IRISH AGRARIAN TENURE. 91 



which he has free control, as he can thus 

 enjoy the benefits of free competition. The 

 best grazing tracts of Ireland are let in this 

 wa}^ at competition rents, frequently by 

 auction. There is here no divided owner- 

 ship, the lord of the soil is the sole owner. 

 The tenant is often a capitalist stock-farmer 

 on a large scale. In the West, these 

 grazing tracts are frequently rented by 

 residents in the towns, such as lawyers, 

 doctors, hotel keepers, publicans, &c., who 

 carry on a little speculation in cattle as a 

 subsidiary industry. 



