Peculiar Fertility of Soil: 3 



clays. The adhesiveness of the soil, which ge- 

 nerally succeeds constant ploughing, and im- 

 pedes vegetation, by preventing absorption and 

 evaporation, does not seem to occur in Ireland. 

 This circumstance has been a frequent subject 

 of speculation and conjecture. I do not think 

 the causes assigned by Sir Humphry Davy for 

 the superior fertility of Ireland are at all satis- 

 factory. Those demi-tints which in England 

 distinguish lands that are exhausted are* here 

 almost unknown the verdure is everlasting and 

 luxuriant, arising, 1 should suppose, from some 

 inherent quality in the soil, which keeps it in a 

 proper state to admit the operation of the salu- 

 tary influences of the atmosphere. 



The valley in which we travelled from Ma- 

 croom is of a fertile description, but very nar- 

 row j in some parts it is ornamented with a num- 

 ber of gentlemen's seats, and appeared to be ro- 

 mantic. A considerable improvement in point 

 of comfort appeared in the cottiers' cabins, which 

 gave us infinite pleasure. We observed the re- 

 mains of several castles, resembling those on our 

 own borders, most of which were built in the 

 concluding part of Queen Elizabeth's reign, a 

 period of great national distress to Ireland. 

 Many parts of her general policy are entitled to 

 respect, but all that related to Ireland was op- 



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