22 A LIFE'S WORK IN IRELAND. 



CHAPTER 11. 



IKISH KENTS. 

 January 16, 1868. 



It is often said in England that rents in Ireland are 

 unduly high from over-competition for land. 



I farm between 600 and 700 acres. The rent 

 •when I took it in hand averaged l7s. per acre, and 

 I only began to farm it because no one, in spite of 

 competition, would give me that rent for it. 



The clear net profit for rent and interest over 

 all expenses, bailiff and everything for the past 

 fifteen years — i.e. since 1852 to May 1867 — has 

 steadily increased from 21s. 6d. to 35s. 6d. The 

 past two years have cleared 35s. 6d., and the 

 land is steadily getting into higher condition, and 

 will pay still more. 



This farm has been well farmed in all ways. 

 Besides, I have had in hand two outlying farms of 

 80 and 120 acres, not large enough to support a 

 separate farming staff of horses, etc., and too far off 

 to be well worked with the large farm. 



These have been worked much as a common 



