102 
Relative Profits to the Farmer from 
Ireland would necessitate an extended cultivation of root-crops^ 
but that is what many think would improve the country. Mr. 
Pringle, in his interesting paper on " Irish Agriculture," pub- 
lished in a previous number of this ' Journal ' (second series, vol. 
viii.. Part I., No. XV., pp. 1-76), went so fully into the defects of 
the Irish stock-farming system, that many remarks of mine are 
unnecessary. He, it will be remembered, advocated more green- 
crop cultivation, for which much of the country is well adapted. 
That would lead to a better system of farming, and to the fatten- 
ing of a great many animals which are at present exported in a 
lean state. The use of cake in the feeding of these animals 
would soon tell on the fertility of the land. Those who do grow 
turnips, carefully shelter their cattle in winter, and finish them 
off for the butcher, speak favourably of the system. This, com- 
bined with other facts and circumstances, indicates that if Ireland 
is a breeding country, it can to a considerable extent also become 
a fattening one. 
Though, in the interests of all concerned, I should like ta 
see fewer store animals come across the St. George's Channel^ 
there is no doubt that some will be spared from the Emerald 
Isle, and some will be required in Britain for many years to 
come. In these circumstances one thing pressing for improve- 
ment is the accommodation for cattle on board the steamers^ 
from Ireland, as also the means for conveying stock, especially 
store animals, by rail in this country. What the nature of 
these changes should be, I cannot in the present available space- 
attempt to discuss ; but it may be observed that, though the- 
re-arrangement of the means of transit involved a heavier tariff^ 
farmers could afford at least IZ. a head more if the animals 
were carried comfortably and with tolerable safety from disease. 
It is alike the interest of the Irish breeder and the English or 
Scotch feeder to press for radical improvements in the mean& 
of conveying stock from the one country to the other. 
In many parts of England, the want of house-accommodationi 
for winter operates seriously against the production of beef. 
Throughout the Western and Midland counties the steading^ 
capacities are very deficient on many farms. There is in those 
localities a large area of good permanent pasture, but, as in parts 
of Ireland, too much stress is laid on this provision. The worst 
feature of a holding largely under grass is a tendency to a feast 
in summer and a famine in winter. Generally, too, where grass 
land predominates there is a lack of steading accommodation. 
Not only so, but there is often little to give the animals ia 
the house. The cold, exposure, and scant diet to which many 
of the cattle in England are subjected in winter is, perhaps, the 
biggest blot on the present system of British farming. Few 
