THEIR DUTIES. 167 



pense, one agricultural instructor, qualified to teach the 

 small farmers practically, was sent ; and to twelve 

 districts in the more distressed parts of the country, 

 instructors were sent gratuitously. 



The instructors are directed to devote their time 

 exclusively to the instruction of the working farmers, 

 stimulating them to habits of industry at all times in 

 the year ; showing them the advantage of deep digging, 

 the preparation and collecting of manures, the necessity 

 of house-feeding stock, the advantage of rotation of 

 crops, the benefits attending the cultivation of green 

 crops, and the culture of flax. They are directed, as 

 far as practicable, to superintend personally the several 

 operations on the farms in their districts, from time to 

 time ; and to furnish reports monthly. 



The benefits conferred by this method of practical 

 instruction are said to be very considerable, though 

 much marred, in the most distressed districts, by the 

 poverty and consequent inability of many of the work- 

 ing farmers to carry out the better plans recom- 

 mended. Where the people have not become hope- 

 less, the instructors are more successful ; and the 

 extent to which the people are benefited by this method 

 of imparting information, can be accounted for only 

 when the great ignorance of this class, as to the advan- 

 tages of good cultivation and economy of manure, is 

 understood. The admirable example set by his Excel- 

 lency the Lord Lieutenant should be followed by the 

 proprietors of large estates ; for, if the instructor was 

 seconded by the means which the landlord ought to 

 contribute to enable his poor tenantry to adopt better 



