M E R C R A. 331 



lime-done gravel. Trenching the land for po- 

 tatoes, breaks this ftratum, and lets the water 

 through at once, and no other drains are necef- 

 fary. In Iefs than a century, almoit the whole 

 country, as well as Rofcommon, was a moor. 

 The mode taken has been by lime-done gravel 

 chiefly, and this goes on fo much, that the 

 moors are worth a considerable rent ; the crops 

 they give at firfl are very great. The expenfe 

 of gravelling is 2I. 2s. an acre. 2000 horfe- 

 loads in bafkets on their backs is the quantity, 

 it changes the nature both of moors and clays 

 intirely, and lafts for ever. 



In this country there are large tracts of grafs 

 land, which will rear the largeft oxen, but will 

 not fatten them ; but if gravelled, will fatten 

 them perfectly. Lime not ufed as a manure in 

 common, though there is an amazing quantity 

 in the country -, the price of burning will be 

 four-pence halfpenny a barrel of roach lime. 

 A barrel of turf will burn a barrel of lime ; a 

 barrel of turf is one-third of a kifh. Turf 

 mold laid on a clay meadow will give one good 

 crop. The fyftem of cattle is various ; the gra- 

 ziers upon good grafs buy in cows in the month 

 of May, at 3I. 10s. average, and fell out in 

 November and October, at a profit of il. 10s. 

 alfo buy oxen 3 year old in October, give them 

 coarfe hay, and fell them fat or in good order 

 the autumn following; buy in at 4I. jos. and 

 fell out at 7I. and he will take for meadow 

 half an acre of hay, and one and a half for 

 fummcr; befides which there will be one met-p 



and 



