State of Husbandry a Century ago. 247 



by the Archbishop of Dublin. He states that 

 there was little wheat grown, and that of very 

 inferior quality; the soil being considered as 

 unsuitable to its production. Potatoes re- 

 mained three or four years in the ground, re- 

 producing a crop, which at the best was a very 

 deficient one. Lime was procured by burning the 

 sea shells. The application of them in an unburnt 

 state arose from accident. A poor curate des- 

 titute of the means for burning the sea shells 

 which he had collected, more with a view to 

 remove an evidence of his poverty, than in any 

 hope of benefit, spread them on his ground. 

 The success which attended the experiment 

 occasioned surprise, and ensured a rapid and 

 general adoption of the practice. 



The improvements made since the period of 

 which the Archbishop treats are undoubtedly 

 very considerable j and whilst we smile at the 

 very subordinate state of agriculture at that 

 time, may we not on reasonable ground expect 

 that equal progress will at least be made in this 

 century as in the last ? 



In this neighbourhood there is a quarry of 

 fluted stone, the cornices of which are so ex- 

 act that, on seeing some of it in a chimney 

 piece, I took it for a work of art. 



