CHAPTER VII. 



castleton — rates deserted land auxiliary poor-house school 



one mode of becoming a farmer mr cox's farm sir d. 



roche's farm, its advantages — caherass — adare manor — rath- 



keale — newcastle lord devon's estates advantage of a 



resident agent who understands his business beneficial 



arrangement with tenants, and satisfactory result — spring- 

 field castle — instance of fertility charleville castle 



oliver —description of country kilmallock to limerick 



CRATLOE. 



On the morning of 29th October, Mr Monsell, Mr 

 Horsman, Mr Barry, and I, started early for along 

 drive through the country, proceeding to Castletown, 

 within a mile or two of the southern boundary of the 

 county. In this union, out of an area of 4900 acres, 

 2500 are " waste," neither producing anything nor 

 paying any poor-rate. The rates and county cess 

 amount to 21s. 6d. per pound, and another rate will be 

 required before the end of the year. This was not 

 mountain land nor bog, but an extensive open plain of 

 good sound land, deserted by the landlord, the tenants 

 having fled to escape the ruin of indefinite rates, and the 

 labourers being driven to the workhouse to avoid starva- 

 tion. Here the process of changing owners was going 

 rapidly on, inasmuch as one mansion-house is already oc- 

 cupied as an auxiliary poor-house by 340 pauper women. 



