Irish Agriculture. 
57 
pasture fell off to such an extent that young cattle, when taken 
off in November, did not show much growth or improvement 
from what they had exhibited when put on the grass at the first 
of May. The reason was evident. The phosphates contained 
in the soil had become exhausted by successive generations of 
growing animals. This process of exhaustion is going on in all 
parts of the country where rearing of young animals is carried on, 
without any attempt being made to repair the waste ; and if, in 
any case, exhaustion is not so marked as in the instance I have 
mentioned, it shows the fertility of the soil, but it does not prove 
that the system pursued is right. 
Dairy Farming on Grass Lands. 
Dairy husbandry is extensively carried on in the south of 
Ireland, as well as in other parts. The chief dependence is upon 
the pastures ; in some districts the food of the cows is supple- 
mented by the produce of the land, or by artificial food ; while 
in other cases the pastures alone, with the assistance of some 
natural or " upland " hay, constitute the keep of the cows, summer 
and winter. 
The county of Cork is essentially a dairy district, and in some 
respects the system followed is superior to that prevalent in other 
parts of the country. 
The cows are chiefly Shorthorns or Shorthorn crosses, and the 
infusion of Shorthorn blood has added considerably to the value 
of the dairy cattle when sold as stores, or when fat. VVarlaby 
blood is predominant, and there are several breeders in the 
county whose herds contain a large proportion of it. Among 
these are Mr. Richard VVelsted, who has one of the largest herds 
of pure-bred cattle in Ireland ; Mr. W, H. Massy, Macroom ; 
Mr. Gumbleton, Mr. Downing, Mr. R. Smith, and Mr. James 
Byrne. The bull calves bred by those gentlemen have been chiefly 
disposed of through the district, and have thus brought the best 
blood into the possession of nearly all classes of farmers. 
In summer the cows are grazed, being turned into the pastures 
the first week in May, and they are not housed until the first week 
in December, and in mild weather not until Christmas. Small 
farmers supplement the grass with vetches in summer, and with 
white turnips and cabbages in October and November. Within 
a radius of eight miles from Cork, brewers' grains and wash are 
freely given to increase the secretion of milk for the market. In 
hot summer weather the cows, instead of being sheltered, are 
allowed to stand in the river, if convenient, or in the drinking 
pond — a most objectionable practice, bc( ause, in the first instance, 
there is a great loss of manure when they are allowed to stand in 
