168 Criterion of luxuriant Soils. 



a day. The earnings of a laborer for the twelve 

 months amount to about sixteen guineas, which, 

 with his profit from the land in his occupation, 

 worth about four pounds, give him an income 

 of about twenty guineas a year ; and few Irish 

 laborers are so comfortably situated. At task 

 work, the earnings are after the rate of ten 

 shillings and sixpence for cutting an acre 

 of oats, and five shillings for mowing an acre 

 of meadow. Those who are so fortunate as to 

 occupy such tenements, and have constant 

 work, consider themselves as being highly blessed 

 and successful. The attention paid in collecting 

 what soil may be obtained from the public 

 roads, shows the value set on manure for 

 the potatoe crop. The fences, generally 

 speaking, are very bad ; care alone is necessary 

 to make them excellent, as the white thorn 

 may be produced in the highest perfection. 



Some persons who are pleased to amuse 

 themselves, repeat an observation, that has been, 

 attributed to Dr. Coventry, of whom it may 

 justly be said that there is no one better, if there 

 be any one equally skilled, in all matters apper- 

 taining to husbandry; that he judged of the 

 fertility, luxuriance, and value of a soil, by the 

 size and strength of the ragwort. If this be 

 admitted as a fair criterion, the soil of the 



