56 
Irish Agriculture. 
haps, he stands most in need of them, as thej have little matters 
of their own which require their attention. 
The absence of suitable buildings, fences, and farm-roads, 
has in many instances proved an obstacle in the way of introducing 
agricultural improvement ; and, in such instances, has rendered 
grazing to a certain extent compulsory. In this, as in other 
matters, however, " where there is a will, there is a way," for 
through the medium of the Land Improvement Acts, loans may 
be obtained for the following purposes : The building or en- 
larging of farm dwelling-houses in connexion with farm ofBces, 
and buildings erected or to be erected ; the erection and im- 
provement (by alterations or additions) of dwelling-houses for 
labourers ; planting for shelter ; draining. In certain cases 
loans may be repaid by a rent-charge calculated at the rate of 
5 per cent., pavable for 35 years, instead of 6^ per cent., payable 
in 1:2 years. This provision extends to buildings of all kinds, 
clearing land of rocks, and planting for shelter. In all other 
cases the period of repayment is limited to 22 vears. 
Up to the 31st of March, 1871, the number of loans sanctioned 
was 4818, and the sum issued on account of works 2,142,885/. 
These totals comprise 358 loans amounting to 138,840/., for the 
erection and improvement of farm-buildings, and 134 loans, 
amounting to 80,455/., for the erection of labourers' dwellings, 
and 9 loans for scutching-mills, amounting to 2,735/. The total 
area that hai been thorough drained under the Land Im- 
provement Acts up to the 31st of March, 1871, amounted to 
242,828 acres, which has been effected at an average cost of 
5/. 19a'. per statute acre. Of late years the extent drained 
annually under the Land Improvement Acts has fallen off con- 
siderably irom what it was previously, which is to be regretted, 
as draining is one of the most important of the improvements 
required in Ireland. 
Of late years much of the land laid down to grass has not only 
been sown out in an imperfect manner, both as regards the condi- 
tion of the land and of the seeds used ; but much of it also is not 
so suitable for permanent pasture as it is for rotation cropping. 
This last consideration has been much overlooked. People saw 
the better class of pastures, and they concluded that all descrip- 
tions of land would produce equally good grazing if sown out. 
Hence, it is frequently found that pastures do not keep the same 
number or class of stock that they maintained at first. This 
has been noticed, more especially, where young stock are grazed. 
In one very marked instance which came under mv observation, 
a tract of grass land, which had originally been well laid down, 
had been grazed upon for a series of 3 ears by young growing 
cattle. The result was tliat, latterly, the feeding quality of the 
