44 MR BODKIN'S FARMS. 



proceeded to Armagh, eleveD miles to the north-east, 

 and about five from Tuam, passing through a bare 

 stony country, uninteresting to the general traveller, 

 though far from valueless in an agricultural point of 

 view. At Annagh I met Mr Hunter, drainage inspec- 

 tor for Galway, who kindly accompanied me during the 

 rest of my tour in that county. 



Mr Bodkin, of Annagh, drove us to Cloonmore, a 

 farm of his within two miles of Tuam, which we ex- 

 amined. It comprises 380 Irish acres, (615 English,) 

 all in grass. About the half of these are alluvial land, 

 which has never been ploughed, having been hitherto a 

 " Turlough " always covered with water in winter, but 

 now, by means of the arterial drainage, laid completely 

 dry. The rest of the farm is about one-half old graz- 

 ing land, of prime quality, and the other half, dry land 

 of fair quality. The stock kept on the farm last sea- 

 son, according to the statement of the shepherd, was 

 200 cattle, 2 and 3 year-olds, and 600 sheep, 2 and 

 3 year-olds, during the summer ; 300 to 400 sheep, 

 but no cattle, during the winter. The proprietor will 

 give a thirty-one years' lease, but the tenant must build 

 such houses as he requires. At present there is a 

 herd's-house and the shell of a cottage, which, with a 

 moderate outlay, might be made into a good cottage 

 residence. This is an excellent farm, almost all in 

 good condition, and more than half of it as fresh and 

 unexhausted as an American prairie. A good tenant 

 will not be hampered with troublesome conditions in 

 his lease. It is within about fourteen miles of the 

 railway to Dublin. The present rent paid is £315, the 



