316 A LIFE'S WORK IN IRELAND. 



IV. 



A LETTER TO THE TENANTS OF AGHALUSKY, 

 LISSELAN, AND CLOHEEN. 



June 1841. 

 My Friends — I want to say a few words to you about 

 Green Crops. 



Some of you, I know, cannot understand why I am 

 anxious that the tenants should grow green crops. One 

 says, " It is for his honour's amusement : " another, 

 " Because his honour's head is full of English farming, 

 which is not at all suited to poor Irishmen;" while a 

 third finds out, that it is because I want to ruin all the 

 poor farmers, or, at any rate, he is sure they will he 

 ruined if they follow my advice. Nom', it is not for my 

 amusement, nor because my head is full of English 

 farming, nor in order that I may ruin poor farmers : it 

 is not for any of these reasons that I wish you to grow 

 clover and turnips ; but it is for a reason, which, Avhen 

 I tell it you, you will all allow is a very good reason, 

 but which I think will surprise you a little. It is this. 

 — Because I want farmers to have more manure 

 THAN THEY NOW HAVE. I have now told you the 

 secret ; — and can any man in Ireland stand up and say, 

 that if this can be done, it will not be a benefit to every 

 farmer, great or small, rich or poor ? 



Suppose that I had a great heap of manure in the 

 town of Clonakilty, and that I off'ered to give 100 butts 

 of it to any tenant who would draw that much home to 



