72 RICH GRASS LAND AT BRUFF. 



obliged, almost entirely at his own expense, to build the 

 farm-steading, and to fence and drain the farm. The 

 advantage of having these preliminary improvements 

 executed by the landlord, is seldom sufficiently appre- 

 ciated by a tenant. 



Proceeding eastward from Croom to Bruff, the coun- 

 try improves, the soil being generally a deep red earth, 

 with loose limestone pebbles through it. For miles 

 around Bruff it is of very superior quality. Rising 

 from the flatter lands are rounded hills of grass, at pre- 

 sent clothed with such verdure as to be mistaken by 

 one at a distance for turnip-fields. It continues the 

 same character, till within four or five miles from 

 Limerick — a beautiful rich country, capable, under good 

 management, of as much productiveness as the best 

 lands in East Lothian. Nearer Limerick the land is 

 not of the same high character, but a very fit subject 

 for remunerative outlay of capital, especially considering 

 its vicinity to a populous citj and the terminus of a 

 railway by which Dublin may be reached in four or 

 five hours. Dung, in any quantity, may be got in 

 Limerick, for Is. per load of 20 to 30 cwt. 



In all this rich tract of country, upwards of forty 

 miles of which I traversed to-day, there is no attempt 

 at anything like high farming. Bone-dust and guano, 

 as auxiliaries to the farmyard manure, are scarcely 

 tried ; and feeding with linseed-cake, beans, or other 

 imported food, quite unknown. The rent and rates of 

 the best land, as now reduced, may be stated at 30s. 

 per English acre ; but there are no sufficient farm 

 buildings in the country, and landlords, generally, have 



