72 PFmter- Hay -making. 



for an opportunity of hauling it in for final security. 

 The interior was dry, but musty. The musty smell, 

 though to me strikingly perceptible, was not so to the 

 farmer. The oats and hay^ and frequently the meal^iudL 

 grain, had, to me, a musty smell. I was deemed egre- 

 giously prejudiced, ' when I mentioned the circum- 

 stance ; though it was indubitably true. It is well 

 known, that, owing to wet harvests, grain, in Ireland^ 

 must be kiln dried, before it can be profitabl) manufac- 

 tured. I am satisfied that the insensibility of the Irish 

 people to the musty savour of their grain, is produced 

 by the force of habit, which frequently overpowers our 

 natural faculties ; and I do not mention it ta their dis- 

 paragement. I have seen their horses eagerly devour 

 musty oats, far better, in every other respect, than ours; 

 but such as our horses, would, on this account, reject. 

 I perceived a strong taint of the turf, in all victuals 

 cooked by that fuel. But Irish gentlemen, nice in 

 other matters, could not observe it. Their winter-made 

 hay is, most probably, musty ; though Irish horses, or 

 cattle, do not perceive, or dislike it. 



In the Cork grain and meal market, (wherein I was, 

 many years ago) I had the unlucky curiosity, to taste 

 and smell a great number of samples o^ flour and grai?i, 

 I was not aware of the risk I ran. Finding most of 

 them musty, in a greater or less degree, I, no doubt, 

 involuntarily, betrayed symptoms of disgust. The 

 dealers observed it ; and before I left the market, the 

 large doors were closed on me. I was a perfect stran- 

 ger, surrounded by a motley multitude ; chiefly native 

 Irish women, of thaiestrian and amazonian ferocity. 

 I saw that I had brought myself, however innocently, 



