thirty to five hundred acres, generally about two hundred and
fifty. All above two hundred acres are in general dairies; some of the
dairy ones rise very high. The soil is a reddish stony or slaty gravel,
dry, except low lands, which are clay or turf. Rents vary much--about
the town very high, from 5 pounds 5s. to 9 pounds, but at the distance of
a few miles towards Passage, etc., they are from 20s. to 40s., and some
higher, but the country in general does not rise so high, usually 10s. to
20s. for dairying land.

The poor people spin their own flax, but not more, and a few of them wool
for themselves. Their food is potatoes and milk; but they have a
considerable assistance from fish, particularly herrings; part of the
year they have also barley, oaten, and rye bread. They are incomparably
better off in every respect than twenty years ago. Their increase about
Ballycanvan is very great, and tillage all over this neighbourhood is
increased. The rent of a cabin 10s.; an acre with it 20s. The grass of
a cow a few years ago 20s., now 25s. or 30s.

An exceeding good practice here in making their fences is, they plant the
quick on the side of the bank in the common manner, and then, instead of
the dead hedge we use in England on the top of the bank, they plant a row
of old thorns, two or three feet high, which readily grow, and form at
once a most excellent fence. Their way also of taking in sand-banks from
the river deserves notice. They stake down a row of furzes at low water,
laying stones on them to the height of one or two feet; these retain the
mud, which every tide brings in, so as to fill up all within the furze as
high as their tops. I remarked, on the strand, that a few boatloads of
stones laid carelessly had had this effect, for within them I measured
twelve inches deep of rich blue mud left behind them, the same as they
use in manuring, full of shells, and effervesced strongly with vinegar.

Among the poor people the fishermen are in much the best circumstances.
The fishery is considerable; Waterford and its harbour have fifty boats
each, from eight to twelve tons, six men on an average to each, but to
one of six tons five men go. A boat of eight tons costs 40 pounds; one
of twelve, 60 pounds. To each boat there is a train of nets of six pair,
which costs from 4 pounds 4s. to 6 pounds 6s.; tan them with bark. Their
only net fishery is that of herrings, which is commonly carried on by
shares. The di