343 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



IRELAND. 



THE agricultural history of Ireland, until within the last 

 few years at least, is as lamentable as those of England 

 and Scotland are brilliant. What was to be the ultimate 

 fate of this unfortunate island was long an unanswered 

 question ; now, however, the problem begins to be eluci- 

 dated, but at what a cost ! 



Ireland is not wanting in natural resources. Even the 

 English admit that Ireland, in point of soil, is superior 

 to England. The conformation of the country is pecu- 

 liar ; mountains range along nearly the whole extent of 

 its coasts, the interior being a vast plain, and for the 

 most part highly fertile. Ireland contains eight millions 

 of hectares/'" Bocks, lakes, and bogs occupy about two 

 millions of these, and two millions more are indifferent 

 land. The remainder that is to say, about half the 

 country is rich land, with calcareous subsoil. What 

 better could be conceived? "It is the richest soil I ever 

 saw," says Arthur Young, speaking of counties Limerick 

 and Tipperary ; " and such as is applicable to every pur- 



* The acreage of Ireland is reckoned at 19,944,209, exclusive of lakes, divided 

 as follows : 



Leiuster, ..... 4,749,584 acres. 



Munster, 5,835,220 



Ulster, . . 5,224,274 



Connaught, ..... 4,135,131 J. D. . 



