42 ITS ADVANTAGES. 



Excellent stones for building and fencing can be had 

 everywhere ; and, generally, there is not a great outlay 

 needed in thorough draining, on account of the natural 

 dryness of the soil. The farms recommended are 

 chiefly held by the landlords themselves, or by non-resi- 

 dent graziers. The roads everywhere are good, and a 

 happy exemption is enjoyed from that most costly, 

 wasteful, and vexatious system of collecting a revenue — 

 tolls. The people are peaceable and intelligent, and 

 willing to work if properly looked after ; and wages 

 being low, all kinds of manual labour can be executed 

 at a very moderate cost. When the railway from 

 Dublin is opened to Galway, the nearest station from 

 the better parts of Mayo will not be more than from 

 thirty to forty miles distant from a point whence 

 Dublin may be reached in five hours. There is room 

 in this county for hundreds of farmers of skill and 

 capital, to whom nature affords a fair prospect of 

 success. But they must select their location with care 

 and skill, having regard to both soil and climate ; and let 

 them not rashly expend the capital, which they will 

 require for cultivation, in erecting farm buildings, which 

 are solely the landlord's business ; and let them come to 

 a precise and definite understanding with their land- 

 lords, as to a limitation of rates and taxes, until some 

 provision shall be made by law for protecting those who 

 expend their skill and capital in improving and culti- 

 vating the soil, from excessive rates, and above all, from 

 an increase of rates through the higher valuation con- 

 sequent on their improvements. 



