Past and Present State of A(jriculture in Ireland. 445 
agriculturist, brought from some of tbe best-farmed districts in 
Scotland, was appointed to call upon every tenant, after sufficient 
time had been allowed for the perusal of the pamphlet, in order 
to enforce the reasonings contained in it, and to remov6 the diffi- 
culties which might be found to stand in the way of practically 
following them, so as to leave no excuse for their neglect. If 
manure was wanting, the agriculturist had power to lend what was 
required ; if clover and grass seed were too costly to be bought, 
they were likewise provided, and other things in like manner. 
The agriculturist also went round each farm, pointing out what 
was wrong in the system pursued, and showing what ought to be 
followed in order to procure the best return from the soil. He 
also instructed, them in the proper mode of cultivating the crops 
he recommended ; showed them the use of the hoe in thinning 
their turnips ; explained to them that clcjver had previously failed 
from being sown where the land was exhausted, and proved the 
truth of his assertion by the admirable crops which were soon after 
obtained by sowing the seed with the first grain crop after the 
potatoes, according to his advice. Nor were his instructions con- 
fined to these particular subjects ; the whole economy of the farm 
was gone through : the necessity for drainage, where wanted, was 
pointed out; the advantage of straight meariiiffs ; the waste of 
ground occasioned by useless ditches ; the proper cleaning of the 
soil ; the use of lime ; the good effect of early ploughing ; and an 
infinity of other details, which it is not necessary to enumerate. 
It may be easily imagined that the arguments of an intelligent 
man, who proved himself perfectly acquainted with his subject, 
and wlio could teach how to hold the plough, or handle the 
spade or the hoe, would have a much move powerful effect upon 
those who heard him than any exhortations from gentlemen, who 
might be charged perhaps with preaching what they had never 
practised, and might therefore be supposed to know little about : 
and, by degrees, the effect produced was in conformity with this 
expectation. In the first instance, those who were unable to pay 
their rents, and foresaw the certain loss of their farms, were na- 
turally inclined to adopt any plan that offered a hope of their 
being continued in possession ; and the landlord was as naturally 
disposed to give them another trial under the new order of things. 
By this means a certain number of converts were set to work upon 
a proper system, the good effects of which soon attracted the no- 
tice of those in their immediate neighbourhood, and induced them 
to think better of, and by degrees adopt, the plan recommended 
to them ; whilst the attention of those at a distance, both land- 
lords and tenants, was almost equally attracted by reading the 
accounts which such of these poor men as had gained the pre- 
miums offered by Lord Gosford for their encouragement gave of 
