5G 
On  the  Climate  of  the  British  Islands 
of  the  West  can  be  effectually  improved.  The  present  wretched 
system  of  pasturage  must  be  abandoned,  and  a well  arranged 
succession  of  good  fodder  and  root  crops  substituted;  and  to  this 
course  the  climate  is  most  admirably  adapted. 
115.  There  is  no  part  of  the  kingdom  where  an  improved 
rotation  would  bestow  greater  benefit  than  on  Ireland  : throughout 
this  Essay  it  has  been  often  stated  how  greatly  the  climate  is  fitted 
for  roots  and  fodder  : it  is  therefore  satisfactory  to  find  that  the 
four-course  has  been  tried  with  great  success.  Mr.  Blacker  has 
efficiently  helped  onward  this  great  improvement  in  Armagh  ; and 
numerous  public  testimonies  have  been  given  to  the  advantages 
which  follow.  In  an  able  pamphlet  on  the  subject,  Mr.  Blacker 
says,  “ I have  only  to  add  that,  in  all  cases,  those  who  have  adopted 
the  improved  system  of  cultivation  have  derived  the  benefit  from  it 
which  might  be  expected  ; old  prejudices  are  annually  giving  way, 
and  the  growth  of  turnips  so  much  increasing,  that  I have  no  doubt, 
in  a few  years,  they  will  be  universally  cultivated,  not  only  in  the 
county  of  Armagh,  but  in  every  part  of  Ireland.” 
Like  the  West  of  England,  Ireland  will  require  some  modifica- 
tion of  the  four-course  shift ; but  yet  the  great  principle  involved 
must  still  be  kept  in  view — an  alternate  grain  and  green  crop. 
If  the  productive  power  of  the  soil  of  Ireland  w'as  fully  developed 
under  this  system,  an  amazing  amount  of  roots  and  fodder  would 
be  raised,  which  would  render  that  island  the  best  beef-producing 
country  in  the  world.* 
11G.  The  various  heads  of  inquiry  suggested  for  this  Essay 
have  now  been  discussed,  though  not  in  the  same  order  in  which 
they  appeared,  but  I have  made  such  an  arrangement  as  would 
best  comport  with  the  materials  1 could  command — laying  the 
foundation  in  an  extensive  series  of  meteorological  observations 
brought  into  a condensed  form,  and  then  endeavouring  to  apply 
the  facts  to  agricultural  operations  and  progress.  Many  of  the 
topics  are  briefly  and  imperfectly  treated,  but  the  limits  of  an 
Essay  would  not  permit  extended  remarks:  I have  therefore  kept 
leading  principles  in  view  rather  than  minor  details. 
On  prognostications  of  the  weather  I have  not  ventured,  this 
subject  having  been  copiously  expatiated  on  by  agricultural 
writers  from  the  1st  Georgic  of  Virgil  to  ‘ The  Book  of  the 
P’arm  ’ by  Stephens,  and  with  little  practical  benefit  : I have 
therefore  preferred  filling  a limited  space  with  less  dubious 
materials.  A valuable  pamphlet  on  this  subject  has  just  ap- 
peared from  the  pen  of  E.  J.  Lowe,  Esq.,jr  which  shows  that  but 
* “ It  may  be  satisfactory  to  the  Society  to  learn  that  Mr.  Peter  Falconer,  to  whom 
their  medal  was  awarded,  had  01  tons  of  Swedish  turnips,  and  69  tons  of  irangoldi- 
wurzel,  to  the  acre.’’ — Rep.  of  Iverk  Farming  Society , Kilkenny. 
-j-  Published  by  Longman. 
