104 ROSNALEE — KANTURK UNION. 



is of better quality, and continues so for some miles 

 farther. It is wet and undrained, but would pay well 

 for drainage in the improved quality of the grass for 

 pasture, though not suitable for extensive tillage. It 

 is stocked by the small farmers with dairy cows. 



Approaching Rosnalee, the property of Mr Leader, 

 you enter a coal district, where an anthracite coal is 

 worked, which is used principally for burning lime. The 

 fields are laid out in large divisions, neatly fenced with 

 thorn hedges, and interspersed with plantations. Here 

 the farming is under the management of Scotch stew- 

 ards. The turnip crops are excellent. Mr Leader 

 keeps a large dairy, comprising 70 Ayrshire cows. The 

 milk is made into butter for the London market. 



The management of this farm appeared careful and 

 judicious. There are excellent green crops and ample 

 house accommodation; but, being situated in the pau- 

 perised union of Kanturk, the whole profits are con- 

 sumed by the claims of poverty. Last year the net 

 returns of the farm for rent were 24s. 6d. an acre ; the 

 rates and taxes on it 25s. an acre ! 



Walking through the fields I came to the estate 

 of a neighbouring non-resident proprietor, who had 

 let his lands to a middleman, and he again had 

 parcelled them out to cottiers. The whole land 

 was swarming with miserable huts, in some of which 

 as many as three families were congregated. They 

 had no crops or stock of any kind ; the land was 

 waste, and the people must perforce live by plundering 

 their richer neighbours. Now, this estate and its 

 paupers must be supported by the industry of the well- 



