1846.] Irish Agriculture. 197 



north of Ireland, incomparably first, probably, stands William 

 Blaker, Esq., the " agriculturist " (so called) of the Gosford and 

 some other estates. This gentleman, without claiming to have 

 been the originator of each detail of the system of husbandry 

 advocated by him, probably deserves the credit of uniting the 

 the several parts — practices drawn from various local systems — 

 into one homogeneous whole, adapted to the exigencies of the 

 section of country which his labors are designed to benefit. And 

 here let it be remarked, in passing, that the skill of the adapter is 

 scarcely second to that of the discoverer or inventor. The same 

 system, it is but a truism to say, will not work equally well under 

 all circumstances. To skilfully seize upon and connect, from the 

 great store-house of mind, or of physics, the precise materials 

 adapted to our own wants, is the wisdom of the wise man — the 

 talent of the able one. 



An occasional correspondence with Mr. Blaker for several 

 years, has kept me in some measure advised of the results of his 

 labors. These are shown in the proceedings of the annual Mar- 

 ket Hill agricultural meeting. But before proceeding to discuss 

 the relative merits of the new and old husbandry, let us glance at 

 the organization of this agricultural association, and some of its 

 methods of doing business. Hints, not without value to tis, may, 

 peradventure, be gleaned from them. 



I presume from all that has met my eye, that there is no initia- 

 tion fee to the association — its limits being entirely territorial 

 ones — the Earl of Gosford and (to a less extent) another land- 

 holder, a brother of Mr. Blaker's, paying all the premiums. These 

 are mainly of a character which makes the bounty to a great extent 

 an honorary one, such as splendid clocks, silver cups, &c. It 

 would be the easiest thing in the word to cant a little on this sub- 

 ject by saying that money would be more useful to the tenant. 

 The greatest permanent benefit the tenants derive from the system 

 of rewards, would be to make him a good farmer. This would 

 not only relieve the present wants, but, with the ordinary bless- 

 ings of Providence, would guard against the future one. If a 

 showy testimonial of his victory, like an elegant clock, or a piece 



