304 Solitary Opinion hazarded on Hazlewood.

style. As we landed we found Mr. Bramah had just erected an engine worked by the wind for supplying the house with water: had the centrifugal motion been applied, it would have worked its own sails; as it is, it requires a person constantly to attend it.

The whole establishment is extremely wellregulated, and does great credit to the hospita ble and considerate owner. Adieu.

J. C. C.

LETTER XXV.

Belleek, Sept. 4, 1813.

THE soil and its cultivation undergo a great change for the worse on quitting Sligo. Indeed the whole of the country we have traversed from Derry, with some few exceptions, has been considered by us as of inferior quality in point of surface; little wheat being grown except in the neighbourhood of Bally Shannon. At Ballysedere there is a very romantic waterfall, and above it the remains of a monastery. We travelled some miles by the side of Knocknaree, a mountain of considerable height and extensive base. There are in this country numerous cairns, and the remains also of what seem to have been places of defence.

After travelling six miles we approached within a short distance of the sea, and continued to have it in our view along the coast for more than twenty miles. The herring fishery had commenced, which diffused a general joy throughout the country; we met people carry. ing these fish in creels in every direction. A failure in the potatoe crop, and the high price

306 Culture of Mangel-Wurzel recommended.

of grain, have been severely felt in the last year; but the present appearance of returning plenty has begun to soften the rigor of the past, which was frequently intimated by the wretched condition of the pigs. It would be an important advantage to the cottier could some means be suggested for supplying food to his pig after his potatoes are exhausted, and before the succeeding crop can be gathered. The mangel-wurzel seems well calculated to ensure this valuable purpose, as the plant thrives well on peaty soils, and the ashes from the bog would probably be the best manure it could receive. A valuable and weighty crop of leaves might first be procured, and the roots, afterwards boiled would contribute to the fattening of the pig at a less expense, than with potatoes. At some future period I entertain little doubt that the cultivation of this plant on the bogs of Ireland will become not less general than advantageous to the numerous residents on them, as the benefit of the crop would extend to the feeding of milch cows as well as pigs. The weight of the crop, when compared with the produce from the same land in hay, would be as two tons of one to forty of the other, and consequently the value of mangel-wurzel may be esteemed as ten times greater than that of grass.

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The Stature of the People diminished. 307

Our journey this day was not concluded under thirty-five miles, with a very indifferent place to stop at, called Gallaghers Inn, at the end of fifteen. Travellers on this road are so few that it was not surprising to find our host ill-provided; bread there was none-but cakes made with milk and flour, and prepared in a few minutes, became its substitute. Oaten bread is, in part, the food of the North of Ireland, as it is in Scotland, and some of our northern counties.

The diminished stature of the people here, when compared with those of the North, as likewise their general character, begin to be very apparent. Soon after we had breakfasted we entered on an extensive district of bog, reaching to the foot of Knocknaree. Not a tree was produced on this wide waste, in various parts of which were seen huge masses of rock, one of which I examined particularly, and found it to be of grey whinstone, unlike the rocks in its neighbourhood. These large stones being scattered individually over the bog had a singular appearance difficult to account for. The cabins on the side of the bog were miserable, and bore the strongest marks of poverty. Land was said to be let for twenty shillings per acre, on which the oats appeared to be ten days

308 First Appearance of large grazing Farms. later in ripening than the crops which we had before observed.

The servants of government have found amusement and means of expending the public money here in the erection of martello towers: of what possible use they could be near such a coast it is difficult to imagine. At Enniscrone bridge a thick fog came on, and we travelled for more than an hour in great obscurity. As it cleared away, I was astonished by the appearance of most luxuriant verdure at some little distance before us. I had no hesitation in pronouncing that it must have a limestone substratum beneath it, which proved to be correct. Here was the first specimen that we had seen of large grazing farms, which we understood were rented at four pounds per acre. The The pastures are very large, and were stocked with numerous herds of fine cattle and flocks of sheep.

As we were proceeding on foot up hill, ac cording to our usual custom for the relief of ourselves and horses, and enjoying a fine prospect, we were accosted by a young man who inquired the time of day, and afterwards if we were of opinion he could in four hours reach his destination, which he named. The oddity of the question amused us-its purport was