Notes and Gleanings Relating to the County of Wexford

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1868 edition. Excerpt: ...and indicative of care: his economy of manure is peculiar among this class of husbandmen. He employs his horses, on all convenient opportunities, in drawing town manure (especially of stable yards), from Wexford--a distance of more than four miles. This he leaves unused during two years, mixing and turning it if necessary, until it is perfectly decomposed and commingled, in which condition it is most favourably applied to green crops and as top-dressing of grass land. Such holdings, though not models as show farms, are in their class very valuable evidences of thrifty industry and prospering contentedness, conditions generally creditable, both to the owners and occupiers of the soil. A few miles nearer to the sea, and in the parish of Ardcolme, Mr. Edward Gainfort (Barony Cess Collector) farms in a superior manner. To judge rightly of his untiring industry, skill, and expenditure, the visitor should have seen the state of the farm when he entered on it. He is fortunate in being tenant of two of the best of land proprietors, the Hon. Mrs. Deane Morgan, and Captain Hatton. He feeds his cattle and horses with vetches and clover in summer, and does not turn them out in winter to trample the land. This farmer employs sixteen male and female labourers constantly, and diets them all. Some of the men are lodged in the house; the others have cottages and little gardens rent-free, and get milk besides 6d. a day, all the year round, with some addition in harvest. The want of water in summer is an inconvenience occasionally experienced in this neighbourhood. In the more northern part of the same barony (as in the contiguous Barony of Ballaghkeene) there are small loughs, locally termed Dhulochs which have the peculiarity of being higher in summer...