Illustrations of Irish Farming. 
405 
liaving to call in much extra labour beyond the regular hands on 
the farm, a few women to lift after the machines being the only 
extra persons employed. There is no doubt that but for the 
reaping machines it would have been difficult, indeed almost 
impossible, to have harvested the crops so expeditiously, as 
formerly fully 400 persons used to be employed each harvest in 
reaping, &c. ; but they are not to be had now, even if it were 
desirable that reaping should be done by manual labour. 
There is one point which deserves to be noticed as facilitating 
harvesting, as well as other kinds of farm labour in the district 
in which Cloona Castle is situated. The rainfall, as ascertained 
by Mr. Simson's rain-gauge, averages from 36 to 38 inches in 
each year ; * but the air possesses a strong drying power, so that 
it has frequently been the case that about 4 hours drought — 
caused by a current of warm air direct from the south-west — 
has been sufficient to dry sheaves of wheat so as to admit of their 
being carried, although previously drenched with wet. This 
warm current of air is a result of the Gulf stream which touches 
the western coast of Connaught. 
Live stock forms a main feature in Mr. Simson's system of 
farm management. The working horses were, until lately, all 
of the Clydesdale breed, imported from Scotland — good, short- 
legged, active animals, and capable of going through much hard 
work. Of late years Mr. Simson has been putting his Clydes- 
dale mares to a superior Suffolk Punch stallion, imported by 
Lord Lucan, for the use of his tenants, and the cross has 
" nicked " remarkably well in all respects. The working staff 
consists of 26 horses, besides 11 which are either young horses 
rearing, or saddle and harness horses. 
The sheep-flock consists chiefly of Border Leicesters, kept up 
by importations of rams from Kelso. Some well selected 
Roscommon ewes have occasionally been added to the breeding 
flock, but these were put to Border Leicester rams. In this way 
additional size was obtained, while the cross is found superior 
in quality to their dams. 
The flock consists of 1000 breeding ewes with their produce, 
and 40 to 50 rams. The small lambs are sold when weaned, 
and the rest .carried on as will be described. Over 1000 sheep 
are sold annually off the farm. 
The rams are put to the ewes about the 10th of October in 
each year. The ewes get turnips, one cart-load to the 100 being 
laid down for them on the grass from the 1st of January until 
the lambing season commences, after which the quantity of 
* The rainfall from 1st January, 1872, to 1st January, 1873, was 52^^ inches, or 
fully 15 inches over the average. 
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