160 Meath and West Meath. 



about, that no one corrects such evident ab- 

 surdities, and sets a better example ? All suffer 

 by it. General ignorance is the only apology 

 for its continuance. I know from experience 

 the difficulty of dissuading an Irishman yet 

 laughing at him has never failed to carry the 

 point of laying aside his trusty. 



I was led to hope we were now approaching 

 a country where we should be gratified with 

 the sight of some good farming. Meath and 

 West Meath are considered to be among the 

 best cultivated counties in Ireland. Limestone 

 gravel pervades the greater part of both, and is 

 a valuable application to the soil, which is of a 

 strong nature. Clayey soils are capable of being 

 made very productive by capital, but suit not 

 the little farmer in needy circumstances. 



I have found much difficulty in comprehend- 

 ing what I hear of the produce per acre. It is 

 stated by the barrel of one hundred weight, and is 

 certainly the most accurate mode of ascertain- 

 ing the value of a crop of grain. The pro- 

 duce of the land is here generally below what it 

 ought to be under a good system of manage- 

 ment; but when insufficient labor and manure 

 bestowed upon it are taken into consideration, 



