POTATOES. 



Cunningham Acre reduced. 



Thefe tables together will enable the reader to have a pret- 

 ty accurate idea of the expenccs at which the poor in Ireland 

 are fed. The firft column is the total expence of an acre of 

 potatoes, the third is the price at which potatoes are bought 

 and fold, for feed, or food. The prime coft is the price 

 formed by the firft and fecond columns, being the rate at which 

 they are eaten by thofe who raife them. The laft column re- 

 quires rather more explanation to thofe who were never in that 

 country. There are a great many cabbins, ufually by the road 

 fide, or in the ditch, which have no potatoe gardens at all. 

 Ireland being free from the curfe of Enghfh poor, laws, the 

 people move about the country and fettle where they will. A 

 wandering family will ^x themfelves under a dry bank, 

 and with a few fticks, 'furze, fern, &c. make up a hovel 

 much worfe than an EnglifK pigftie, fupport themfelves how 

 they can, by work, begging and ftealing ; if the neighbour- 

 hood wants hands, or takes no notice of them, the hovel 

 grows into a cabbin. In my rides about Mitchelftown, I have 

 pafled places in the road one day, without any appearance of 

 a habitation, and next morning found a hovel, filled with a 

 man and woman, fix or eight children, and a pig. Thefe 

 people are not kept by any body as cottars, but are taken at 

 bufy feafons by the day or week, and paid in money, confe- 

 quently having no potatoe garden, they are necefiitated every 

 year, to hire a fpot of fome neighbouring farmer, and of the 

 preceding table, line laft column, is the rent per acre paid 



for 



