233 



soils of high values, was exclusively confined to that por- 

 tion which, on the geological map, was included under this 

 engraved tint, or in which these more recent deposits of marl, 

 &c., occurred In several cases, Professor Oldham stated, on 

 preparing the maps separately, and comparing them, it was 

 found that the boundary line marking the limits of these soils 

 of higher value, as given by the townland valuation of Mr. 

 Griffith, was also for miles found to be the boundary line 

 marking the limits of these recent deposits. Mr. Oldham 

 also remarked how erroneous any view of the distribution of 

 soils of various money values would be, derived from a consi- 

 deration of these values, as deduced from a valuation by town- 

 lands. The money value per acre being obtained by dividing 

 the number of acres in the townland into the estimated value 

 of the whole townland, an average value per acre may be ob- 

 tained, and represented on the map, which will give a very 

 mistaken view of the distribution of soils in that townland. 

 Several cases of this also occur in the county of Wicklow, 

 where whole townlands of considerable size should, as deduced 

 from the townland valuation, be represented by a colour giving 

 an appearance of much higher money value per acre than the 

 adjoining townlands; this erroneous appearance arising simply 

 from the occurrence of richer soils in some very limited por- 

 tion of such townland, which, thus taken with the remainder of 

 the townland, gives a higher average, and, therefore, a mis- 

 taken view of the distribution. 



These views afforded a strong confirmation of the general 

 relative accuracy of Mr. Griffith's valuation. And if the 

 valuation by holdings (and not by townlands) were complete, 

 a still more valuable and important comparison might be 

 instituted. It appeared, however, desirable to notice these 

 points, even in the present stage of the inquiry, as most of the 

 soils on which Sir Robert Kane had experimented had been 

 procured by the officers of the Geological Survey of Ireland, 

 under Mr. Oldham's directions. 



