5 36 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



that the Bain may divide and mixe it ; the Sun, Moon, and Air mellow and 

 incorporate it with the earth. One thousand Cart-loads goeth to one English 

 acre of ground. 1 . . . 



" The good usage of the Marled-land, to keep it in heart for ever after, 

 doth consist, in the opinion and practise of some, in letting it ly Tallow at 

 convenient times, but the ordinary manner, commonly practised by the 

 inhabitants of the County Wexford, and counted the best by them, is, that 

 having sowed it five or six years together, with the richest sorts of Corn, to 

 wit Wheat and Barley (especially that sort which in some parts of England, 

 and generally in Ireland, is peculiarly called Bear, being a much richer grain 

 than the ordinary Barley) it being afterwards turned to pasture, whereunto it 

 is very fit, for as much as it bringeth very sweet grass in great abundance : 

 For the Marie is also used on Meddows at the first, with very good success, 

 improving the same wonderfully. If the Marled-land be thus used, and by 

 turns kept under Corn, and Grass, it keeps its fruitfulness for ever." 2 . . . 



" Where the land of it self is better and richer, there after Marling, Wheat 

 and other Corn may be sowed, not only for ten years together, but longer. 3 . . . 



" The Province of Connaught (by what hath been discovered) is much more 

 plentifull in Marie, than is Leinster, as in other Counties, so in those of 

 Boscoman, Slego, and Galloway, almost in every part of it. It is there of 

 three several colours, some being white as chalk, other gray, and some black ; 

 but none blew, as that in the County of Wexford. It lyeth nothing deep 

 under the upper-ground, or surface of the earth, commonly not above half a 

 foot ; but its own depth is so great, that never any body digged to the bottom 

 of it. 



"The land which they intend to Marie in this Province, is commonly plowed 

 in the beginning of May, and lying five or six weeks (untill it be sufficiently 

 dryed and mellowed by the Sun and Wind) they harrow it, and then having 

 brought the Marie upon it, five or six weeks after it is plowed again and a third 

 time about September : After which third plowing they sow it with Wheat or 

 Barley, whereof they have a very rich crop the next year. 4 



" Land marled in that manner as we have said, may be sowed ten or 

 twelve yeares together ; the first eight or nine with Wheat, and Bear, or Barley, 

 and the remaining three or four years with Oates, afterwards the land is turned 

 to pasture, and having served some years in that kind, it may be Marled anew, 

 and made as good for corn as at first. 5 . . . 



" In Connaught they scarce lay the fourth part of the quantity of Marie 

 on the ground of what they doe in the County of Wexford." 6 



' Ireland's Natural History, original edition, p. 101. - Ibid., p. 102. 3 Ibid., p. 103. 



* Ibid., p. 103. ■- Ibid., p. 104. 6 Ibid., p. 105. 



