Crops of Grain still uncut. 185 



cabins bear painful testimony of the poverty of 

 the inhabitants, which is here increased by the 

 scarcity and consequent price of fuel. The 

 Archdeacon's residence, at a short distance from 

 the town, appears to be a charming spot. 



In the ten miles to Virginia a material change 

 takes place in the soil, from a deep loam to a 

 sharp gravel, on which the crops of grain ap- 

 pear to have been but indifferent. Lough 

 Vernes is a large piece of water, in which there 

 are a few scattered islands ; the southern shore 

 is bold, but it has no decided beauty. Virginia, 

 in itself, is but a poor place ; and its surround- 

 ing neighbourhood indicates the same wretched, 

 ness. Some grain still remained uncut, whilst 

 that which was stacked was so ill secured that 

 great loss must be unavoidable. 



When it is understood that the rent of the 

 land is from twenty shillings to forty shillings 

 an acre, it is difficult to account for such un- 

 pardonable neglect. The public carriers have 

 mostly adopted the Scotch cart, but the farmers 

 continue the use of the Irish car. In several 

 instances we, observed the wheat sown on the 

 surface, and turned in with the plough ; in 

 others, a portion of the land was left unploughcd, 

 and this was thrown over the sown stitch witU 



