Observations on Mr. Archer's statistical survey of the County of Dublin. (Appendix.-Extracts from Doctor Rutty's essay towards a natural history of the county, etc.)

Front matter

OBSERVATIONS os MR. ARCHER'S STATISTICAL SURVEY OF THE COUNTY OF DUBLIN. '■££#*«. BY HELY DUTTON. v '&$£$$>Zii PRINTED BY GRAISBERRY AND CAMPBELL, KO. IO, B/ICK-LANE. 1802. TO THE READER. The Statistical Reports are printed and circu lated for the purpose merely of procuring further in formation, respecting the slate and husbandry of each district or county, and of enabling ev§ry one, interested in the welfare of this country, to examine it fully, and contribute his mite to its improvement. The Society do not deem themselves pledged to any opinion, given by the authors of the Surveys, or of the Observations, made on their publications ; and they dcfire, that nothing contained in either be con~ f dered as their sentiments. The Society hope, that the example, given by the author of the following Ohsernyntinfis on the Statis tical Survey of the County of Dublin, will create an emulation in others to make fitnilar remarks on the Surveys of other Counties, already published, many os which are very defective, and require much amendment. .

The author of the Observations has not touched upon the slate of the numerous charities, hospitals, and schools, public and private, in this county, which the Society hope will soon be forwarded to them, that a perf eel Report may be formed in the course of the following year.

Preface

. _.*»®®l<^£|g. ,»»__>_ — WHEN, at the instance of a too partial friend, I was prompted to remark on the Statistical Survey of the County of Dublin, I imagined a very few pages would contain what I intended to fay ; but I found that more was ex pected than was at first proposed, which has im perceptibly induced me to extend it to its present length. Had I the least idea, when I began, that this would have been the cafe, every exertion should have been used to make it more worthy of public inspection ; but it was really intended, at first, as a stimulus to others to communicate their observations on the different Statistical Sur veys, which was much wanting, as the invitations for

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. IV for this purpose, from the Dublin Society, have as yet had little or no effect. If gentlemen are determined to observe this silence, the Surveys must remain in a very imperfect state, and fail in conveying to us and to posterity the present state, resources, and means of improving the foil, and ameliorating the condition of the lower orders of the community. It must surely be extremely grating to the gentlemen, engaged in the different Surveys, to have to state the neglect of answering letters, or refusing to convey information ; for, without the warm support and active interference of the landed proprietors, it is utterly impossible to carry such a work into execution with any beneficial effect. It is earnestly hoped it may be still carried in mind, that this can be by no means considered as a Statistical Survey of the County of Dublin ; if this had been the author's intention, he would have endeavoured to give it a very different appearance, and it would have been accompanied by a mineralogical map ; for what Mr. Archer has

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. V has written, and the present publication, are mere skeletons of a Statistical Report of the County of Dublin, which deserves a more minute investigation of its natural productions, and an infinitely greater number of suggestions for its improve ment, than it has received. It must be a matter of no little surprize and regret, that, in the whole city and county of Dublin, there could not be found one man of public spirit to undertake this most useful, pleas ing, and honourable tasl_, gratuitously. According to my ideas of its importance, it would take at least two years to accomplish this ; and it could not be expected, that any profeffional man, or one of small income, would undertake it for the sake os the trifling sum the Dublin Society are enabled to offer ; but surely there are many men of ample fortune, much leisure, and compe tent abilities, to whom it would be a mere amuse ment. When we see the elegant and satisfactory manner, in which the Kilkenny, Down, and some other VI

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. other Surveys are executed, we must regret that tlie fame spirit did not actuate other gentlemen. Great allowances must be made, in every Sur vey, for many omissions, and for defective or er roneous information, in a work that includes such a great variety of matter ; it requires no small share of assiduity to acquire such information as will conduce to the end proposed by the Society. The divisions recommended by the Dublin Society, and adopted by Mr. Archer, have been followed in the observations ; if thought worthy of notice, they may, at any future period, be more easily found, and incorporated in a cor rected Report. Some gentlemen, who have seen my manu script, have objected to my statement of the rent of land at 4/. per acre (page 2), as being too low. There are many farms in the county of Dublin, that do not let for near so high a rent ; but it might as well have been five shillings or ten

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. VII ten pounds an acre, as the fame rent is charged in both courses, and does not affect the conclu sions I wissi to draw from it. It must be evident to every person, acquainted with rural affairs, that I have barely glanced at each subject ; for were I to enlarge on the course of crops, roads, irrigation, cultivation of green crops for soiling in the house, draining, improvement of waste lands, planting, hay-making, and some others, it would extend the work beyond the necessary limits ; they are objects of such consequence, as each to require little less than a volume. In page 14, a method of making potatoe-ridges is suggested, that is not commonly known, but, it is hoped, will be found highly deserving of no tice, especially in this county, whose substratum is usually composed of calcareous or other valu able gravels ; but it must not be inferred from this, that I approve of planting potatoes in ridges in soils of a different nature j it is merely recomb mended

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. VIII mended for lands where the gravel lies below the reach of the plough, even aided by the miner, and only to be practised on grounds, that have never received this improvement ; after this operation, the plough and miner will be amply suf ficient to keep it so open, as to admit the pro pagation of carrots, or other tap-rooted plants. Planting potatoes in drills has been unequivocally proved to save labour, money, manure, and time, and to leave the ground in a much superior state of amelioration. It may perhaps be imagined I am too severe in many instances, particularly on the practices of Fingal. The period has arrived, in which these vaunted practices are undeniably proved to be erroneous ; therefore I should deem myself ex tremely culpable, if I did not point them out ; this is the more necessary, as, from being for merly esteemed good farmers, they have acquired an opinion of their superiority, that can only be changed by such gentlemen as Mr. Segrave, who, rising

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. IX rising superior to vulgar prejudices, will at once confess himself in an error, and change his system. A circumstance, that occurred lately, helps to throw some light on what I have just stated. A steward advertised that, amongst his other ac quirements, he was well acquainted with the practices of Fingal; on being examined, he main tained, that less ihznfx horses in a plough could never answer in any ground, and that undoubtedly fallowing was absolutely necessary, and superior to any other preparation for corn. Under the ma nagement of a man of these sentiments, what im provement could be expected ? That the inesti mable value of green crops is beginning to be known, it may be necessary to state, that I know an eminent grazier, who was formerly (as too many are yet) insensible of the value of any food for cattle but grafs and hay, who this year (1802) has upwards oi sixty acres of vetches. Many of the errors I have pointed out jn roads, and other parts of the subject, may have beeq

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. X been amended since I saw them, of course my objections fall to the ground ; but I fear they remain as I have stated. If any change in the system takes place, it must originate in an act of the Imperial Parliament, that will throw the management of roads into the hands of men, who have no other business to mind. If canals had been carried on in this manner, what errors would have been committed ? I have ventured to give some hints to citizens possessing small farms near the metropolis, but I fear to little purpose, as I have scarcely ever met one, that did not entertain the dangerous opinion, that farming is a science easily understood. In page 6$ it is stated, that the difference be tween spring and winter vetches is not clearly as certained. I am since well informed, that Mr. Grainger os Causestown, in the county of Meath, and several other gentlemen, have unequivocally proved, by the severity of last winter destroying the spring vetches, that a difference does actually exist;

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. XI exist ; and, from a trial I have made this spring, I perceive they are easily distinguifliable in every stage of their growth. Although I have given the Black-rock road as an instance of bad management, it is not that others are conducted in a better manner, but merely because it is more generally known. On the subject of inland navigation, I have been honoured with the assistance of gentlemen perfectly masters of the subject : as a matter of the utmost moment to the kingdom at large, and to the city of Dublin in particular, it will not be deemed, it is hoped, the least acceptable part of the publication. The extract from a pamphlet, published by the Right Hon. Edmund Burke, may be of some use in stopping the mouths of those ignorant and dis satisfied croakers, that we are obliged to listen to every day ; possibly it may also induce Govern ment to prevent the unjust intermeddling of per sons in office in the sale of hay and straw in Smithfield

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. Smithfield market. I can scarcely imagine it i_ generally known, that farmers are obliged to sell their hay before five o'clock in the evening ; it seems a bell is rung at that hour, and they must instantly take their hay and straw out of the market, and stand in the streets, where those in the secret are on the watch to buy at any price they choose to offer, which the poor frightened farmer is glad to accept of. This oppressive mode, I understand, was introduced by the late Lord Mayor, a well-meaning man, but entirely ignorant of agricultural affairs ; I am surprised to see it permitted by the present Lord Mayor (Alderman Manders), who is a very spirited and good farmer; and it is equally surprising, that the farmers have not had recourse to legal means to obtain redress. The subject of minerals has been given at some length from Doctor Rutty and Doctor Blake; it is a very interesting one, and, until lately, too much neglected. I have

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. XIII I have given some extracts from Mr. Tatham's Treatise on Irrigation, by means of warping ; it is new in this country, and highly deserving of notice, as there are many situations, that will ad mit of it. Mr. Grierson, with his usual spirit, has been so good as to favour me with plates of his celebrated cattle and pigs. From reading Mr. Culley's description of the Suffolk punch horse, I was induced to condemn the introduction of them into this country, but I am informed by a gentleman, who has taken pains to make himself acquainted with the sub ject, that twenty years ago the Suffolk punch was an animal very different from that described by Mr. Culley; he was about fifteen hands and an inch high, very broad, round in the rib, short in the back, well shouldered, deep and wide in the chest, up before, his head well set on, and his legs broad, flat, and free from gum or hair ; he was a quick stepper, and extremely well winded j

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. XIV winded ; his characteristic marks were his colour, which was a shade between sorrel and chesnut, with a mixture of white hairs in his mane and tail, an aquiline nose, and rather a sour countenance. These horses were admirably adapted for the carriage, the road, and the plough, and instances were not wanting of some of them turning out good hunters. By the mistaken system os enlarging the size of draft horses, this valuable breed has been almost totally destroyed, and a large, aukward, mis-stiapen animal (such as Culley describes) substituted in their place. A few of the good old sort have happily been preserved, by the exertions of a few spirited individuals, in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex ; and this country is likely to be benefited by them, as Mr. Fortescue of Raven's-dale, and Mr. Wynne of Hazlewood, have imported two stallions and six mares, of the very best kind that could be procured in Eng land. No horse is better calculated for this country, as he combines strength and activity with hardiness and thrift. The Suffolk punch, with our

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. XV our little Irissi mares, will probably renovate the breed of roadsters, for which Ireland was for merly celebrated, but which have degenerated by tlie introduction of Flanders waggon-horses, and dwindled racers. I beg leave to offer my sincere acknowledg ments to the different gentlemen, who have so kindly interested themselves in the work. To General Vallancey's polite and unwearied atten tion I feel particularly obliged. I regret exceed ingly, that several hints and corrections, with which I have been favoured, have been received too late for the present publication. CONTENTS t CONTENTS OF THE CHAPTERS. CHAP, I. Page SfCT. 2. Divisions, - . m « I 3. Climate, » . • -II 4. Soil and Surface, • * • 1 3 5. Minerals, • - - . J 5 6. Water, « . . « J$ CHAP. II. AGRICULTURs, Sect. 1. Mode of Culture, - « - ?o 2.

Extent of it, and of each Sfteies of Grain sowed, • - . - 24 Course of Crops, • - - 2 7 C2 £J» Xfiii CONTEXTS. P_;4e Use of Oxen, - - - - 3 l Nature aud use of Implements of Hujl,vidry, 33 Use of green Food in Winter, - - 3 7 CHAP. 111. Sect. i. Pasture, - - - - 4a 2. Breed of Cattle — hoiv far improved, - 46 3. — — far capable of further ' improvement, - - - 47 Markets or Fairs for them, - "55 Jllode of Feeding, and hozu far housed in Winter, - - - - 57 7. Natural Grasses, - - - 59 8. Artificial Grasses, - -- - 65 9. Mode of Hay-making, - - - 74 IO. Dairies — their produce, - - " 7*^ CHAP. IV. Sect. 5. General State nf Leases, - fc^ 6. Of particular Clauses therein, - - 84 10. Nature cf Fences, - - - 87 12. Mode of Draining, - - -co J 3. Nature of Manures, - - qj CHAP. CONTENTS. XIX CHAP. V. GENERAL SUBJECTS.

Page Sect. 2. Number and size of Villages and Towns, <)8 Some Observations on the Growth and Increase of the City of DubUn, - 1 09 Gentlemen* Seats and Improvements, - IlS 3. Habitation, Fuel, Food, and C loathing of the lower Ranh — their general Co/I, - 1 28 Price of Wages, Labour, and Provisions, - 131 6. Use of Beer aud Spirits — whether either, or which is encreajing, - - 133 7. Slate of Roads, Bridges, isfc. - - 1 34 8. State of Navigations and Navigable Rivers, 148 13. Stale of Farming Societies, - 15 1 1 6. Plantations and P/anting, - 155 18. Stale of Nurseries within the County, and Extent of Sales, - - 157 20. Shiantity of Bog and Wajle Ground, - 158 21. Possibility and means of improving them, - 160 2 2. Ob/lac/es to them, and the befl means of removing them, - - - 1C3 27. Whether the County has been actually surveyed, Iffc. - - - 166 29.

The Weight or Measure, by which Grain, Flour, Potatoes, cjfc. are fold, - 167 Irrigation, - - - 1 68 Horticulture, XX CONTENTS. Page Horticulture, - - - 1 75 Burning Plants sor Aflies, ■*• - '77 Saving Seeds, - - - - 1 " & Extras! from Thoughts and Details on Scarcity, by the late Right Hon. Edmund Burke, - - i Sa