21 



their improvement, the land should be worth the value set 

 forth." 



By adopting this plan the valuator would discharge his 

 duty, and it would then remain for the agent and proprie- 

 tor to do theirs by aiding the weak, instructing the ignorant, 

 shaming the indolent, and stimulating the improving. 

 Efficient management might in this way realize the valua- 

 tor's estimate. 



The uniformity of the General Valuation of Ireland is 

 owing to the great pains taken by the valuators to ascer- 

 tain and judge of the quality and character of the soil from 

 its natural capabilities. Had they been influenced by 

 the letting price, the lands west of the Shannon would 

 have been from 12 to 25 per cent, lower than those of the 

 same natural quality on the east of that river, in con- 

 sequence of the bad farming and poverty prevailing in 

 Connaught, and the entire valuation would have been dis- 

 graced by inequalities and inconsistencies which would 

 have been fatal to its authority. 



XI. THE GENERAL VALUATION OF IRELAND FOR REGULAT- 

 ING THE COUNTY CESS, COMMONLY CALLED THE ORD- 

 NANCE VALUATION. 



The following account of the mode in which the 

 Ordnance Valuation of Ireland was carried into effect, 

 was furnished to the Devon Land Commission by Richard 

 Griffith, Esq., Commissioner of Valuation : 



" The General Valuation of Ireland, placed under my 

 direction, is regulated by a scale of prices for agricultural 

 produce, introduced into the Valuation Act, 6 and 7 

 William IV., cap. 84 ; which scale of prices was founded 

 on the average prices of agricultural produce throughout 

 the principal maritime markets of Ireland, during a given 

 period, when the value of agricultural produce was 

 considered to be low. Thus, the scale of prices being 

 taken from the actual average value of each commodity, 

 may be considered to be relative whether the average 

 prices at the present or a future time be higher or lower. 



