294 A LIFE'S WORK IN IRELAND. 



the operation during a brief spell of sunshine. The 

 " seeds " are fed by calves in autumn, and in spring by 

 ewes and lambs, until the middle of April. This plan 

 is found not to injure the young grasses in the least. 



The live stock at Lisselan consist of 100 milch cows, 

 and twenty-five young springers, eighty weanling calves, 

 about the same number of young cattle, two stud bulls 

 (Shorthorn) ; 200 fatting sheep, in addition to cattle 

 fatting in the stall, 200 breeding ewes, 200 lambs, etc., 

 four rams, and eight to ten farm horses. 



The cows are half-bred Shorthorns — excellent dairy 

 cattle, far and away above the average stock of the dis- 

 trict — and a few Alderneys to colour the produce. The 

 springers to replace the old and defective milkers are 

 annually selected from the most promising of the calves 

 produced on the place. The animals are pastured in 

 summer. During the summer six months the yield of 

 butter in other years averages about 6 lb. weekly per 

 head, but in the present season it has fallen to about 5 

 lb. per head per week. Very little butter has hitherto 

 been produced in winter ; the animals are fed on hay 

 and straw with a small allowance of turnips — just as 

 much as maintains the system in a healthy state. 



Mr. Jones has commenced butter-making according 

 to modem improved plans. He has recently erected a 

 commodious dairy. The milk room is a large, well- 

 ventilated apartment. The floor is made of concrete, 

 the walls are constructed of thick, substantial stone 

 masonry. The roof, which is high, is covered with 

 slate ; but with a view to the cleanliness of the apart- 

 ment, as well as to the equalisation of the temperature 

 in summer and winter, there is a ceiling of timber 

 immediately underneath the slate. The windows are 



