40 IRISH SPORT AND SPORTSMEN. 



in this way now. There are more resident gentry in 

 this county than in any other .in Ireland, and a vast 

 majority of them are fox-hunters. 



For some years past a growing- evil has caused 

 serious apprehension amongst hunting men ; I allude 

 to the erection of wire. In some districts it is quite 

 impossible to ride to hounds, owing to this objection- 

 able practice. The landed proprietors (for I am sorry 

 to say they set the bad example) and farmers do not 

 use wire for the purpose of interfering in any way with 

 the hunting. The great majority of them are delighted 

 to see the hounds in their neighbourhood, and many 

 of them are hunting men. Economy is their motive ; 

 I certainly think their notions on that score are very mis- 

 taken ones. No doubt wire is easily put up, but I opine 

 that the posts become quite rotten after about four years, 

 and, on account of the frequent repairs required, I am 

 convinced that making wire fences is, generally speak- 

 ing, a penny wise, pound foolish proceeding. Horses, 

 sheep, and cattle are frequently severely injured by 

 being caught in wire. It would be labour in vain on 

 my part were I to write at length, pointing out the 

 manifold advantages derived by all classes, the tenant 

 farmers particularly, by hunting. Any injury done to 

 their lands is truly insignificant in comparison to the 

 advantages they derive, notably from the increased 

 value of horses, oats, hay, and straw. And the fact 

 must be so perfectly apparent to all that I need not, 

 though I could very readily, point out the benefit 

 derived from this pastime of princes — the most glorious 

 of all amusements. Absenteeism is the cause of many 

 evils, to it may be attributed a great deal of the poverty 

 of our countrymen ; and were it not for hunting, those 



