12-2 Agriculture not a sufficient Employment. 



there for manual exertions in such a society r 

 among whom a patrimonial aversion to labor, 

 and an habitual attachment to idleness, are para- 

 mount to every other consideration. 



Although I have no means of ascertaining 

 the fact with accuracy, I am inclined to believe, 

 that an acre of potatoes will furnish a greater 

 supply of food than one of rice. 



Admitting the agriculture of the country 

 should be so far improved as to require six 

 persons for the cultivation of every hundred 

 acres ; in this case, one fifth of the people only 

 could thus find employment, if even the whole 

 surface were under the plough ; but, in all pro- 

 bability, one third of it would be found to be 

 bog, turf, mountain, and waste. 



The wonderful fertility of the soil, para- 

 doxical as it may appear, has a contrary effect 

 in Ireland to that of stimulating the husband- 

 man, either to labor on it, or support it with 

 manure. The extreme love of ease and plea- 

 surable modes of passing away time, renders 

 the farmer disinclined to do either ; for, with- 

 out any pains on his part, he is sure of an 

 abundant crop ; and, as his indulging in the 

 habits of his forefathers is of more consequence 



