variety of the grounds, the vast extent of river, with the declivity to
it from the point of view, altogether form so unrivalled a scenery, every
object so commanding, that the general want of wood is almost forgotten.
Two years after this account was written I again visited this enchanting
hill, and walked to it, day after day, from Ballycanvan, and with
increasing pleasure. Mr. Bolton, jun., has, since I was there before,
inclosed forty acres on the top and steep slope to the water, and begun
to plant them. This will be a prodigious addition; for the slope forming
the bold shore for a considerable space, and having projections from
which the wood will all be seen in the gentle hollows of the hill, the
effect will be amazingly fine. Walks and a riding are tracing out, which
will command fresh beauties at every step. The spots from which a
variety of beautiful views are seen are numerous. All the way from
Ballycanvan to Faithleg, the whole, to the amount of one thousand two
hundred acres, is the property of Mr. Bolton.
Farms about Ballycanvan, Waterford, etc., are generally small, from
twenty and 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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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