110 MALLOW TO COEK. 



towards Mallow, becoming more wooded also, and pic- 

 turesque. Some of it is under good management, some 

 very bad, and much of it would be greatly improved 

 by drainage. Limestone is abundant. This valley 

 continues to Youghal, where the Black water falls into 

 the sea. The soil seemed a fine free alluvial loam. 



For some miles we skirted the banks of an unfinished 

 canal, which had been commenced many years ago, but 

 never completed. Coming from Killarney I passed 

 the new line of railway which is formed, and consider- 

 ably advanced towards completion, for about ten miles 

 from that town. The genius of the country seems to 

 lead the people to jump too rapidly to conclusions, 

 commencing undertakings without sufficiently counting 

 the cost. The canal is superseded by the railway, 

 which will no doubt be completed in a few years ; for, 

 independent of the tourist traffic to Killarney, it will 

 open up a rich and extensive tract of country, extending 

 to Tralee. But it appears most inconsiderate to have 

 begun the railway at Killarney, instead of continuing it 

 by degrees from the point of junction with the main 

 line. Beginning at the wrong end, the whole work 

 must of course be isolated till completed ; whereas, if it 

 had been begun from the main line, the distance would 

 have been gradually shortening, and the capital expended 

 would sooner come into play. 



From Mallow to Cork by railway the country is a 

 succession of eminences, not of a very promising charac- 

 ter, but capable of much improvement by drainage and 

 good farming. 



At Cork I was fortunate in meeting with Mr 



