4^06 Domestic Notices. — Ireland. 



kernels. Agriculturists generally attribute the disease to atmospheric in- 

 fluence, while, from observation, I was led to assign a fly as its cause, and 

 have preserved maggots to watch their transformations. Last night, in 

 looking into your EncyclopcBdia of Agriculture (§ 6907. fig. 762.), I was 

 agreeably surprised to find drawings of the maggot, perfect insect, and, egg. 

 — P. S. Mungosiuells, East Lothian, Aug, 9. 1828. 



Mode of j)reventing Staclis from taJdng Fire, where they have been too 

 quickly carted. — In a stack twelve yards long and six wide, pull or bore 

 eiglit holes about the size of your arm, beginning with your hand, and 

 finishing with an iron rod, having a strong gag at the end, and an auger 

 handle; pull them in a triangular manner, beginning the first row close to 

 the thatch, about a yard from the end, and the second row between the first 

 and the ground. (Edin. Adv., Aug. 12.) 



Large ArtichoJce. — There is at present, in the garden of Newbigging, an 

 extraordinary plant of that much esteemed prickly class, the artichoke car- 

 duus, with five stems, one of which measures 7 ft. in height, and 5 ft. fin. 

 in circumference. Four others measure 6 ft. 10 in. in height, and 5^ ft. 

 in circumference each. Many of the leaves of this beautiful plant measure 

 5 ft. in length ; and, to crown all, it has 170 pipes, many of which are in 

 full blossom ! {Meai-ns Telegraph.) 



IRELAND. 



Sir, I observe, in different parts of your Magazine, some remarks on 

 the improvement of Ireland, by means of distributing books of useful know- 

 ledge among the working classes. I have no doubt that mode would be 

 attended with the best effects with respect to those who can read, and 

 more especially if accompanied with kind treatment on the part of land- 

 lords, and of those who have the more immediate superintendence of 

 country labourers. There are no people in these kingdoms more susceptible 

 of feeling good or bad treatment than the Irish ; and I am sorry to say, 

 that, as far as my observation has gone, the workmen on gentlemen's estates 

 are in general very harshly spoken to, and otherwise roughly and even 

 unjustly treated, by stewards and other overseers and managers. 



During the two years in which I was in the employ of the late estimable 

 Earl Farnham and his executors at Farnham House, Cavan, I had an op- 

 portunity there, and in the neighbourhood, of observing the effects of differ- 

 ent kinds of treatment. Earl Farnham and the members of his family 

 observed the most benevolent and exemplary conduct to all around them, 

 and no proprietor could be more, and justly, popular; but some of his 

 managers did not act in the same spirit so entirely as could be wished. An 

 Irish overseer is generally too harsh to his countrymen under him ; and this 

 conduct is aggravated, both in idea and in reality, when the former happens 

 to be a Protestant, and the labourers Catholics : for, though the higher 

 classes, and well informed in all ranks, are liberal in their opinions of each 

 other as to religion, this is far from being the case with the ignorant, what- 

 ever may be their situation in life. 



In managing a very considerable number of labourers at Farnham, I made 

 it a rule of conduct for myself and the man I had as assistant manager, 

 whether in giving orders or in enforcing them, to speak in a mild and en- 

 couraging tone, at the same time with sufficient firmness of purpose to 

 accomplish whatever was intended ; and on no occasion did I ever speak, 

 or allow him to speak to them, on the subject of religion. I spoke also 

 kindly to their families, when I had occasion to go to their cottages. It 

 happens, sometimes, that the person who pays the labourers, in Ireland, not 

 only commits faults on the wrong side in calculation, but, if his wife keeps 

 a shop of all manner of wares, they are compelled to purchase articles. 



