The Prize System as applied to Small Farmers in Ireland. 403 
the loss of health, may crush his efforts. But he did not begin 
until he had two stout sons to take his place if needs be. 
The debt has been paid off, and the position of the family 
greatly altered. 
I put it to any one who may read these remarks, whether this 
man is ever likely to become an object of workhouse relief. The 
spirit of independence and self-reliance which he has displayed 
is the best guarantee that he will not. 
Mr. Bulges sees that his interest, both as a ratepayer and as 
an employer of labour, as well as his legitimate influence as a 
proprietor, will be promoted by giving every man like McGinn 
a legitimate opportunity of establishing for himself a home in 
which he may spend his old age. 
This is not the place to go into this subject more fully. 
McGinn's farm is undergoing improvement, and need not be 
described at present. In 1875 he got a prize of 11. from 
Mr. Bulges. This year he gets 1/. from the Spencer Fund. 
I made on the spot an estimate of the cost of the cottage. The 
figures have been revised by Mr. Moutray, agent to Mr. Burges, 
who has had ample means of checking the time which McGinn 
gave to the work. 
£ s. d. 
Building mud-walls, 45 days of his own time, at Is. 8d. 3 15 0 
Straw for thatch 2 15 0 
Thatcher 0 15 0 
Timber for roof 076 
Putting on roof, 3 days 0 5 0 
Bricks for fireplace and for wall opposite door to protect 
fireplace from draughts, viz. : — 
300 hard, at 2s. Gd 7s. Gd.) n .,, „ 
300 soft, at Is. 3d 3s. 9dj U 1 
2 cut stones for fireplace 10 0 
Lime for plastering, &c. : — 
12 barrels, at Is. 4:d. each, and Gd. per barrel for 
carriage 12 0 
Mason, laying foundation 2 days at 3s. id. 
„ building fireplace 2 „ „ 
„ „ windows 1 „ „ 
Total 5 „ „ 0 16 8 
Cost of windows 0 12 6 
Plastering 0 12 6 
12 12 5 
Of the cottage itself I will say that it can be kept quite as 
clean as, and will be warmer than, many of the show cottages 
which I have seen erected at a cost varying from 70/. to 90/. 
To prevent any misconception, I may add that I do not hold up 
the materials used in the building of this cottage as the best, 
or anything approaching to the best ; but I do say now, as I said 
