Irish Agriculture. 
15 
case 11 the I'owls were housed in sheds or other cold buildings. 
Agricultural shows have tended to diffuse good breeds of poultry 
through the country. Dorking and Spanish fowls are the 
favourites, wherever a distinct breed has found its way. 
The Statistics op Irish Agriculture. 
The condition of the country with respect to the production of 
live stock is shown in the Annual Returns collected by the 
Registrar-General for Ireland. The collection of agricultural 
statistics has been carried on for a much longer time in Ireland 
than has been the case in Great Britain. The enumeration of 
live stock was first attempted by Government in 1841. Nothing 
further was done, however, until 1847, when an inquiry of a 
similar kind, including crops, &c., was again instituted, and 
has since been carried on from year to year. The returns 
taken in 1841 are generally regarded as forming a basis of com- 
parison, but there is good reason to believe that the agricultural 
statistics collected at that time were far from being correct. The 
people regarded the inquiries made with respect to the number of 
cattle, 6cc., which they had, as being a preliminary step to the 
imposition of some unknown tax, or to an increase of their rents ; 
and, in the generality of instances, the numbers given to the 
enumerators did not much exceed one-half of what actually 
existed at the time. The enumeration taken in 1847 represents 
the country when in its worst state from the effects of the " famine 
years," and those effects continued to keep the number of live 
stock in Ireland low until 1851-52, when matters began to 
amend. 
In estimating the value of live stock, the average rates per 
head assumed by the Census Commissioners in 1841 are still 
retained. This is done simply for the purpose of comparison, 
for the average rates assumed at that time are much below the 
rates which prices of late years would warrant. Thus, horses 
and mules were valued at 8?. each ; asses at \l. ; horned cattle at 
(')/. 10s. ; sheep at IZ. 2s. ; pigs at 1/. 5s. ; goats at Is. ^d. ; and 
poultry at Grf. per head. These rates, therefore, continue to be 
the basis upon which the total value of Irish live stock is esti- 
mated from year to year. 
As subsistence should precede stock, the following Tables, as 
given in the Reports of the Registrar-General, will show how- 
matters stand in this matter ; namely, the extent under each of 
the principal crops — the estimated total produce, and the average 
yield per statute acre for all Ireland, in each year from 1851 to 
1870, inclusive : — 
