KILTANON — COMPLAINTS OF FAEMEBS. 65 



mangold, and cabbages. The swedes, indeed, were 

 over-luxuriant, many of them having rotted. This 

 may, perhaps, be attributed to over-manuring, causing a 

 too rapid development of the plant in a bog soil, which 

 had not been previously rendered sound by a sufficient 

 admixture of sand or gravel. In the afternoon I accom- 

 panied two extensive north-country farmers over a 

 different part of the estate, where were excellent crops 

 of turnips, and large fields of well laid-out and well- 

 sheltered pastures. These gentlemen have been farming 

 extensively in this part of the country for some years 

 back. They complained much of bad times, high 

 rents and rates, and the difficulty of getting landlords 

 to reduce rents, in any case where the tenant was 

 solvent. They suffered much also from the thievish 

 and indolent habits of the people, the sums paid by them 

 for watching their crops and sheep stock amounting to a 

 considerable tax on the produce. They also complained 

 of the wasteful management of the elected poor-law 

 guardians, who were often partners in the contracts for 

 supplying the workhouses. They spoke highly, however, 

 of the natural fertility of the soil, and the prospects of 

 tenants of capital coming to the country and locating 

 themselves judiciously. For such, they think, there is at 

 present an excellent opening, as landlords are prepared 

 to submit to lower rents, and definite arrangements 

 could be made with them as to a limitation of poor- 

 rates and grand-jury cess. 



The fears entertained by the more intelligent class of 

 farmers as to the injury they are likely to suffer from 

 the progressive increase of rates, are illustrated by the 



