possible. It will indeed be soon 

 perceived by any observer who will bestow attention on 

 the subject, and abstract the effect of first impressions, 

 that the efforts of art are in this country rarely directed 

 to counteract the injuries or supply the deficiencies of 

 nature; that it too often co-operates with them, and 

 that, under a system adapted to the wants and pecu- 



