KANTURK — CON-ACRE. 109 



railway from Cork to Dublin. In this district, and the 

 adjoining tract in the county of Kerry, it is said that 

 there are upwards of 200,000 acres of land, which, I 

 have no doubt, might be converted into valuable farms 

 for grazing sheep or cattle. 



We returned from King Williamstown through New- 

 market, where a whole street is converted into an auxi- 

 liary poor-house. In Kanturk also several houses, 

 tanneries, &c, are in requisition for the same purpose. 

 Extensive improvements are here going on by Sir 

 Edward Tierney, who is enclosing, draining, and culti- 

 vating his estate, and giving a great deal of employment, 

 for which he pays in cash. 



I make this remark, as the con-acre system was 

 hitherto the universal plan of conducting the labour of 

 farms in this part of the country. According to the 

 quality of the land, it was charged to the labourer at 

 from £6 to £8 and £10 an acre per annum, the most 

 worthless heath being let, when limed, at the former 

 sum. The rent was paid by the labourer's work ; and 

 the system was, to let out as much land as paid the 

 whole labour bill of the farm. In every way the neces- 

 sities of the labourer were taken advantage of. The 

 highest rent was charged, and that was paid by the 

 lowest rate of wages. This system of course fell to 

 pieces when the potato failed ; and the farmer, having 

 no capital to pay his labourers in cash, failed also. 



On the 7th of November I left Rosnalee for Cork, 

 proceeding down the valley of the Blackwater as far 

 as the railway station at Mallow. I passed through 

 many miles of fine country in this valley, which improves 



