MAYO.

THE maritime county of Mayo, in the province of Connaught, is bounded on the east by the counties of Sligo and Roscommon, on the south by the county of Galway, and on the north and west by the Atlantic Ocean. It comprises, according to the Ordnance Survey, an area of 1,355,048 statute acres ; of which 871,984 are cultivated land; 425,124 are unprofitable mountain and bog; and 57,940 are under water. It is divided into nine baronies-Burrishoole, Carra, Clanmorris, Costello, Erris, Gallen, Kilmain, Murrisk, and Tyrawly. Its principal towns are, Castlebar (the assize town), Ballina, Ballinrobe, and Foxford; and the sea-ports are Westport, Killala, and Newport. The population in 1821 was 293,112; and 367,956 in 1831,—a population which bears no proportion even to its cultivated land; taking no account of the 425,124 acres within this single county which are suffered to remain unproductive and useless; although there are thousands of unemployed hands in every district; and the tide of emigration flows from this province as rapidly as it does from others.

To the subject of" Waste Lands" in Ireland, we have frequently presumed to direct the attention of our readers. It is impossible to travel through any one of its counties without grieving over useless tracts that a reasonable expenditure of capital might, within a very short space of time, convert into profitable ground. Wherever, indeed, there is "waste," there is also evidence that it might be easily redeemed; for in the midst of the bleakest bogs, and on the sides of the barest mountains, small cultivated patches will be always seen -reclaimed by the hand of some hardy and industrious peasant, with no help other than his "own four bones." Cases in which the barren has been changed to the productive upon a large scale by private enterprise are, however, very rare. In the county of which we are treating, and in the neighbouring county of Galway, there are landlords who possess from 10,000 to 50,000 acres, that do not yield rent enough to stable a hunter; and who, being unable themselves to cultivate, refuse encouragement to others to cultivate for them-acting much upon the principle of the "dog in the manger."

VOL. III.

3 A

What they received from their fathers they transmit to their sons,-huge estates, valuable only as preserves for game. Those who have seen a mass of povertystricken tenants congregated in a wretched village, each with a half-acre of potatoes, barely sufficient to keep life in the family, for the year,—if there be no failure of the crop, and no trouble more severe than the troubles that annually visit them, and see close by a large tract that might give ample food and plenty of comforts to double the population that surrounds it, will feel justified in applying harsh terms to selfish landlords, who will neither use, nor let others use, the means that Providence supplies to minister to human wants.*

Very many suggestions have been made, and several plans have been adopted, for reclaiming these waste-lands upon a grand scale; their success, however, from a variety of causes, has been but trivial. It is not generally known that a society-named "The Irish Waste Land Society"-exists in London, by which the evil may be met, and by which it has been met partially. We paid a hasty visit to one of its estates-in the county of Galway; and the impression left upon our minds by a brief examination into the results of a limited experiment, induced us to make inquiries concerning its progress and prospects.

The Society was established in the year 1836. It is incorporated by charter. During the first three or four years of its existence it made very little way; the Directors knew comparatively nothing of the country; they had most unmanageable materials to deal with; a people averse to improvements; and, above all, landlords whose apathy or distrust, whose unreasonable demands or expectations, formed an almost impassable barrier. Such disadvantages, although they operated largely in disheartening the shareholders generally, inducing many of them to withdraw, and threatening the Society with sudden. death, are beginning to be overcome; and a certainty is now secured that at

* Mr. Nimmo, the eminent engineer, in his evidence before a Parliamentary Committee, in 1819, stated that "The waste lands of Ireland, easily reclaimable and convertible to the production of grain, almost without limit, for exportation, comprise three millions and a half of Irish acres, or about a fourth part of the entire island, and would provide for an additional population of two millions. Upon the whole," he adds, "I am so perfectly convinced of the practicability of converting the bogs I have surveyed into arable land—and that at an expense that need hardly ever exceed the gross value of one year's crop produced from them that I declare myself willing, for a reasonable consideration, to undertake the drainage of any given piece of considerable extent, and the formation of its roads, for one guinea per acre." The total expense of reclamation he estimates at £9, and the potato crop at £10. He also computes that two labourers and one horse can improve five acres of waste land in one year, and derive an adequate subsistence from the produce. A host of other authorities might be adduced; and although few of them are quite as sanguine, all agree in affirming that the cultivation of the waste lands of Ireland generally, would repay an ample profit to the reclaimer.

no distant period the parties interested will not only receive a fair return for the capital invested, but will enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that they have essentially promoted the welfare of Ireland-not alone by the results they may exhibit, but as setting an example that will encourage others, by manifesting the importance to all parties of rendering available the abundant resources of the country *.

The Society have now four estates in hand under leases of 99 years, comprising, in the whole, 18,365 statute acres. Of these estates two (Ballinakil and Kilkerrin) are in the county of Galway; one (Gleneaske) is in the county of Sligo; and the other (Tullygoline) is in the county of Limerick †. Ballinakil is held under lease from Sir John Burke, Bart., of Marble Hill, Galway-a gentleman who has been described to us as a true patriot, who cordially co-operates with the Society in their plans of improvement. It comprises 1366 acres; and is situated seven miles from Loughrea, and nine from Portumna. When the Society took it, in 1836, it contained only five tenants, occupying as many miserable hovels; and whose rental amounted in the aggregate to 50s. per annum-this being generally in arrear. Under the Company the number of tenants has been increased to forty, having thirtytwo acres now reclaimed-nineteen under crop, and increasing the quantity

* The capital which the Directors have power to raise is half a million; in ten thousand shares of fifty pounds each; and the society being incorporated by Act of Parliament, the liability of each shareholder is limited to the amount of his subscription, which amounts but to five pounds per share, as yet called for. And the Society are empowered, not merely to underlet, but to sell their improved rentals, so as to increase their funds for more extended operations. The leading objects in view appear to be these:—

1st. When an estate is offered to the society which appears eligible, it is surveyed, and a detailed report of its value, position, extent, capabilities, resources, proximity to markets, limestone and other manures, drawn up by competent and trusty persons.

2ndly. When an estate is taken and the number and class of tenants clearly ascertained, together with all the points above referred to, roads are laid out and contracted for, as the first step towards improvement, as well generally throughout the estate, as to the surrounding country; and steps are taken to obtain the support of the local authorities and neighbouring landlords, towards bringing the part of the country into easy communication with the principal markets and towns. The estate is mapped, laid out in regular farms, comprehending a due proportion of each kind of land-lock spelled out, measured, valued, and divided by embankments, answering the double purpose of fences and drains.

3rdly. To build cottages where most wanted, or assist the tenants by loans in doing so.

4thly. To seek for tenants of character, where not offering themselves sufficiently fast.

5thly. To make all necessary drains, fences, &c.

6thly. To establish a model farm with a rotation crop, excluding two white crops in succession.

7thly. To furnish the tenants, when necessary, with cattle on agistment, for the creation of manure, the tenants building a cattle-shed; and to assist them with employment in labour (in effecting drainage, roadmaking, &c., for the first two years, loan of seeds, &c.)

This latter, however, is held under an arrangement differing from the other three; not being actually in the hands of the Society. They appear to have lent a sum of 30001. upon it: this sum to be laid out, under their inspection, upon improvements; the trustees of the estate paying to the Society an interest of seven per cent.

of reclaimed land every year*, occupying thirty-two neat cottages, and paying a rental of 841. per annum. The number of tenants is rapidly increasing, and the houses are daily improving in conveniences and comforts.

This was the first estate taken by the Society. The next was Gleneaske, in the county of Sligo; situate eight miles from Ballina, and nine from Tobercorry, and comprising 5698 statute acres. In 1837, the number of tenants was no more than seven, holding small farms of from six to eight acres each ; paying, or rather being liable to pay, an aggregate rental of about 301. The tenants now amount to 44; occupying comfortable cottages, many of them holding farms of forty Irish acres; and paying altogether an annual rent of 2301.; with the prospect of a considerable increase as additional land is brought into cultivation +.

Kilkerrin-the third estate-is a very large tract of land (consisting of 9562 statute acres) on the borders of the Bay of Galway, and came into the hands of the company in August, 1841, at which time there was not a foot of road on the property, and it was, consequently, almost impossible for any but a native to climb over the rocks, wade through the bogs, or traverse the dense fields of oats and potatoes growing along the coast. There were about 116 tenants holding under the landlord, and as many more under tenants, the total population amounting to 1100 souls, possessing cottages, boats, cattle, and other property, but the land was divided into the smallest patches, all intermingled with each other, so that none but the owner could know the right proprietor of each field. The rent agreed to be paid by the Society for this property was nearly covered by that paid by the tenants. The whole estate has, since it has been in the company's possession, been accurately surveyed, valued, and divided into farms, consisting of a due proportion of each kind of land, and is now re-let to the tenants on the estate, in farms proportionate to

*The Society adopted at Ballinakil-where the tenantry had no cattle of their own, and, in consequence, no means of creating manure-a system hitherto little known in Ireland, but which has been attended with the most complete success, viz., that of buying a number of cattle, and dividing them amongst the tenants to be kept by them on agistment, and housed in winter, which cattle have improved greatly beyond the cost, expense, and interest of the purchase-money, and have been the means of enabling each tenant to collect good heaps of manure for his crops.

Most of the tenants at Gleneaske have cattle of their own, from the produce of which, together with the crops from the reclaimed waste land, they derive their support, and the private stocks of cattle increase progressively every year. Apart from the grounds now let, there are very many acres of reclaimable land and mountain pasture to be let, and it is the object of the Society to find good tenants for them as soon as possible; but, in the meantime, to prevent the rich pasture from being lost, they take annually as many cattle as can be obtained on agistment, and, in default of these, purchase cattle—a measure, which of course becomes annually less necessary, as the lands are let, and other cattle received. Some idea of the value of the pasturage may be formed from the fact, that, on an average, three acres are capable of maintaining one cow, and that the butter from that cow will pay double the agistment, or rent, per acre.