THE IRELAND OF TO-DAY. 47 



15 acres ; in 1891 there were only 42*1 per cent, 

 of these. There has, therefore, been a sub- 

 stantial diminution of small holdings and a 

 substantial increase of large holdings. This 

 movement was most pronounced in Connaught. 

 There the farms of 



Over 30 acres increased by ... 4277 per cent. 



But in Ulster only by ... 36i"5 ,, 



In Munster by ... 245'3 ,, 



In Leinster by ... ii9'4 ,, ' 



The great number of small holdings which is 

 still maintained proves that the holdings which 

 have disappeared were not utilised to raise small 

 holdings to the dignity of middle-sized ones ; 

 they were rather welded into large farms. In 

 this way the fact is explained that a large 

 number of Irish farmers find themselves to-day 

 in a far more prosperous condition than in the 

 years before the famine ; but that the circum- 

 stances of the owners of small holdings who still 

 exist have not substantially improved. 



Mere areas have a meaning only for those 

 who have formed from personal observation an 

 idea of Irish conditions. We can find in 

 Connaught gigantic holdings, as far as area 

 goes, on which, by reason of the poverty of the 

 soil, a few miserable mountain sheep find a bare 

 living. The following figures may serve as 

 examples : — In the Poor Law Union of Belmullet 



^ "Ireland, Agric. and Ind.," p. 317. 



