68 
Irish Agriculture. 
Having mentioned the loss sustained by the ordinary practice 
of haymaking, I wish to call attention to a method which 
prevails in the north of Ireland. This is called the "lap-cock" 
system, and the manner in which it is conducted is as follows : 
If the crop is heavy a single swathe is taken, or, if light, 
two swathes are raked into one ; and if the hay has been 
previously shaken out it is raked into rows equal to two swathes. 
The person who forms the lap-cock collects an armful, and, 
after shaking it up, gathers it between the hands against the 
knees, and by a dexterous sweep of the hand, which cannot be 
described, but is easily acquired, the hay is rolled into a bundle 
somewhat resembling a lady's muff ; the joinings of the ends 
being next the ground. This roll, or lap-cock, is open in the 
centre, and does not pack together like grass in the common 
hay-cock, whilst the air gets through it, and the drying process 
goes on gradually but steadily. Sometimes the lap-cocks are 
shaken out, and then made into larger ones, after drying in the 
sun and wind ; but, if the weather is favourable, the hay is 
frequently carried from the lap-cock without even shaking it 
out. I confess that when I first saw a field of hay in lap-cocks I 
was not in favour of it, but experience soon taught me that it is 
admirably adapted for saving hay in uncertain weather. I have 
had a crop of hay in lap-cocks exposed to almost incessant rain 
for more than a week, during which time nothing could be 
done, and yet the hay was very little damaged, because, no 
sooner did a breeze spring up, than the lap-cocks were rendered 
dry. The only thing necessary, should the weather be such as 
to prevent ricking, is to remove the lap-cocks during a dry 
interval from the spot upon which they were first laid to another 
spot ; in fact, merely turning over is sufficient. During the hay 
season of last year (1871) the weather, for a considerable time, 
was very unsettled, but I saw a crop of upland hay saved in good 
condition, owing to the owner having the hay put in lap-cocks, 
although the field was much surrounded by trees ; while hay 
made on the ordinary plan of the district was cqmpletely 
spoilt. 
Fattening Pastures. 
The highest class of pastures, those which will finish heavy 
bullocks or heifers for the English market during the summer 
half-year, are chiefly found in the counties of Meath, West- 
meath, Kildare, Tipperary, and Limerick, more especially that 
tract known as the " Golden Vein," which runs through part of 
each of the two last-named counties. Roscommon also contains 
a proportion of high-class grazing land. 
The best grazing lands are reckoned to carry and finish a full 
