Competition oflndividualsfor sniali Holdings. \ 23 



to him than providing for his children, he be- 

 comes careless as to both. The numerous com- 

 petitors for small portions of land produce the 

 present exorbitant rents, and consequently in- 

 duce the subdivision of estates ad injinitum ; and 

 as the object of a young Irish couple is not to 

 live, but ejcitt only, the country is become over- 

 loaded with a useless population, possessing so 

 little capital as seldom to exceed the half year's 

 rent which usually is in arrear. The pro- 

 digious high price of grain for the last few 

 years has with difficulty enabled the occupiers 

 to pay these heavy demands to their landlords. 

 Privations and potatoes only could have 

 furnished the means. 



The Fanning Society have an allowance from 

 the state of five thousand pounds a year, and 

 an annual subscription is paid by the members 

 in aid of the funds. The establishment at 

 Summer-hill is on an extensive plan for all kinds 

 of improvements ; among which is a manu- 

 factory for the most approved species of farming 

 implements, which are here sold at reduced 

 prices to practical persons. The society has 

 an experimental farm about five miles from 

 Dublin at Ballynasloe, where they have a hand- 

 some house, with a most commodious yard for 

 the reception of prize cattle. The meetings in 



