44 
On  the  Climate  of  the  British  Islands 
bottoms  off,  are  per  acre,  29  tons  1 cwt.  1 qr.  9 lbs.  ; and  swedes, 
in  the  same  state,  34  tons  11  cwt.  1 qr.  20  lbs.  The  latter 
weighed  this  day  by  the  South  Devon  inspector.  This  climate 
suits  roots  and  grass,  but  I am  not  certain  as  to  grain,  except  oats, 
which,  with  early  cultivation,  do  well.  The  harvest  is  about  two 
weeks  later  here  than  on  the  low  districts  in  this  county.  I began 
oat  cutting  in  1848  on  the  29th  of  August,  and  this  year  on  the 
31st  of  August.  Vetches  and  rape  flourish  well.” 
99.  Turning  our  attention  to  Ireland,  we  find  that  the  north 
part  of  the  island  is  formed  by  a continuation  of  the  geological 
formations  of  the  lowlands  of  Scotland  and  of  the  north  of  Eng- 
land. The  structure  and  constitution  of  the  soil  is  therefore 
generally  the  same  in  these  districts,  and  the  climate  is  of  a 
similar  character,  except  that  the  air  is  more  humid,  and  the 
winters  milder  in  Ireland.  The  success  of  the  turnip  husbandry 
on  the  limestone  of  Northumberland,  and  on  the  grauwacke  and 
trap  of  Scotland,  is  a demonstration  that  similar  success  would 
follow  the  same  course  of  culture  in  Ulster.  Mr.  Blacker  has 
done  much  to  extend  the  cultivation  of  the  turnip  in  Armagh, 
and  with  an  improved  rotation  the  most  beneficial  results  have 
followed. 
In  most  parts  of  Ireland  the  land  is  tilled  for  many  years  with 
potatoes,  followed  by  a succession  of  oat  crops  till  it  is  exhausted, 
and  is  then  left  down  “ to  rest,”  as  it  is  termed,  in  a miserable 
state  of  foulness.  Clover  and  artificial  grasses  are  little  known, 
except  in  the  most  advanced  districts.  On  this  wretched  system 
the  cattle  are  half-starved,  and  in  that  state  a large  number  are 
sent  yearly  to  the  English  markets.  They  are  the  most  unprofit- 
able beasts  that  can  be  purchased,  for  it  requires  much  time  and 
food  to  get  them  into  a proper  state  for  producing  beef ; and  the 
animal  is  much  subject  to  disease,  if  the  seeds  are  not  already 
sown.  The  “ pleuro-pneumonia,”  which  has  proved  so  destruc- 
tive to  the  best  English  stock,  was  introduced  by  some  half- 
starved  cattle  from  Ireland. 
Under  a good  system  of  culture  the  soil  of  Ireland  would  pro- 
duce large  supplies  of  roots  and  green  fodder  ; the  number  of 
store  cattle  might  be  greatly  increased,  and  many  fed  at  home. 
The  surface  is  mainly  covered  with  a soil  derived  from  limestone, 
or  from  grauwacke  mixed  with  trap,  and  considering  its  adapta- 
tion to  the  quantity  of  rain  which  falls,  and  that  the  temperature 
of  the  south  part  is  higher  than  any  other  portion  of  the  British 
Isles,  and  that  the  north  is  warmer  than  the  productive  lowlands 
of  Scotland,  it  becomes  evident  that  Ireland  has  agricultural 
capabilities,  which,  if  properly  developed  under  a good  system, 
would  render  it  one  of  the  most  prolific  countries  of  the  substan- 
tial necessaries  of  life  in  Europe. 
