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About Google Book Search Google's mission is to organize the world's information and to make it universally accessible and useful. Google Book Search helps readers discover the world's books while helping authors and publishers reach new audiences. You can search through the full text of this book on the web at jhttp : //books . qooqle . com/ .__ i LLl^. 1i?arLiarU iColltgr iLifaratg STATISTICAL SURVEY OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH, WITH ' OBSERVATIONS ON THE MEANS OF IMPROVEMENT ; DRAWN UP IN THE YEARS 1802, AND 1803, FOR THE CONSIDERATION, AND UNDER THE DIRECTION OF Cfie Dublin &octetg. BY SIR CHARLES COOTE, BART. Terra tuis content a bonis, non indiga mercis. LUC AH, PRINTED BY CRAISBERRY AND CAMPBELL, 10, BACK-LANE. 1804. ft 'J I It TO THE READER. This Report is at present printed and circulated for the purpose merely of procuring further infor- mation, respecting the state and husbandry of this district, and of enabling every 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 Author of this Survey ; and they desire, that nothing contained in it be con- sidered as their sentiments ; they have only pub- lished it, as the report of the gentleman* whose name is affixed, and they publish it for the com- ments and observations of all persons, which they entreat to be given freely, and without reserve. It is therefore requested, that the observations on reading this work may be returned to the Dublin Society, as soon as may be convenient, and which will meet with the fullest attention in a future edition. • * ^ DEDICATION. TO THE RIGHT HON. JOHN FOSTER, LATE SPEAKER. OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS OF IRELAND, AND PRESIDENT OF THB FARMING SOCIETY OF IRELAND, &C.&C.&C. SIR, I had already been honored with your permission to commit to the public, under the sanction of your patronage, my observa- tions on the agriculture and commerce of another county; so am I again solicitous of the like favour and countenance, in preparing this vo- lume for press. I feel it, at all times, an additional value to my statistical enquiries, to be honored with your protection ; but to whom else, Sir, could I so properly offer my labours in this fine county, so superior to all others in the great staple of the nation, as to the friend of the a linen iv DEDICATION. linen trade of Ireland, and the framer of those wise laws, which have fixed our manufacture on the surest basis, and established a system of commerce which defies all competition ? I do not presume, Sir, to convey a mere compliment; your exertions, for the interest and prosperity of Ireland, are superior to my panegyric. Permit me to have the honor of assuring you, how sincerely I am, With the most profound respect, and truest attachment, Your most faithful, obliged, And obedient servant, CHARLES COOTE. -DUBLIN^ June i| 1803. PREFACE. PREFACE. A Work embracing such various subjects, as are suggested for the statistical enquiry of a county, should doubtless have the assistance of many. I have heartily to lament, and feel it a presumption, that I must lay be- fore the public the following sheets, which I cannot boast have had that advantage. Pecu- liar circumstances, and unfortunate casualties, precluded me the information and co-operation of those resident gentlemen, who were willing to give their cordial aid, and of others, who could also have furnished me with very in- teresting matter. From so learned and respectable a body as the clergy of this county, surely, much information might have been expected, for a work intended a c to vi PREFACE. to effect such public service. Had these gen- tlemen contributed thereto, I should not now have to complain of any deficiency of materials. It is necessary for me to state, that I took the best pains I could to obtain information, and duly apprized the resident gentry of this district of my intended tour by a circular letter, in which was enclosed a detail of the subjects to be investigated ; I thought it the surest means of obtaining their remarks. Four times I tra- versed this county, at a considerable expence, and I oftentimes called on many of them at their houses, but had not the good fortune of meeting them, nor have I since been furnished with any observations towards the proposed enquiry. I have, therefore, only to hope, that a candid allowance will be made for the errors and omis- sions, which must necessarily be found in such a laborious work, compiled from my own obser- vations, PREFACE. vii rations, with very few exceptions, which are thankfully acknowledged as they occur. It is indeed to be regretted, that the illiberal jealousies, which have been roused by the ac- tive endeavours of the Dublin Society in their institution of Statistical Surveys of counties, have not yet subsided; and it is strange, that the example of this truly respectable body should not have expelled the prejudices, which yet pervade some ranks of society, with whom ignorance cannot be a plea for their groundless fears. Perhaps in the next edition of this vo- lume they may please to give their assistance, this attempt being only intended as a ground- work, or a systematic arrangement, of the sub* jeets necessary to be examined. SUGGESTIONS CONTENTS OF TUB CHAPTERS. PART L CHAP. I. GEOGRAPHICAL STATE AND MODERN CIRCUMSTANCES, WITH OBSERVATIONS ON THE NATURAL HISTORY OP THE COUNTY. ] Page Sect. 1. Situation and Extent - - l 2. Superficial appropriation - - 5 3. Civil Division - - 1 4. Ecclesiastical Division - - 9 Alphabetical List of Parishes within the County - - 10 Parishes which branch into this County ~ - - 15 References M CONTENTS. References to Ecclesiastical Denomi- Page nations, which are not distinct parishes - Archbishoprick , or province of Ar- magh - Table of extent of Archbishoprick Table of first fruits - Sect. 5. Climate - 17 13 19 20 22 6. Soil and Surface Mountains - 25 33 Woods 46 Bog and Moor 7. Minerals - 72 84 Fossils j native, and extraneous ibid. Mineral Waters 86 8. Waters - - - 88 Table of the Distance which each River runs, and the course it takes through this County Lakes - 94 95 Lough-Neagh Navigations - - Newry canal Fish - 96 104 106 111 Aquatic Birds Amphibious animals - Aquatic Plants 112 ibid. 113 CHAP. CONTENTS. w CHAP. II. STATE 0» PROPERTY. Sect. 1. Estates - ' Page 117 2. Tenures - 118 3. Rental • 120 4/ Landed Proprietors • - 122 CHAP. III. BUILDINGS. / Sect. 1. Public Buildings • - 130 2. Houses of the Gentry - * 131 3. Farm-houses, and Offices * 132 4. Manufacturers* Houses, and Cottages 133 CHAP. IV. MODE OF OCCUPATION. Sect. 1. Size of Farms - • 136 2. Character of Farmers - * 133 Sect. tri CONTENTS. Page Sect. 3. Sent - 141 4. Tithes - 142 5. Leases - 144 Clauses in Leases ibid. CHAP. V. IMPLEMENTS. Prices of Implements - - 147 CHAP. VI. INCLOSING. Sect. 1. Thorn fences, hedges - - 149 2. Paling - 153 3. Walls - 155 4. JFater /emrs - 157 5. Ditches - 158 6. Gdfcs - 159 PART CONTENTS. xru PART II. CHAP. VII. AGRICULTURE. Page Preliminary Remarks - - i6i Parochial Queries suggested by the Dublin Society - - 163 Sect, l . Mode of Culture - - 1 67 Defects in the Plough, and remedies proposed - - 168 Defects in the Harrow, and remedies proposed . - 169 2. Extent of Culture, and of each spe- cies of Grain sowed - 171 3. Course of Crops , - 172 4. Use of Oxen, how harnessed - 177 5. Nature and use of Implements of Husbandry . . ibi(L 6. Markets for Grain - - 181 7. Use of Green Food in Winter - 182 8. General observations on the modes of Agriculture, as practised in the county, with remarks on drill husbandry . . # e - rf# Wheat culture - - 183 Barley xviii CONTENTS. Page Barley culture - 187 Oatscitlture - - 189 Potaioc culture - - 191 General hints on Potatoe culture 1 95 Flax culture - - 197 Crops not commonly cultivated to any extent - - - 198 Turnips (as food for cattle J - 201 Rape - ditto - - 205 Cabbages ditto - - 209 Carrots and parsnips ditto - ibid. Potatoes ditto - - 210 Tares and vetches ditto - ibid. Peas - ditto - - 214 Beans - ditto - - 215 Hemp - - 216 CHAP. VIII. PASTURE. Sfct. 1. Nature of it - 21 7 2. Breed of Cattle — how far improved? 220 3. How far capable of further improve* mentf - aiwf. 4. Markets or Fairs for them - 221 Alphabetical CONTENTS. mx Page Alphabetical List of the Fairs of this County - ■ - - 222 Sect. 5. General Prices - - 223 6* Modes of Feeding — how far housed in Winter - - 224 Sects. 7, K 8. Natural Grasses — Artificial Grasses - 225 Sect. 9. Mode of Hay-making - 226 10. Dairies — their produce - 229 11. Prices of Hides, Tallow, Wool, and quantity sold - 230 CHAP. IX. FARMS. Sect. 1. Their size • - - 232 2. Farm Houses and Offices - ibid. 3. Mode of repairing them - 233 Sects. 4, 5, 6. Nature of Tenures; General state of Leases; of particular Clauses therein - - ibid* Sect. 7. Taxes or Cesses paid by Tenants 234 3. Proportion of working Horses, or Bullocks, to the size of Farms 235 i b Sects. 2* CONTENTS. Page Sects. 9, 10, 11. General size of Fields, or Enclosures; Nature of Fences; Mode of Hedge-rows and keeping Hedges - - . ibid. Sect. 12. Mode of draining - - 236 J 3. Nature of Manures - - 238 CHAP. X. GENERAL SUBJECTS. Sect. J. Population - 245 2. Number and size of Villages and Torvns - 247 Table of Towns and Villages • 248 Sects. 3, 4. Habitation, Fuel, Food, and Clothing of the lower Bank ; their general 'Cost; Price of Wages, Labour, and Provisions ; and ge- iKral View of the Rural Eco- nomy of the County - 249 Sect. 5. Slate of Tithe; its general amount on each article ; what articles are exempt, and what charged bj/ mqdus - . - 257 Sect. CONTENTS. **i Page Sect. 6. Use of Beer and Spirits — whether either, or which is encrcasing 25& Sects. 7, 8, 9. State of Roads and Bridges, of Navigations and Navigable /livers, of Fisheries, and of Ma- nufactures; or a general view of Political Economy, as effecting Agriculture, or connected with it ibid. Sect. 10. State of Education, Schools, and Charitable Institutions , - 274'. J l . State of Absentee and Resident Pro- prietors - - ibid. 12. Circulation of Money or Paper ibid, 13. Farming or Agricultural Societies 275 Sects. 14, 15. State of Manufactures, whether encrcasing ; qf encouragement to them, and the peculiar aptness of the situation for their extension ibid. Sect. 1 *. Of Mills of every kind « ibid, Sects. 17, 18, 19, 20, & 21. State qf Plan- tations and Planting ; of the ef- fects of the encouragement hereto- fore given to them by the Society, particularized in the list annexed. Of any improvetnents ufhich may occur for future encouragement, $od particularly for thepreserva- h 2 tion txii CONTENTS. r Page tion of Trees when planted. Of Nurseries within the County, and Extent of Sales. Price of Tim- ber, and state of it in the County 21 Q Premiums adjudged by the Dublin Society, for planting in the county of Armagh, since the year 1786, where security has been given to preserve the same for ten years from the date of the grant - 2SO Sects. 22, 23, & 24. Quantity of Bog ; pos- sibility and means of improving it; obstacles to it, and best means of removing them - - ibid. '25, 26. Habits of Industiy, or want of Industry among the People. — The use of the English Language, whether general, or how far en- creasing? - - 282 Sect. 27. Account of Towers, Castles, Mo- nasteries, Ancient Buildings, or places remarkable for any histori- cal event - 2S3 28. Churches— Resident Clergy— Glebes, ayid Glebe Houses - - ibid. 29. Whether the County has been actu- ally surveyed; when-, and whether the Survey is published ? - 284 Sects. CONTENTS. skiii Page Sects. 30, 31. Weights and Measures, liquid and dry ; in what instances are Weights assigned for Measures, or vice versa? — The Weight or Measure, by which Grain, Flour, Potatoes, Butter, Xc. are sold 285 Sect. 32. 0/ Mines within the County - 286 CHAP. XL LIVE STOCK. Sect. 1. Horned Cattle - - 283 &. Horses - - - 290 3. Sheep - 292 4. Goats - - - 293 5. Hogs - - 294 6. Rabbits - 295 Sects. 7, 8. Poultry, Pigeons - - ibid. Sect. 9. Bees - - - 296 CHAP. XII, GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 299 PART Sjfa OONtENTS. PARt in. • . CHAP. XIII. BABJONIAL SUJtTXYy INCLUDING THE ANTIQUITIES OF THE COUNTY. Page Preliminary Observations - 301 Sect. 1. Barony of Armagh - - 302 2. Barony of Turenny - - 328 3. Baronies of Upper and Lower Fews 331 4. Baronies of East and West CPNtiland 335 t , 5.. Baronies of Upper and Lower Orior; including some curious and interesting particulars qf the £ordship of Newry - - 349 CHAP. XIV. CONCLUSION. - 394 APPENDIX, CONTENTS. xxr APPENDIX. Pagft Extracts from Harris's Hibernica, and Captain Pynnar*s Survey of Ulster ; in which are given the Names of the original Patentees of the forfeited lands of this County, and their de- nominations, with preliminary ob- servations - - i Religious Houses of the County, from Ware's Antiquities of Ireland - 28 Religious Houses of the County, from ArchdaWs Monasticon Hibernicum 29 STATISTICAL 1 + • i STATISTICAL SURVEY OP THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. PART I. CHAP. I. GEOGRAPHICAL STATE AND MODERN CIRCUMSTANCES, WITH OBSERVATIONS ON. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE COUNTY, Sect. I. Situation and Extent. * JtMAGH, which is an inland county of Ulster, lies between fifty-four degrees four minutes, and fifty-four degrees thirty minutes, of north latitude, and six degrees five minutes, and six degrees forty- five minutes, of west longitude from Greenwich : its form is rather oblong, stretching considerably in an angle, both on the north-east, and western ex- tremities; these narrow tracts, in the aggregate, will be found to add more than four minutes of lon- gitude to the superficies of the county ; for, taking the average breadth of the surface of Armagh, it B iff » STATISTICAL SURVEY is not jnore than twelve Irish miles, but its actual breadth from the two most distant extremities is full sixteen* miles; that is, from the bounds of Mo- naghan county on the west, fiear the village of Glaslough, to Scarvagh village on the east, which touches the Newry canal li<ie, where it is separated from Down county; the variation of its length does not any where exceed much above one mile, the average extent of the county, in this direction, being very nearly twenty-four Irish miles ; the most distant extremes, from Maghery village on the shore of Lough-Neagh on the north, tQ the town* land of Dromlece near Foxfield on the south, join- ing the county of Louth, in a direct line, are but twenty-five miles asunder; the circumference of the county is about eighty Irish miles. The superficial contents' are 283 square miles, or 181,450 acres plantation measure; this in English measure will be 290,786 acresf. It • Doctor Beaufort, in the Memoirs of his map of Ireland, states this county but fifteen miles in breadth ; but, by the actual surrey, which was taken in 1778, it is laid down to be sixteen miles broad. f In the roles and conditions for the plantation of Ulster* published by royal authority, anno 1608, it is asserted, that the whole county of Armagh contained but 77,800 English acres : in this was meant, arable, pasture, and forfeited lands only, so that the difference, being 212,986 acres, were then 4e OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. $ It is bounded on the north-west by Tyrone coun- ty ; on the west by Monaghan ; Louth ranges the southern, as does Lough-Neagh the northern ex- tremity ; and Down, the full extent of the eastern confines. From the south-western point of Lough-Neagh to Caledon, on the borders of Tyrone, the Hne of se* paration between Armagh and this latter county is the Blackwater river; another stream, which we also trace in a retrogade course, joins this river, marking the boundary on Monaghan side, from hence to a mile beyond Middleton village in the barony of Turenny, and is the same river, or rather chain of lakes, which runs through Castleshane vil- lage in that county. An angle of this river forms the point of junction with Armagh, Monaghan, end "Louth counties, and touches the bounds of Creg&n parish, near the village of Culloville. The western limits are continued by poor fences, and naked ditches, for about four miles further, where a small stream, in some places but a ditch of water, is the line of division, passing through a bleak and wild country, and intersecting the Fews mountains in the same direction, until it meets a b 2 very the unforfeited and church lands, and alto waste or unprofi- table scopes which were never rented. See Harris's Hibernica, part ut, pages 6o 9 62, Dublin edition, printed aano 1 747. 4 STATISTICAL SURVEY very rapid river, the Fane, which passes near Cul- loville pn the south-weitern point, and from thence, touching on the south-eastern extremity #f Mo- naghan, *runs into Louth county, .and is discharged into the bay of Dundalk. The line on the southern boundary towards the shore opposite to Warren Point, which separates this county from Louth, for the greater way, is but imperfectly traced, through a very wild, ajnd in some places a barren district, and in this bleak region can be, but witk difficulty, if at all, truly ascertained, where nothing is presented, but the immense rocky mountains, which stretch onwards towards Carlingfcrd ; but the eastern limits, from the tide water to Knock bridge, within a few njjles of the south-east angle of Lough-Neagh, are doubly mbrked by the line of navigation, which se- parates this county from Dpwn, and the river it adjoins, and runs parallel with, in some places* but a few yards asunder ; from the point where the canal meets the fiann, at Knock-bride, Hear Carrick demesne, the remaining part of the boundary is through a very beautiful and highly improved coun- try, extending considerably in an eastern direction, and from hence to Lough-Neagh forming an obtuse angle, in which the town 6f Lurgan is included : the entire northern limit is the shore of Lough- Neagh j so that, on the whole, the bounds of this county OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH, 5 county are well marked, and for the most pprt distinguished by strong and natural features. Sect. 2. Superficial Appropriation. The superficial appropriation of Armagh may b? thus estimated ; Acres. Arable lands, pasture, and meadow, . * 157,4$0 Rivers and lakes* . 1,000 Roads, towns, and villages, , . . . 2,000 Woods and plantations, . . # . , 1,000 t Mountain, bog, and waste, , • .' . 20,000 Total plantation acres 181,450 Inequality * There is no part of Lough-Neagh Comprehended in this <alculation> which covers an immense' tract, not less than an area of above one half the extent of the smaller counties of Ireland. Louth, which is the smallest, does not con- tain more than 1 10,750 acres of every description, and Long- ford has but 1 $4* 1 5?* The area of Lough-Neagh has been in all the old maps laid down as containing nearly ioctjpoo acres, but the late surveys deny that it covers quite 60,000 acres. If the lands around this lake, which are subject to its floods, should be taken into account, the product would even exceed the greater calculation ; for in Down county, where the land lies on the shore of Lough-Neagh, at no less distance than eight miles from thence, its waters have frequently Overflowed to a very alarming degree. f A considerable quantity of land, which ' formerly was rated, as mountain and waste, does not now come under that denomination. 6 STATISTICAL SURVEY Inequality of surface is a predominant feature through every part of Armagh, except in the northern district, where it gradually terminates in a plain, and is there a fine flat champaign country. But though the greater part of the country has an* undulating surface, it serves to add to its beauty, aft those hills are mostly very gentle, and possess ^a very generous and fertile soil ; in many places, judicious plantations and comfortable orchards highly enrich the scene. Contrasting these cultivated lands, and their neat inclosures, with those of the like na- tural feature in some neighbouring counties, we cannot attribute the bleak and inhospitable' appear- ances of the latter to any thing but 1 a neglect of that industry, which here has so conspicuously beauti- fied the eountry ; and these natural features must every where be considered as a great capability, towards the actual, as well as the ornamental im- provement of a country. This irregularity of surface is obvious through the interior. I have already shewn that th£ mountain- ous district, which in some places is beautifully picturesque, lies on the borders of the county. Sect. denomination. In the midst of the wildest districts, are large tracts of good pasture and arable land. OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 7 Sect. 3. Civil Division. This county formerly consisted of fire baronies/ tbree of which have been subdivided ; it therefor* now contains eight baronies. 1. Armagh, 1. Armagh. 2. Turenny or Tyranny, 2. Turenny. 3.0*Neiland, nowdivid-i 3. O'Neiland E. ) cdinto I 4. O'Neiland W.f 4. Fews, now divided (5. Upper Fews. \ into \e. Lower Fews. J 5» Orior, * In the survey made by Pynnar, in 1618, it is to be observed, he divides Armagh into three baronies only, viz. O'Neiland, Few*, and Orior ; I could not ascertain whether Armagb and Turenny had been at that time distinct baro- nies ; if they were forfeited lands, doubtless their deno* lunation, as separate baronies, bad not then existed, as his survey relates particularly to the lands, which were escheated to the crown 4 but in the project, which was published by order of James the 1st. setting forth the intended plantation of Ulster, and also the rules and conditions to be observed by undertakers, (which was of the date of 1 608, and of course ten years prior to Pynnar's survey,) it is stated, that At* magh county was at that time divided into denominations of land termed Ballyboes, each of which contained about sixty English acres, on an average ; but, as these deno- minations were not found to be of equal quantity, or num> ber of acres, it was judged proper to abolish this distinction, and S STATISTICAL SURVEY 5. *Orior, now divided ( 7. Upper Orior and I into \ 8. Lower Orior. j It is very strange, there is no County book in Armagh, nor could I, on enquiry, discover the cause of the neglect, or whether such ever existed. Of course, the contents of the baronies cannot be as- certained. The treasurer of the county, in his applotment, is guided by a solitary record, which is called the key of the county. By this key, he applots the pro-~ portion, which each barony is to % pay of the sum presented on the county at large. This key was found in the papers of the late treasurer, and seems to have been sanctioned by the Grand Jury so far back as the year 1758. There are applotters in each barony, who re- gulate the acreable proportion, which each deno- mination is to pay. The and in its place substitute acres only ; so that it is veVy pro- bable, it was in the intermediate time, prior to Pynnar*s surrey, that the county was first divided into baronies. See Harris's Hibernica, Page 1 1 2. * A small parcel of land in the lordship of Newry is included in Orior barony; the almost entire of the lordship is in Down county, and there constitutes a half barony in itself. ■-■■•'- ' • . OF THE COUNTT OF ARMAGH. The annexed is die key of assessment. Proportion of every pound sterling, raised off the No. Baronies. county at large. £. s. d. h Anpagh, pays at the rate of 0.4. n 2. Turenny, ditto, . 2 '. 5* 3. O'NeOand, E, ditto, . . 1 ,6| 4. O'NeUand, W. ditto, 0.4. ■ n S. Upper Orior, ditto, . 1 ,s< 6, Lower Orior, ditto, 0.2. S 7. Upper Fews, ditto, 0.0. 9 8. Lower fews, ditto, 0.1. 7 £. i . o . o Sect. 4. Ecclesiastical division. Ik this county are twenty-one parishes, seventeen of which are entirely within the county, two partly in the county of Tyrone, and two branching into Down. Of these twenty-one parishes, three are in the diocess of Dromore, which have each parish churches, and the remaining eighteen, with twenty- seven churches, are in, and make a part of, the archbishoprick of Armagh. The churches are in excellent, indeed, mostly, in elegant repair. Alphabetical io STATISTICAL SURVEY * Alphabetical List of Parishes within the County. 1. Armagh, a rectory united with the deanery, in the diocess of Armagh, and baronies of Armagh, Upper Fews, and O'Neiland west. Yearly value 1400/. Lord Viscount Liflbrd, incumbent, who re- sides. The parsonage and glebe are both excellent. A considerable quantity of deanery lands are let at low rents, and renewed like bishops* leases. Four perpetual cures are annexed to this parish, which have small glebes and parsonages. 1. Lisnadill, 2. Grange, 3. Newtown-Hamilton, 4. Eden. Eglish is annexed to the choir of the cathedral. The church and parsonage of Lisnadill were erected by the late Lord Rokeby during his primacy, in a style truly characteristic of their noble founder. The first fruits of this parish are 25/, ' 2. Ballymoier, alias Ballywire, a rectory in the diocess of Armagh, and barony of Upper Fews. Yearly value 180/. The Rtev. Mr. Paul, incum- bent, who resides. This parish has a handsome par- sonage, and small glebe, and the entire parish was originally a part of Armagh parish. 3. Balh/more, alias Tanderagee, .a rectory in the diocess of Armagh, and barony of Lower Orior. JTearly value 900/. The Rev. Doctor Leslie, who died lately, was presented to this benefice by his grace OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. n grace Doctor Sterne, primate, anno 1757, and was forty-fire years rector of this parish. He discharged the duties of his situation in so exemplary a manner, that his memory will be revered by every person who knew him. An elegant parsonage and glebe is contiguous to the town of Tanderagee. The Doctor procured a second church to be built in this parish, as a chapel of ease, at Poyntz's pass, and established a perpetual cure with a neat house, and a small glebe for the curate. The Jate incum- bent constantly resided. First fruits, 13/. 6 s. 8d. 4. Cregan, a rectory in the diocess of Armagh, and baronies of Upper and Lower Fews. Yearly value 700/. The Hon. and Rev. Percy Jocelyn, in- cumbent, who resides. In this parish is a good parsonage, and extensive glebe, but the land is in- different. A charter school was established here for thirty children, anno 1737, and endowed with three acres of land in perpetuity, one by the late Rev. Hugh Hamill, D. D. when incumbent, who also subscribed 5l. annually ; another by the late Francis Hall, Esq. and a third by the late Thomas Ball, Esq. First fruits of parish 25/. 5. Derrynoose, alias Madden, arectory4n the diocesa of Armagh, and baronies of Armagh and Turenny. Yearly value 700/. The Rev. Mr.- Staples, incum- bent, who resides. .In this parish is an old, but neat parsonage, and a glebe. First fruits 20/. 6. Drumcrcc, x* STATISTICAL SURVEY 6» Drumctce, a rectory in the diocess of Armagh, and barony of O'Neiland west. Yearly value 450/. The Rev. Mr. Maunsell, incumbent, who resides. In this parish is an old parsonage, and some glebe. First fruits, 18/. 7. Fork hill , a rectory in the diocess of Armagh, and barony of Upper Orior. Yearly value 250L The Rev. Mr. Atkinson, incumbent, who resides. In this parish is a neat small parsonage, and a small glebe ; a very considerable charity has been estab- lished under an act of parliament, springing from a n|OBt extraordinary will, made by the late Richard Jackson^ Esq. of Forkhill. For particulars, see chap. 13, sect. 5. Orior. 8. Keadi/j a rectory in the diocess of Armagh, and baronies of Armagh and Fews. Yearly value 200/. The Rev. Mr. Close, incumbent. The curate resides in the sm^ll parsonage, to which there is a glebe annexed. This parish was formerly part of Armagh parish. 9 f Killevy, a rectory in the diocess of Armagh, and barony of Upper Orior. Yearly value 1 300/. The Rev. Mr. M'Cleland, incumbent, does not re- side here, but in the town of Armagh, where he has a parsonage, as precentor to the cathedral. No parsonage for the rector in this extensive parish ; but at Camlough near Newrp a new church has "been lately built, as a chapel of ease, and a small house OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. i 3 house for the curate who resides \ a small glebe has also been laid off. The rector's glebe lands are ex- tensive. First fruits, 20/. 10. Killmore^ a rectory in the diocess of Armagh, and baronies of O'Neiland west, and Lower Orior. Yearly value, 11 00/. The Rev. Doctor Lodge, in- cumbent, who resides occasionally here in summer, and in Armagh city in winter, at the public library ; he is librarian. In this parish is an excellent new parsonage, and a fine glebe. It bis also * chapel of ease at Mullavilly, near Tanderagee town, called New church, whieh w*8 built about the year 1755, at the sole expenco of the Rev. Doctor Brandreth, Dean of Emly, the then incumbent, and the ground was given by the then Lord Viscount Fane, on whose estate it was built. First fruits of this parish 18/. 1 1 . Loughgall, a rectory in the diocess of Armagh, and barony of O^Neiland west. Yearly value 450/. The Rev. Mr. Bissett, incumbent, who resides oc* casionally here, and also at the parsonage and glebe of bis other parish in the county of Louth, near Drogheda. In this parish is a very neat par- sonage, and good glebe, and a new and very hand- some church has been lately built. 12. LoughguUly, a rectory in the diocess of Ar- magh, and baronies ^f Lower Fews and Lower Orior. Yearly value T5Ql. The Rev. Dean War- burton H STATISTICAL SURVEY burton, incumbent, who resides in an excellent par- sonage, to which a good glebe is annexed. It has also a chapel of ease at Drumbanagher.* First fruits of parish, 20/. 13. Mtdlabracky a rectory in the diocess of Ar- magh, and barony of Lower Fews. Yearly value, II 00/. The Rev. Doctor Hamilton, incumbent, who resides occasionally here, and at the observatory, near Armagh, of which he is astronomer. In this parish is a good parsonage, and a glebe of about •1200 acres. A chapel of ease has been lately built at Kilcloney, between Keady and Market-hill. First fruits of parish, 16/. ; of this sum 6/. for Kil- cloney, which was united. 14. Segoe, a vicarage in the diocess of Dromore, and baronies of O'Neiland, east and west. Yearly value, 500/. The Rev. Mr. Blacker, incumbent, who resides. This parish has an excellent parsoriage and glebe : it has also a perpetual cure at Muntuaghs, alias Mointagles, value, 120/. Part of the emolu- ment of this cure arises from the first fruits office. First fruits, 4/. 15. Shank hill 9 alias Lurgan, a rectory in the dio- cess of Dromore, and barony of O'Neiland east. Yearly value, 500/. The Rev. Mr. Waring, incum bent, resides on his estate in the county of Down. There is no parsonage or globe in this parish. First fruits, 6/. 16. Tartaraghan, OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 15 1«. Xartoraghm, a rectory in the diocess of Ar- magh, and barony of O'Neiland west. Yearly value 300/. TlTe Rev. Mr. Jephson, incumbent, who has a parsonage and glebe. 17. Tynan, a rectory in the diocess of Armagh, and barony of Turenny. Yearly value 900/. The Rev. Mr. (&iin, incumbent, who resides. In this parish is a very elegant parsonage and glebe, and it has a perpetual cure at Middleton, where a very handsome new church and extensive parsonage has been lately built; a small glebe is annexed. For particulars of an extensive charity, affecting the landa of Middleton, bequeathed by Archbishop Sterne, see chap. 1$, sect. 2, Turenny. First fruits of pa- rish, 20/. Parishes which branch into this County. i. Clonfeacle, a rectory in the diocess of Armagh, and the counties of Armagh and Tyrone. The greater part is in Tyrone, and barony of Dun- gannon ; the lesser in Armagh, and baronies of Ar- magh and O'Neiland west. The parish church is at Benburb, on the borders of the two counties ; the parsonage and glebe in Tyrone. The Rev. Doctor Richardson, late a Fellow of Trinity College, Dub- lb, incumbent. The vaiu* of this living in Ar- magh 16 STATISTICAL SURVEY magh county is very small. The patronage is in the College. First fruits, 16/. 2. Killyman^ a rectory in the diocess of Armagh, and counties of Armagh and Tyrone ; the greater part is in Tyrone, and barony of Dungannon ; the lesser in Armagh, and barony of O'Neiland east. The Rev. Mr. Caulfield, incumbent. The church, parsonage, and.glebe, are in Tyrone county. The value of this living in Armagh is very small. 3. Magheralin, a rectory in the diocess of Dro- more, and counties of Armagh and Down. The greater part is in Down, and barony of Upper Ive- agh. The lesser part in Armagh, and barony of O'Neiland east. The church, glebe, and parson- age are in Down county. The value of this living in Armagh is very small. First fruits, Si. 4. Newry, a Jay-rectory in the diocess of Armagh, and counties of Armagh and Down. The greater part is in Down county, and the entire parish is in the lordship of Newry, which extends into Upper- Iveagh in Down, and into Upper Orior and O'Nei- land west in Armagh. The church is in Down county. The lord of the manor is rector, and his vicar is the Rev. Doctor Campbell, who resides ; but there is no glebe or parsonage. Grange, near Lougbgall, is a part of this parish, and was formerly the grange of the old abbey of Newry. For cu- rious ecclesiastics} privilege?, and immunities, which the OF THE COUNTT OF ARMAGH. 17 the rector of this parish enjoys, see chap. 13, sect, 5, Lordship of Ncwry. _ : References to Ecclesiastical Denommetions, which are not distinct parishes. Bally wire, see Ballymoier^parish. Benburb, see Clonfeacle parish. Camlougb, see Killevy parish. Drumbanagher, see Loughguilly parish* Eden, see Armagh parish. Eglish, see Armagh parish. Kilcloney, see Mullabrack parish. Lisnadill, see Armagh parish. Lurgan, see Shankhill parish. Madden, see Derrynoose parish. Middleton, see Tynan parish. Mointagles, see Segoe parish. Mullavilly, see kilmore parish. Muntuaghs, see Segoe parish. New Church, see Kilmore parish. Newtown-Hamilton, see Armagh parish. Poyntz's Pass, see Ballymore parish. Tanderagee, see Ballymore parish. Archbiskoprick, i* STATISTICAL SURVEY Archbishoprick, or province of Armagh. The archbishoprick of Armagh is one of the four Ecclesiastical provinces of Ireland. The archbishop it styled Lord Primate of all Ire- land ; he has in his province seven bishops, whom be presides over; as to his own see of Armagh, he holds his visitation annually, but as to his suffra- gans, triennially only. The following tables are taken from Doctor Beau- fort's memoirs of hi? map of Ireland. In the province of Armagh are 10 dioceses. 1. Archbwhoprick Of Armagh. 2. Bisboprick of Ardagh.* 3. Clogher. 4. — — -Connor. 5. ■ Berry. 6. ' Down. 7. Dromore. $, K ilmore. 9. Meath. 10. Raphoe. The • Ardagh, though in this province, u now annexed to * the archbishoprick of Toam. OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. *9 The archbishoprick of Armagh extends into five counties, is fifty-nine miles from north to south, and, in breadth, from ten to twenty-five miles, or, in English measure, seventy-five miles long, and from twelve and a half to thirty-two broad. Counties. V • 1 17 i ■3 <7 S JC *3 o| :| .si rt Is Armagh, 170,850 25 1 1 1 O Londonderry, 25,009 5 S ? 4! 1 . O Louth, 108,900 61 28 20 It ! 5 *3 IS' 9 Meath, 1J»3<* p.of J O 1 Of Tyrone, Total 1 62, JOO 2C , ? 20 '3 % 6 0. - 468,550 IOJ 60J69 -5 1 .M -.H-. 12 _?_ The average number of acres to each church, in the archbishoprick, are 6,761, and the proportion oC impropriations 4^90. The average number of acres to the ecclesiastical province t pf ; Ajqm^gh, are .9,684, and the proportion pf ifTpprppriatifjns 3,43 ; c the total number of acres, in tlje ecplpsias^ical province, are 4,319,250; ofpa- c 2 rish^s , *. Fojur of ; these glebe-houses are in the perpetual Cures, into which the parish of Armagh is divided, and there art • fi?e more appropriated to the choir* It is at present in contemplation, to have a glebe and par- sonage appropriated to every church in this diocess, or, M least, to every benefice. to STATISTICAL SURVEY rishes 663; of benefices 419 ; of churches 446 ; of glebe-houses 212 ; of parishes with glebes only 156 ; of benefices without glebes 83; of rectories impro- priate 133; and of parishes wholly impropriate 60. The crown has the patronage of thirteen parishes, the Lord Primate of sixty. The university of Dub- lin presents to three, and the remainder have lay patrons. Table of first fruits of the ecclesiastical benefices of the afchbishoprick of Armagh, from the original record, copied in a tract which has been published entitled, Valor Beneficiorum Ecclesiasticorum in Hibernia. Dioecesis Armachana. Extenta et taxatio dignitatum et beneficiorum spiritualium in dioecesi predicta, facta per Georg. Miden, et Fran. Aungier, Commissi onarios Regis Jacobi primi 1 5 mo Anno Regni. Archiepiscopus OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH u Archiepiscopua Anjaach. iu taxatur, ultra omnia onera et reprisal £. s. d. Maner. Termonfeighan, - - - . - 23. 18. 6 Promiskin, ------ 14. i. 6 — Kilmoone, ------ 5.0.0 Eniskeene, -10*0.0 — Turlough, ------ 0.0.0 Donoughmore, in Com. Dunen. JO . . O • Ardtra, 98. 0.0 Donoughmore, in Com. Tjrron. 70 . . Armacban. ------- 140 . . O Duae teniae manerii de Nobber, - - - 5.0.0 R.knpr<>priat«deAthboy,inCom.Miden. 10 .0.0 Castrum et terras de Concestor, - - - 2.0.0 Priorat. Sti Andrese, vulgo de Black Abbey, 0-0.0 Mesuagium cum gardino in villa de Drogheda, -------2.0.0 Proficua spiritual. jurisdict.archiepiscopat. 10 . . In toto .£400 .0.0 Archiepis. taxat. alibi, 30 Hen. VIII. 183 . 17 . 1 J Decanatus Armach. - - - - -- 35. 0.0 *Archidiaconatus Armach. - - - - 2.0.0. S»ct. • Note : here follow the sums annexed to each, parish in the diocess; in the tract, the first fruits of this county are marked in the alphabetical list of parishes, vt supra. J 2i STATISTICAL SURVEY Sect- 5. Climate. hf this district, the climate is perhaps more fa- vourable than in most of the other counties in Ulster. First, from the nature of its soil, which, in general, is not retentive, but tilly and wafnt; se- condly, because the north-east winds, which blow in spring, have no mountains to interrupt their passage, until they arrive at the further verge of the county, where, for the first time, the clouds are impeded by the Fews mountains, whose falls are rather to the western side of the mountain ; thirdly, the gentle undulation of the surface with regular fells to the valleys, where there are numerous ra- pid streams to carry off all superficial water; fourthly, the substratum being gravel or limestone, in many places ; and fifthly, because there is little or no marsh in the county. To 'these causes may also be taken into account, the great temperature obtained by partial and judicious shelter, and, per- haps, no where in Ireland, is this improvement more eminently conspicuous, than in the greater part of Armagh county, where, for a very extended district, few even of the peasants' houses, but have the shelter of an orchard, to protect them from the cold blasts of winter, and their little farms are admirably OF THE CQVOTY OF ARMAGH. »j admirably fenced with grdat care and neatness. The lofty mountains in the county of Down, from Moume to Slieve-Croob, which extend in a south- eastern direction from. Carlingford Bay, so as to completely shelter Armagh, from north to south, arrest the heavy clouds, and violent gales, which are impregnated with moisture from the channel, and the whole southern extremity is shjut out by that range, from Slieb-Guillen to the Fews. The south-east winds are always most violent and lasting, and accompanied with torrents of rain, nor can fair weather be expected from this quarter; these winds are prevalent during the winter months, nor do they abate oftentimes till the spring is far advanced; but from the good tilth of the soil, the business of agriculture is seldom impeded by them. This cause, together with the warmth of the soil, may be alledged, why the harvest is earlier here, by perhaps ten days or a fortnight, than in some neighbouring counties; the difference of forward- ness in the seasons, between the more northerly and southerly extremes of this small county, proves, that it is elevation of surface, and a retentive soil, which retards the harvest, and not the trifling difference of latitude, which could exist in a tract of twenty-five miles distance. The foliation of trees, if exposed, is a good criterion of climate; but in plantations those trees best sheltered will many *4 STATISTICAL SUHVKt > many days sooner expand, than the same genus in a very remote and more southerly latitude, which have not the advantage of shelter. A continuance of north-easterly winds in March is tnost pernicious, and very materially retards ve- getation ; to fruit-trees they are most hurtful, end indeed to every kind of horticulture ; it has been remarked, that these winds are of late years more severe, than have been remembered : until lately, the best agriculturists have agreed, that they were propitious both for vegetation and for rural labour, but it is very certain, that our climate has latterly been more harsh, and out* seasons less steady ; and this same variability and severity is complained of in every northern latitude, and even in countries more southerly than the British isles. Perhaps, this change has been gradual, though latterly more ra- pid ; for it is well known, that on some of our high- est mountains trees will not now flourish, although in removing but a little soil we find immense trunks, whidi prove these lands to have been formerly in forest. If the soil in such places was invariably boggy and antiseptic, we could account for its change to that property, which must have been imparted to it from the timber ; but I have seen va- rious kinds of elevated soils, where no antiseptic or boggy particle existed, and which had formerly been in forests, yet no tree would now thrive in such places, OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. i S places, though attended by judicious and careful planters ; this remark is strongly justified by many reports of the like failure of plantations, in more northern countries of Europe, and that some delicate plants, which were once indigenous, must be now- sought for in more temperate climates. . That pur climate is considerably altered, is very certain, and it is no less so, that we have not pro- fited by the change. Fevers are more prevalent than formerly ; chronic complaints are more nume- rous and violent, and a long train of nervous di»» orders have been engendered, which but lately have bad a naqie. In a variable climate, that district must be most favoured, whose soil is warm and tilly, and which has natural barriers to defend it from the inclemency of storms. Both of these advantages Armagh hap- pily possesses, nor are numerous instances of lon- gevity wanting, to prove that its climate is not less salubrious, as its soil is unquestionably far more fertile, than we find in the greater part of the sur- rounding districts. Sect. 6. Soil and Surface. This county has, generally speaking, a very fer- tile soil, in a great portion of its land extremely so; but if STATISTICAL SURVEY xtttt there is some variation ; yet very few tracts are unfit fot the purposes of husbandry, and the pro- portion but very trifling, where tillage ccruM not be successfully prosecuted. Taking a distinct view of the soil of this county, and commencing northward at the barony of CV Nteir land east, we find the superficial stratum s rich brown loam, which is tolerably deep ; die substra- tum clay, or gravel, but little or any calcareous matter, except it is very deep, and only partially found* On the estate of William Brownlow, Esq h a lime- stone quarry, but in a flat low country, very little elevated above the level of Lough Neagh; but there is so heavy a bearing of soil over the quarry, and sp great a flow of water when this is removed, that this fossil will not repay the expence of work- ing it ' 9 so that there is no limestone raised in this part of the country, though much is brought in for manure from a considerable distance. The soil, when assisted with this powerful manure, will produce any crop in great abundance; here, it is principally under wheat tillage, which it yields very amply, though their system of farming is not to be recommended, as they almost invariably sow their wheat in a potatoe fallow. The surface of some marshy tracts is a light aioor, covering a whitish or a yellowish clay equally bad, which OF THE COUNTY 6f AJtoKAGH. rj wfiich they h&6 hot materials to ^feetually foft_ prove, asT Mitfestorie-gravel, &t. but fit tfXTrti is a tftfllcieht taJH tot draining, stad it has capability <rf being converted into good pasture. In this district, there is also a considerate quan- tity of bog, which yields red ashes, afid is v&y reclaimable. In that parfoT this baforty, Which lies towards the town of Atmagfc, tite tfotl is & ridi limestone. The general description of 0ri6r barony, ot the easte rn distric t, is a light soil, and has a stony earth, which is friable, but no limestone; varying from a siliceous schfctus to an argillaceous stratum, and frequently a slaty subsoil. All these soils are iniproveabte by Tribe, which is the great and effectual manure, tricl although it is at a considerable distance frofh some parts of the barony, yet by the ftfetirry canal, which ranges this whole district, they can easily be supplied ; the cost of the Stone at Carlirigfbrd is 4s. J>er ton, and the eipence of freight is very trilling ; there-Ts bo toll on the navigation for manure, the property of the canal not being vested in a private company ; but this will be particularly explained under the head of navigation. Neither has the southern part of this county any calcareous matter, excepting on the borders of Louth, where the country is rocky, barren, and mostly tS STATISTICAL SURVEY mostly unfit for the we* of husbandry, and it well defined as. barren mountain; here, huge rock, of bard grit are seen, promiscuously mixed with blocks of limestone, as if by some convulsion of nature tbey y/ere accidentally thrown together; nor is it e^rjr to, distinguish the difference in these rocks, without breaking them, they are so alike in their exterior appearance; but the limestone is only found on the verge of the county, for there is none in the interior of these mountains, nor from thence to Slieve-Guillien, and throughout the Fews, the stone of these districts being either a very brittle and decayed freestone, with a ferruginous tinge, or a hard stone, which is of a shade between dark blue and green, and, when viewed in different lights, ^seencjs to change from one to the other colour, and which has the generfil name of whin-stone through this county, and many other parts of Ulster, where it is found : this stone, therefore, probably is not ho- .mogeneous, but in its analysis it contained a very small particle of calcareous matter, only 4 parts in 100, nor will it give fire when struck with the steel, though it has all the hardness of flint. If whin^stone is the proper name of this fossil, it dif- fers from that which is so called in Scotland, as described in Williams's natural history of the mi- neral kingdom.' He calls this species of fossil the roofofcoal mine; that it is of a flinty hardness, is OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. i$ is black, blackish grey, brown, and red; he also distinguishes another kind of this fossil, whose co- lours are grey and black, and are actual basaltes ; the grey receives the highest polish, and the black takes a good polish, and is unfading : this species, he tells us, is called skurdy in the north part of Scot- land, and cockle in Cornwall; but the 'best mi- neralogists deny that cockle or shirl should be ranged under basaltes. The gentleman, who favoured me with the ana- lysis, his modesty not permitting his name to be mentioned, lest he should be inaccurate, says, that in 100 parts of the whin-stone, of this county, he found it to contain, Siliceous earth 46 Argillaceous 22 Irob 23 Calcareous 4 100 It is to be remarked, this fossil is not found in regular strata like quarries, but in large blocks and boulders, and frequently huge long stones, per- haps of some tons weight; add of sueh nature are those great stones, that are set upright, which fre- quently encircle a Druids temple, or support the altar or sepulchral flag. Except on the borders of Louth jo STATISTICAL SURVEY. Louth covinty, I never saw limestope ip tl\e s^m$ district with, this fossil. The western borders, apd the middle district of the county, are of a limestone soil, on the line from Monaghan county towards Arrnagh ; it is of a very good quality and white colour ; from thence to the town, it is tinged with red, and gradually possesses that colour very strongly ; the redder it becomes, it possesses the properties of marble still more, taking a polish, but is less calcareous than the white limestone. Almost the whole of the barony of Arpiagh pos- sesses this valuable fossil, and in many partial spots are very great quarries of the white species, but it is never found in pebble or boulders in that dis- trict, where the red colour is predominant: some limestone of a pearl colour is also found in loose masses, and a great deal which w variegated with many colours, which is very good marble, and is that description which is called plumb-pudding mar- ble, from its similitude to it in its spots and dapples. $U this ^region is very grateful in (tillage, and i *lso in ,meadow, .when rj&anured,.,b,ut the bfst g&- tural meadows are on the banks of, rivers, and have .a vwy <feep bro^n Joaro, yielding gr^at cjjojps /without any. manure. OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 3 i The natural herbage of the soil is, Poa prategsis, or, meadow grass. AJipecurus prateosis, or, meadow foxtail. Poa trivial^, or, rough stalked meadow gross. Arena ilavescens, or, yellow oat grass. Festuca ovina, or, sheeps fescue grass. Cynosurus crystatus, or, crested dog-taiL Anthoxantum odoratum, or, sweet scented spring grass. Festuca loliacea, or, darnel fescue grass. Triticum repens, or, couch grass. Trifolium pratense, or, red clover. But a very few noxious weeds are seen, as .the coastant tillage, and corn crops generally succeed- ing potatoes, keep their 6elds tolerably clean, con- siderably more so than in great corn countries, where the enclosures are large ; they seldom weed Dp any but nettles and thistles ; if a stubble field should be left a year in cashier fallow, which is sel- dom the case, the crow-foot and tansy soon .over- spread it, and are very difficult to be eradicated ; these matters will, however, come under considera- tion more particularly in another section. The hilly district is generally of a deep and re- tentive soil ; yet the substrata are frequently gra- vel, which, though not calcareous} would by pro- per application effect all the mechanical assistance, which would so abundantly improve the soil, by rendering 3 z STATISTICAL SURVEY rendering it more tilly and open : a decayed free- •tone. gravel, and highly tinged with ferruginous ore, is partially found in this region; and here are frequently slaty subsoils. Heath is particularly vi- gorous in these places, nor hav$ many years elapsed, since ;the hills between Tynan and Keady, now in such good culture, were entirely covered with this plant, which was destroyed by liming, and this manure was carried from a good distance. There are few moory hills, I mean of turf-moor, but abundance are yet clothed with heath-moor, and wild pasturage, ferns, small whins, &c. The valleys have naturally a rich and loamy soil, very grassy, though neither marshy nor yielding many aquatic plants ; the poa fluitans, or, water fescue grass, is most luxuriant and rampant. The south side of the hills have the best natural grasses, and farmers assert, that cattle will reluct- antly leave this aspect, for a fresh pasture on the north side. This description of the soil of this county must only be considered as applying generally ; where there is so great a variety, it would be an endless task to enumerate distinctly : a sandy loam 9 is per- haps less met with throughout, than any other kind of soil, though, in general, loam is predominant ; fortunately, its subsoil is not retentive. The OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. # 3$ The surface, which is beautifully irregular, points out the easiest method of draining, and has great capabilities in various places for the most approved methods of irrigation. As yet, the treasures, which may be embowelled in the hills, have been/ if at all, but very superficially explored. The best criterion to judge of the fertility of the soil must be the general produce, which in this county 'has a very high reputation, and on the average return will not be found inferior, after a judicious culture, to that of the best counties of Ireland. Mountains. Tbe principal mountains in Armagh, in point of extent, are the Few*, which range the southern and western limits, stretching into the interior; the highest mountain in the county is some miles from the borders ; it is called Slieb-Gullyn, or Slieve* GuiDien. It is considered the loftiest in Ulster, ex- cepting Slieve-Donard in the neighbouring county of Down, and viewing the latter from Slieve-Guil- lien it does not appear so high. As SHeve-Donard stands so abruptly on the sea coast, its apparent height must be considerably en creased, and Slieve- Guillien from its interior situation, amongst other lofty mountains, must in the like ratio be reduced t> in $4 STATISTICAL SURVET in our sight : from the eastern part of the county of Cavan, the latter is distinguished almost every day In the year, from a distance of about thirty miles ; yet Slieve-Donard, which in a right line is but nine miles, further distant from the same place, cannot be discerned even with a good telescope. t have been told that, from another point of vie^v, the summit of Slieve-Guillien is easily seen with the naked eye, though at a more considerable di- stance from the place of observation than Slieve- t>onard, when this latter mountain cannot be dis- tinguished, but with a glass ; this, if correct, which I do not assert to be so, is a certain proof of the su- perior elevation of the Armagh mountain; snow will remain for months on this, after the former has resumed its verdure, but this is certainly no proof of greater height, as the saline particles will natu- rally dispel the snow. s From Slieve-Guillien to the Fews, the country is bleak, wild, and hilly, and in many places may be truly termed mountainous, and, in this sense, may be considered as connected to the Fews by the chain of abrupt hills from Forkhill to.Crossmaglin ; but by being more lofty, it of course displays more of the nature, of primitive mountain, and we can safely pronounce the greater part of.it can never be brought into cultivation, but must eternally re- main in its natural sterility. Yet OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 35 Yet in these wild and romantic scenes, there id something very interesting, awful, and grateful to our senses, elevating the inquisitive mind, and in- spiring a strong desire to explore their inmost re- cesses, and an anxiety to become familiar with so sublime a solitude. . It requires but little attention to its examination, to pronounce Slte/e-Gullien under that description, which naturalists term primitive mountain, or of that kind which possesses a majestic eminence, and covers so immense an area, as to date the origin as certainly antediluvian. These properties are emi- nently attached to this celebrated mountain ; its contiguity to the neighbouring chain of the lofty Mourne mountains, its connexion with those of the Fews, which have so vast an area, and more particularly the nature of its soil, all concur to rank it under the distinction of primitive mountain : here we see no rounded pebbles, sand, or marine par- ticles, no accumulation of foreign substances, ex- cept probably they may be at the base, which does not contradict the assertion. Rocks, caverns, glyns, from a bold ascent, are the features of the summit of the mountain, with- out the smallest appearance of any calcareous mat- ter ; and although there have not hitherto Keen any minerals discovered here, yet there is a strong pro- bability of their existence, from the metallic tinge d 2 of j6 STATISTICAL SURVEY of the waters, which burst from its sides, and ooze in plentiful discharges in times of the greatest drought. The granite argillite, which generally indicates a metallic district, and is peculiar to primitive moun- tain, is found here, and also a brown freestone de- cayed on the surface, where the torrents have de- nuded the rock and carried off the soil ; mica and feltspar, in small quantities, are frequently inter- mixed with the fossil. The general character of the soil is deep and boggy, yet firm in the surface, highly antiseptic, and covered thickly with heath ; the substratum, a loose, decayed, brotan freestone gravel, pretty regular, except when sudden torrents or subterra- neous waters have discomposed it ; in general their strata are of equal thickness and lie in parallel di- rections. The plain, from whence the ascent of Slieve-Guil- lien commences, until the summit is gained, is, pro- perly speaking, from the valley, wherein the town of Nefirry stands; and is support of what I have al- ready surmised as tending to confirm its primitive claim, it is from hence also, that the ascent is gradual to the Mourne mountains on the eastern extreme ; nor is it a very distant period since all the lands around Ne^ry, excepting only the town parks, exhibited a wild and uncultivated waste, yielding OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. s? yielding spontaneously nothing but heath, coarse grass, and mountain plants. This valley forms an ob- tuse angle with these two ranges of mountain, and is above four miles distant in gradual ascent, until the acknowledged base of Slieve-Guillien is arrived at, where the region around fttHy corresponds with our ideas of wild and awful scenery. •From this base, the ascent is tedious, in somt parts very steep and abrupt, and above two miles distant from the summit. Before the main point h gained, another pinnacle, which very much re* sembles it, is presente4 to view; from hence t* the main point is a range of elevated ground in a circular direction, serving as a barrier to a small am* phitheatre, within which is a lake of tolerably good water ; its shore clearly proves, that it is subject to swells of some feet perpendicular height above the usual level. We cannot conceive, that such great floods could be soon occasioned by the rain water, which may fall on the small portion of surface, that is above the level of this lake, and it- is a matter of curiosity, bow they are supplied ; there is a redun- dancy of water-courses towards CamlougH lake, which is at the foot of Slieve-Guillien, and is the reservoir of 'that stream, which works so many mills in the vicinity of Newry, as will be more par* ticulariy detailed in the thirteenth chapter, fifth section, The 3 8 STATISTICAL SURVEY The pinnacle, or capital point of Slieve-Guillien is a cairn of stones, which form the roof of a ca- vern, that, at first view, appears to be natural, but on minute examination has very evident testimo- nies of the work of art ; perhaps it is indebted to both for its appearance. The cairn is rather convex at top ; in the cen- tre is the mouth of the cavern ; the roof is formed by large flat stones, regular])' placed to support the ' incumbent weight, and in the descent lapped over each other with a sufficient bearing. I have been told that within is a speciouB apartment, and that, but a few years ago, it was easily entered ; but now there are such huge blocks rolled in, and the entrance is so very narrow, that they could not be removed but by mechanic powers. From the mouth of the cave there extends a wide and regular range of flagging to the edge of the lake, evidently the work of hands ; it is said by the peasants in this district to be the roof of a covered passage, but this seems very improbable, as the soil here is a deep wet bog, which could not bear an excavation to support so great a weight as these flags must have ; it rather appears to have been a dry passage outside from the cave to the lake, though, indeed, 'the magnitude of the stones, and the same kind not being found in other parts of the mountain, render it vrey improbable that they should be car- ried OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 59 ried up this long and steep way for any secon- dary or; immaterial purpose. There is no doubt, but this cavern and others, which are in the sag* district, were once the abode of robbers, who, plun- dered the surrounding country, -and long evaded the military by their retreats and concealments m those formidable places ; nor was it until barracks were erected in the heart of the country, and re- gular troops constantly stationed, that they could be driven from the caverns; many of them paid tke forfeit of their lives for their offences, and their caves will long be remembered as the retreat of the celebrated O'Hanloo,* who was long the scourge and terror both of farmers and travellers, who were met in those solitary wilds. 'Whatever were the original purposes, for which our pagan ancestors had piled these great heaps of stones, called cairns, they can only .be conjectured*, as we have no authentic tradition of, tb^ir design. It seems generally allowed, that they are the most ancient relicks in existence, and were long prior to those formed of earth, or earth aqd stones, which were constructed as man became less savage; and that, Ipng subsequent to both, buildings of lime an4 stone * This robber was said to have been a lineal descendant of the O'Hanlons, who were originally the lords of this county, which he used to ailedge as a right to his rapaci- eras demands. l» STATISTICAL SURVEY stone were erected, which strongly mark the pro- gress of civilization. That these cairns were in- tended as places of worship, which has been sup- posed, wants confirmation ; it is, however, more Certain they were appropriated as sepulchres, but {here is no determination that this was their original purpose; perhaps they might have been appro- priated to both, so naturally does a religious awe alike accompany the place of worship and the* tomb: the devotion of the people to their departed bards or drukb, as well as to their kings and heroes, was as sacred, and held as indispensibly necessary a point of duty, as their addresses to their god, nor was the altar of Baal esteemed more sacred than the sepulchre. These cairns are always composed of the natural stone of the district whece they stand ; their ori- ginal formation, we are told, was conical, and that the apex was covered with a flat stone. Some Writers have been of opinion, that they were places of justice or tribunals ; others have asserted, that -they were the places of election, whereon the chief stood who was to be chosen their leader; and again it is stated, they were monu- ments of sacred covenants; perhaps, whatever was desirable to have been commemorated, was distin- guished by a heap of stones, or a mound of earth, which was the most durable mode in that early age. fa OF THE COUNTY 0* ARMAGH. *t la many of tho§e cairns, human bones, and day or stone urns have been found, after removing the stones, an incontestable proof of their uses as se- pulchres ; this description of cairns are most com- monly the artificial green mounds, which are but a heap of stones sodded over ; but there are aba many instances of these mounds having been opened and searched to the bottom, where nothing ap* peared to, warrant an opinion of their purposes as sepulchres. The cairn on the summit of &iev#- Guillien seems as if it was never sodded, and a si» milar one of stones, heaped in a conical pile, crowns the lesser pinnacle, which lies below the principal one. Some writers have confounded cairns and crom- lechs* under the same denomination, but these on- ly require to be seen to convince us they were for distinct purposes; it is certain they served as altars, as well as sepulchres ; a narrow channel was made in the slab for the blood of the victim to flow when they offered sacrifice, and from which the druids or priests took their auguries. Druidical temples are those low oblong mounds of earth, which nar- row to either end, and seem to swell to the centre, inclosed with huge stones set on an end, and with* * Druidical temples and great sepulchral stones are term* ed crom-lechs. 41 STATISTICAL SURVEY: in this is frequently seen the cromlech or altar for sacrifice; some account, accompanied with a drawing, of a . very remarkable one near Newry will be given in the thirteenth chapter, fifth section^ From the many invincible obstacles to its being ever reclaimed, Slieve-Guillien is only to be ad- mired for its natural beauty ; it covers a great and extensive area, and is the estate of several proprie- tors, though not a shilling of rent is paid for any part of it, being enjoyed in common by the peasants, .who live in the vicinity. Perhaps, a bolder pros- pect is not presented in our island than from its , summit, comprising a great extent of country ; the lakes and streams, the several towns and well-cul- tivated demesnes, together with the bay of Dun- dalk> where the declivity is terminated; tbw, with a thousand other natural beauties which are presented to view, will repay the fatigue of the ascent, and an awful and. impressive pleasure is afforded in contemplating the bold promontories And rugged cliffs bared by the tempests, and arrest* ing the floating meteors, affording ample resources for the contemplative philosopher. Very fully as this celebrated mountain possesses those pleasing and awful views, yet these natural beauties are con* fined to this district, or just adjoining in the vici- nity of the Doobrin mountains and Forkhill, where some majestic rocky prominencies, and other bold and OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 43 and interesting scenery, correspond so fully with the sublimity of those we have described : though this county is, for a considerable part, inclosed nearly with a belt of mountains, yet they have too great a sameness and want of variety to engage admira- tion, but they possess a soil, which is capable of being rendered highly fertile. The Fews mountains are an extensive range of this description, running from south-east to north* west, where numerous herds of young cattle are reared, the soil being much inclined to grass, which is less coarse than is usually met on mountain groapd: though this is highly stocked, yet they have always a full pasture, and the cattle are never foddered but perhaps for a few days in a lasting snow, and Ufc open winters not at all. This is the only part of the county where grass farms are large and extensive ; lery little care and labour will prepare the soil for successful tillage, as is evinced by the largo haggards, which are filled with a small portion of this reclaimed land: a slender capital in the bands of an industrious farmer has produced extraordinary improvements ; an attention to draining only is re- quired as the preliminary step, and the manure of lime insures a high fertilization. The great population in the most improved parts of Armagh, and the limited sjze of farms, accounts for the small proportion of pasturage; in these mountains, where the inhabitants are fewer, and less 44 STATISTICAL SURVEY less engaged in manufacture, the tillage farms also are considerably larger ; their produce is principally cots and potatoes, which there is a steady demand for in Newry market: the farmers of this district also cultivate more flax than they manufacture, and the redundancy is sold in the neighbouring towns. These mountains, though more remote from the sea coast than Slieve-Guiilien, yet never retain the snow for so long a period, nor are they so re- tentive of water ; for the rain runs in natural chan- nels along the surface till it finds the valley, and is there discharged into a stream: heath is much Jess found on these hills, but whins, fern, and those, plants, which flourish in a, warm soil, are in abun- dance. It is very probable, that valuable minerals are within these mountains, of which there are se- veral indications; in the inferior minerals it par- ticularly abounds, for in the banks of the streams, which flow from hence, we see rich ores, potter's day, soapy earth, and manganese, the Utter so good, as to be reputed by the potters to be in no wise inferior to the best which is imported : a substance resembling chalk is frequently found, but it does not possess any calcareous quality. Iron- stone is also met, and is of that sort, which gene- rally constitutes the roof of coal mines; in the streams are reddish flints, and iron-stone of the same coknuv As OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. fe As to valuable fossils I do not learn there has been any trial made, but there are good appearances of slate quarries in several places ; and, here, heath is more prolific than elsewhere in the Fews moun- tains; whenever lime is applied it effectually d*» stroys this plant. In some of these hills we find a moory soil co- vering a slaty subsoil.; this has no appearance of solid quarry, but is a compound of loose, brownish, and decayed particles. The south side of these hills has often a porous, argilUte soil, and reddish ; this, when covered over with a small quantity of lime, is peculiarly fertile, and yields excellent crops of oats. The valleys have a very rich soil of various depths, and are always grassy : the overflowing of the stteams gives die best manure, nor is any other ever applied; Uaek vegetable mould is the superficial stratum, hut is shallow ; this is not a little extraordinary, for, on examining the higher grounds, from whence the superficial water flows over the valleys, there is no appearance of this soil, though we should ima- gine it was carried down with the floods and sub- sided on these level places. In several spots, red clover spontaneously grows, though the farmers deay, that any grasses either natural er artificial have ever been sowed. Such 4tf STATISTICAL SURVEY • Such is the general description of these moun- tains ; perhaps, there is not any uncultivated range In this island, where capital could be more suc- cessfully employed, or a more rapid return in- sured. Woods. Though Armagh possesses a sufficiency of wood for ornament, yet it is by no means a well wooded country. The fulUgrown timber, which yet re- trains, is principally confined to demesnes. The population is so great, the linen manufac- ture so universally engaged in, and land in such request, that every .spot in all but the mountainous districts is employed in tillage and pasture for milch cows, so great a supply of food is necessarily rais- ed for the inhabitants. This may in a great mea- sure account for this defect, if it merits that appel- lation ; but a fine soil, as in the interior, under judi- cious culture, and supporting a numerous and in- dustrious people, is surely more profitably occu- pied, both for the nation at large and the proprie- tor of the land, than in the growing of timber. It was doubtless a mistaken policy to reserve none of. the woods, and to oblige tenants to clear all away, as appears in the old leases, many of which yet OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 4* yet exist: some mountainous land, which yields but a trifling rent or none at all, might else be in the most vigorous oak forest, and by judicious cutting and copsing would be a lasting and valuable pro- perty to the proprietor; but, unfortunately, this mistaken zeal for improvement was carried here to an excess, and the tenant fulfilled bis contract, if he levelled the timber, which he had no demand for ; no great works, which required furnaces, were ever attempted here, so that this great fall of tim- ber lay useless; much went to decay, and much of it is yet found very near the surface. I have seen a letter from a farmer to his landlord, written nearly 150* years ago, in which he says, he should have had a hard bargain of his farm, if it had not . been that a memorable storm, which happened at that time, had levelled an extensive forest and saved him the expence of cutting it. This farm was in * In times still more remote, we see the legislature paid a due attention to the preservation of woods ; for in the thirty-fifth of Henry the eighth, which, is above 260 years past, a law was made, that any person, who should destroy any quantity of wood exceeding two acres, should be fined 40s. per acre, for every acre so destroyed ; by destroying was meant, not copsing, or converting the ground to the purposes of agriculture ; and in subsequent reigns, we find several laws for the preservation of woods ; but the laws of England, which relate to improvement, have been too slowly adopted by our legislature, which leaves us so far behind in this particular. 4* STATISTICAL SURVEY in perpetuity, and is now a considerable property to his descendants. The fossil-woods which are found are, oak, fir, yew, *nd holly ; the first is always in best preser- vation, and altered only in colour, which is a deep Mack: firs are paore partially met, and though constantly soaking in water or in very moist soils, are extremely bituminous and inflammable; holly arid yew roots are found pretty deep in the marshes, and coast of Lough-Neagh, which are generally more or less petrified from that extraordinary pro* perty, which both the soil in the vicinity of this ce- lebrated lake as well as its waters are known to If proprietors of waste or uncultivated lands were sensible of the value of plantation, we should not see so many naked soils; many of these could not possibly be so profitably occupied, and land, which does not now yield five shillings per acre, would be soon made to produce, by judicious clearing, per- haps four or five times that amount, after deduct- ing the interest of the capital so employed: hut this return, though certain, is slow, and requires capital, which can be the only reasons assigned for its not being generally adopted in such soils as I allude to. If useless commons and extensive tracts of waste were planted, we should less depend on foreign countries for our supply of timber* and a great OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 49 great and encreaaing revenue would be added to our finances. Oak woods are tbe most profitable, for although the timber does not arrive to full perfection in less than a century, yet from the great value of its bark in tanning, it comes much sooner into profit than any other tree. It has beea assorted on good au- thority, that an oak wood cut and copied every forty years will give the most profitable return. A thriving wood of this description and age, of 100 teres, will be worth to the proprietor from 9,000/. to 10,000/. exclusive of the profit to the purchaser : let the value of this sum at simple interest be com- puted, and at no other periods of cutting will it be found to give so great a return: if this is again. copsed and judiciously thinned and cleared, it will be worth from 20*. to 30*. per acre, after all ex- pences, much above the average rental of , any con- siderable landed property in Ireland Nor in die business of tanning is the oak bark only used ; it is found to be an excellent dye-stuff, producing a fine brown colour, and, when mixed with copperas, gives a lasting and beautiful black. The superior strength and durability pf the oak r in architecture and shipbuilding, is so well known, as not to require any remark ; but, perhaps, there is no tipiber more liable to warp ; a very extr^or- E dinary jo STATISTICAL SURVEY dinar y instance of this may be seen in Leap Castle*, ncac Birr in the King's county. Some # Leap Castle was the seat of the late Jonathan Darby, tsq. who ornamented this edifice, which is the family man- sion, and built twd very elegant wings in the same style of architecture' with the castle. In order to preserve the an- tique appearance, the sashes of the windows, and the floors of the best apartments, were cut out of great oak beams, which had been supporting the principal story in the* old castle, and had remained there since it was built, which most have been for some centuries, as Mr. Darby possessed some documents, which showed that the castle was repaired in Queen Elizabeth's reign, above 230 or 240 years ago ; yet, before the sashes and flooring were twelve months io use, the timber in the latter shrunk half an inch in four inch plank, though laid down and doubled with the greatest care, and it warped in the sashes, though counterlined with iron plates, and extremely well screwed together, insomuch as to force the iron, and bend it in the position of the warp, and to break the glasses to pieces. lit strengh of materials, perhaps there h no greater proof of the superiority of this article. Should the eluci- dation of this extraordinary circumstance engage the at- tention of any ingenious person, it may assist the solution to acquaint him, that these beams had not previously been barked, as one side of the square had yet retained it, and was as hard and sound as the heart of the tree : the prin- cipal floor of the. old castle, Which these beams originally supported, had no windows, but spike-holes, which had long since been stopped up, and thus became a complete dungeon : the walls of this building were also extremely gross ; one of them, about the centre of the castle, which was • pierced OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 51 Some oak trees in great perfection, of uncommon size and highly ornamental, are to be seen in the demesne grounds in this county. This tree, with its varieties and uses, will be found in botanical » tracts under the head of Suercusi in deep clay soils it grows to the greatest dimensions. The ash, (fraxinus) has the grossest dimensions, when in a deep rich soil ; the common species of this tree is the most useful ; it becomes most valuable, when in clumps or plantations, and .much quicker comes to perfection, than in the open fields, because of the underwood, which brings a considerable in- come, and is fittest for cutting every seven years. This wood is the best of all for implements of husbandry, as being tough, hard,* and very elastic. The bark of ash will tan delicate skins, but it is scarcely ever used in this process. This timber also grows to a great size, and is irregular in its surface, particularly so, when planted in hedge-rows and exposed to the weather : the ridges, which run longitudinally in the trunk, form a channel for the rain to descend ; where this is remarked by any change in the co- e 2 lour pierced for a large gothic window* which Mr. Darby in- troduced, was fourteen feet thick ; the apartment they were taken from was always remarked as being the warmest, and firecest from damp in the whole building* 4 5* STATISTICAL SURVEY four of the bark, that part of the tree k certainty rotted by the water, and k frequently pierces to the heart. Some ash tree* will have their entire surface from root to branch with tbia columnar appear- ance, and wiH be perfectly sound ; by a particular attention to the colour of the bark, or a small fissure ih the funfow, the decayed wiB be easily distin- guished from the sound timber.* Ash, which has grown in woods and best sheltered, is freeest from this defect. In thinning ash woods or plantations, great care should be taken not to leave the remain- ing trees too bare, or they will certainly rwnpike. It often occurs, eve» in small clumps, that in clearing away some misshapen trees, to shew a bean* tiful spreading ash to advantage, it has quickly after rampiked. Hie largest tree of this species in Ireland stands at Lea village, in the Queen's county, on the road side between Portarlington and Monasterevan, and is said to equal the girth of six horses' bodies. The * I lately saw a particular and invariable proof of this in maay ash trees, cat in the county of Cavao, and in no one instance was tftt woodman, who painted it out, out* taken. OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. H The mountain ash {sorbus) is a beautiful t*e* in ornamental plantation, but iu Umber is not sq mupfc esteemed; as being considerably lighter.* The beech (fagus). No tree is more easily raise4> per is any more beautiful in forest scenery ; yet it is surprising, that Gilpin denies its claim to a fore* tree, and ranks it very inferior. It more justfy may be said to vie with the oak in ^tateliness, and the spreading of its branches ; and the beautiful variety of hue in its leaves, through the autumn, is un- rivalled by the foliage of any tree. The beech delights in a high soil, and if calca- reous the better; it is also valuable a» an under- wood, and can be transplanted after many years growth. As much injury is frequently done to the aeed ef this tree, when sown in the mast, it is more ad- Tiseable to seek for beech quicks in the woods,, and remove them to the nursery. If raised in the seed- bed, they should remain tw<* years prior to tbeir removal to the nursery. The * It is a general principle, that the heavier the timber* so much the stronger is it, for which reason the most ex- perienced authorities now recommend barking the tree completely, particularly the oak, at least thsee years before it is cos down, which adds extremely to iu weight and solidity. $\ STATISTICAL SURVEY The beech leaf is said to mate the best paljisses for beds, and is preferable to straw. The timber is soft and used mostly in furniture ; its uses in bleach- mills are too well known to bp particularly recited. From the beech-nut oil is extracted, and: this is used as butter in some countries iu Asia. From this nut, it is also said, that a very good bread is made, first being carefully kiln-dried. The chesnut tree (castanea) ranks under this genus, and is only a species of beech, the second iq its order. The dwarf chesnut (pumila) is the third and last of this species. The nuts of the chesnut-tree are also greedily sought for by swine and vermin, which is a good objection to their being laid in drills in the seed- bed; here they should remain two years, and four years at least in the nursery ; and if after the first year they are cut down, they shoot more vigorously, and thrive considerably better. This tree delights in a dry and high soil ; its timber has so little toughness, that it is very unfit to support weights, but it has the property of never 'shrinking, and from the nut it is well ki^own that bread can be made. The sycamore or maple tfcee (dcer)k depied to be indigenous to the British isles, and is said to be a native of Germany ; however it agrees with our soij OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. # soil extremely well, and is frequently found id great vigour in demesne lands in this county. This exceeds all other timber for its uses in the beam of the beetling engine in the bleach -mill, as it never splinters, and need not be covered with horse-skin, which even beech requires for this pur- pose. In so great a manufacturing country, it must be ever in high estimation, and a beam ten feet and a half long, and eighteen inches in diameter, is of treble the value of any timber of the same di- mensions. This tree, when tapped," yields a saccharine juice, from whence a wholesome wine is made. Its wood is superior to any other for turning, and is valuable for inlaying ; as an underwood for fuel it is more desirable, by its very rapid growth. The leaves of this tree become ragged and full of holes, by means of an insect, which greedily destroys its beauty in ornamental grounds. If thisi tree be well weeded in the seed-bed, whose $oil is common mould, it will shoot twenty inches in twelve months, if sowed in autumn ; it should remain in the seminary but eighteen months, and ou<rht then to be removed to the nursery ; it can be also propagated by layers, graftings, and cut- tings, and is generally esteemed as one, ojf our hardiest trees. The layers may be laid at any time of the year, and will strike root in three months. Cuttings * should S$ STATISTICAL SURVEY should be of the last shoot, and the thick part put in the ground ; they require great attention to wa- tering, and should be made before the autumn is far advanced. The lime tree (tilia) is not generally esteemed as good timber for uses out of doors ; but I have seen gates and gateposts of it, of many years standing, and in great preservation. I could not learn of what di- mensions the timber was when cut, or the season in which it was felled. It is a soft wood, useful in inlay- ing, turning, and carving ; of the outer bark ropes are made, which are said not to decay by damp, and the inner rind is so pliable and tough, that neat and very durable mats are made of it. The fir tree (pinus) has no less a variety than twelve different species, most of which are found in vigour in this. country. The Scotch fir is planted most com- monly ; not only for beauty, as an evergreen, and ra- pidity of growth, but it is also valuable as a nurse by its shelter to young deciduous trees; its timber is esteemed excellent in outside work when painted, but it decays qttickly in a damp' situation as in roofing*. .This tr^e, when standing in hedge-rows or in fields, loses all that beautiful effect it possesses in plantations. The contrast of its shade, as it waves with the breeze) is very pleasing in the fo- rest, * 1 not long since saw a capital and extensive concern roofed with this timber, and the rafters of uncommon dimen- sions, yet in fifteen years they were completely rotted, though the slating was always in the best repair. OF THE COUNTY OF AMUGH. $j rest, where the ground is of an undulatory surface, or covering the face of a hill, and nothing seen but the green branches ; in this point of view, when full grown, it is only to be admired as ornamental timber. The larch, whose value has been until lately little known, and is now so universally a favourite, both as a profitable and ornamental tree, is indigenous in America and Asia, though it has thriven here witfc great success. In masts of ships it is preferable to other timber; nor is it less valuable in building ships of war, as it does not splinter, and has the peculiar virtue of resisting the worm. It is also preferred in hou§e-baild- ing, in beams, lintels, &c. : it thrives in a dry soil, and which has been condemned so sterile, as not to be worth the culture, so that there is no tree more hardy, or better calculated to protect more tender plants : the tops of the larch very early get an in- clination from that point, where storms mostly pre* vail, but this does not hurt their growth, which will sometimes arrive at fifty or sixty feet. It pro- duces cones, which hold the seed, and there is but little trouble in their culture* Its uses are numeral* and increasing in proportion with its demand, so that we may expect to have other discoveries *f its value, in addition to those we already are in possession of. The silver fir and the balm of gilead, are only ornamental in a low plantation ; they become very ragged I* STATISTICAL SURVEY ttggt&i *s they g et up, and do not thrive after a certain growth. Of these two species the silver fir is considerably the most hardy, and thrives in a rich earth ; the balm of gilead will only thrive in a good mould, or a deep sandy soil. The Weymouth pine (strobus) is very beautiful ; though planters agree that it thrives in most soils, even, in slaty, stony, and stiff clays, yet it does not *eeoi to flourish in this county ; this pine may be transplanted at a very great height with safety, if it has been carefully attended to in the nursery. TJie seed of all pines is found iu cones, and by keeping those close and free from damp, they will be sound for several years. The seed is sown in Jtfarch. , From the fir-tree, and the varieties of its genus, is extracted that viscous substance turpentine, which is valuable for its resinous and unctuous uses, and can.be extracted by tapping the tree, as well as by )ts own spontaneous discharge. The elm tree (idmus) has a variety of species, one of which only, the common elm, is indigenous ; the .timber is always best in a stiff adhesive soil, though not of the most r^pid growth ; when it springs quick- ly, it is very light, and not esteemed ; it is cultivated ftopi suckers, and also from layers. The heart of this wood is very heavy and close, and. extremely hard, for which reason it is pecu- liarly OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 59 liarly useful in conveying water from reservoirs, and of this timber are all the pipes made, through jvhich the water is conveyed from the bason to the several streets of the city of Dublin : for the same, reason, it is preferred for the naves of carriage wheels, no timber being equal to it fof this pur-r pose. The elm is also very beautiful in plantatibn, and is a tree peculiarly deserving our attention, both as ornamental and useful. Of the walnut-tree (juglans) there are five species, the common kind being the best both for fruit and variety of veins and shade in the timber : it thrives in greatest vigour in rich garden moulds, though there is no soil, in which it will not grow: its culture is from the nut, whiclrshould be sown early in spring, having been kept dry in the husk ; it is not to be removed to the nursery for two years ; when the nuts are gathered for sowing, they should be spread out on a dry loft, but not heaped, because then they heat and sweat throwing off the husk, which should not by any .means be removed. The fruit of this tree also makes a good pickle, and from it a valuable oil is extracted. The timber is capable of taking a good polish, if cut in winter, and improves by age; in plank only it is desirable, as in small scantling it is brittle and weak ; for this reason it is better adapted for tables than, 6* STATISTICAL SURVEY than chairs ; it is much esteemed in farfli-house fur* nhure, and particularly so in the stocks of guns and pistols ; the most knotty is the most valuable to inlayers. Few trees are more irregularly beautiful in its branching than the walnut, or afford a closer shel- ter : its leaves are esteemed useful in dyeing. The cherry-tree [prunus) has a great variety in its species, and is particularly esteemed for its fruit, though formerly it was cultivated very much for its timber, of which the best furniture was composed, improving in beauty with age", and by constant unctuous application, as cream, oil, &c. Many old pieces of this furniture are fully equal to mohogany, though they are very rarely met with, since the importation ©i the latter wood; it is now greatly neglected, and few people have the knowledge of polishing or preserving it. Whether we admire this tree for its. wholesome frait, or its variegated timber, for its delightful blossom in the spring, or luxuriance and variety of colour in full bearing, we must allow it claims our best attention. It delights in rich garden soils, which have been well manured, and distils a clear gum. Its usual culture is from the stone of its fruit; but to produce the best fruit it must be grafted, and it is recommended that the old stock shall be the wild cherry-tree. The OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 6c The sallow, or willow-tree, (saUr) has a variety of species, but confined with us principally to three kinds, the sallow, the willow, and the osier. The first has a very different texture from the other two, its branches being brittle, and never arriving to that stan- dard, which merits the title of a forest-tree; it will however yield poles and fire- wood ; its timber is light and is used by inlayers, but it is only good when it grows in a dry soil. The willow is particularly useful for baskets, and is also highly ornamental near a sheet of water, particularly the weeping-willow, which also in plan* tations is so beautiful and pleasing under the shade of a lofty tree. The stately Virginia, or black birch, would here form a fine contrast. The wil- low delights in a moist soil, as does the osier, which is so valuable for hoops and basket-makers' use. A good osiery, which is carefully attended, and the soil 'perhaps not capable of any other culture, as in low moist bottoms^ marshes, and small tracts of island, subject to floods, will return every three years to the value of 60/. per acre. I have seen an osiery in the vicinity of a good trading town, which was fully equal to this, or 20/. per acr$ per annum. The salix is therefore considered of the aqueous tribe, but every species of it will grow on upland, as St STATISTICAL SURVET as well as irt moist or watery soils : when allowed to run in standards, it has a most rapid growth ; when set in cuttings, it soon forms a thick fence, and is exceedingly ornamental if plaited in net meshes, as it gets up,, enclosing screens or, plan- tations; its branches being so tough ate very fit for this purpose, and it becomes, in a year or two, an impenetrable fence: if .the shoots are nipped, it throws all the growth in the swell of the stake. In this neat fence, the red and golden osier form a beautiful contrast, and should be planted alter- nately. The poplar-tree (populus) is of little estimation for its timber ; the black poplar is the most useful, and sometimes used in inside work ; it is also fit for the manufacture of lasts and pattens. The poplar forms the most beautiful scenery of all other aqueous trees, and is extremely rapid in its growth. The aspen-tree [tremula from the tremulous mo- tion of its leaves) is of the poplar kind, and is very hardy, growing in almost every soil. The poplar and its varieties may be propagated from cuttings, and also from layers and suckers; the latter mode is now preferred, and it is trans- planted early in autumn, when the leaves decay. The OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. *j The bark has the property of tanning leather, but is by no means so astringent as the oak, or even the birch bark ; it is also esteemed by dyers, and im- parts both a fine yellow and a variety of light drabs : the former is from the Italian, the latter from the black, white, and Virginian poplars. The birch-tree (betula) has a variety of spe«* cies, from a very humble to a majestic growth ; it will thrive in a poor, shallow, or chilly moun- tainous > soil, or in a rich calcareous gravel ; turners, hoop-makers, cart and heeUmakere m& its timber, and its, branches are slender and make the most durable brooms; but. it is particu* larly valuable. for. its bark, whose .astringent prin- ciple ranks next to that of the oak, and is esteemed in northern climates as . incorruptible : the inner rind of the birch is of an inflammable nature, which, when twisted together, makes good torches. This tree is very juicy, and, when tapped, will distila sac- charine substance, which is said to correct a scor- butic habit; of the timber can be made most ex- cellent charcoal. The. birch is highly beautiful in plantations by the contrast of- its silver bark, and almost purple branches, and it forms a good screen to protect less hardy plants. It is propagated from layers, or from seed; if from the latter, it must be carefully. weeded € 4 STATISTICAL 8HRTOY weeded, and watered m dry seasons ; and a due attention paid to earthing up, after being put in the nursery, which should not be till two years old. The alder~tree (alnus) is abo of the species of few tula; it thrives best in low and marshy soils, is an aqueous tree, and is said to injure any soil it grows in, by making it rotten, wet, and rendering the pasture poisonous; its bark is particularly useful for dyeing a high red colour, which with copperas makes a lasting .black ; the bark is also medicinal, highly astringent, and is used successfully in fevers and agues ; it is also a strong purgative, when given to cattle. The timber is sometimes used for pipes* to convey water under ground, as it long resists decay ; a range of these trees, at proper distances and allowed to furnish a full head, is higUy orna- mental. The general properties of the bttula are bitu- minous, warm, and astringent in its bark. A fun- gus proceeding from this tree, when burnt and pow- dered, is a good styptic. Its leaves we medi- cinal in the dropsy, and wine is made by ferment- ing the saccharine juice, which it yields, when tapped. Of the holly - tree (ilex) the most common species, the aquifolium } thrives best in this country, is OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 6$ is frequently seen in shrubberies and sometimes grows naturally to a great size. It bas a variety of species, and forms a beautiful effect in the win- ter season, interrupted with other evergreens, and bears a red berry. The wood is white, is used in fineering, and is close and hard as to be with difficulty discerned from ebony, when stained black and finely polished. This tree is excellent in fences, and ought to be transplanted in the spring, delighting in a cold and moist soil, but the plants must be young or they will not thrive. This plant is raised from the berry, should not be removed to the nursery till after two years, and requires much attentive weeding and watering; it should not be suffered to remain longer than two years in the nursery until transplanted. • It frequently misses on transplanting, for which reason two or more plants should be put down where it is intended one should thrive. It is remarked that the holly-berry never shoots, tiD after a full year in the ground, nor is it put in the seed-bed till the shoot appears ; a heap of these berries should be buried like the haw of the white thorn in autumn ; after twelve months, they should be put in the seed-bed and raised like quicks. They require moulding and much care, and must have a well sheltered and warm aspect. From the F holly* 60 STATISTICAL SURVEY holly-bark pbssessing so much of a ^glutinous pro- perty, the best bird-lime is also made. The hazel ( corylus ) is an excellent plant for thickening coppices, and is propagated both from the hut, cuttings, and layers; it will thrive in any soil or situation, and is valuable for hoops, hurdles, and handles of farming utensils, but particularly so for the nuts, which are esteemed agreeable to the palate, and very mild, though possessing a& oil, which is in great reputation with painters, and next in value to almond oil. As a shrub, the hazel cannot be called beautiful on close examination, but has a good effect at a distance, thickening a copse so rapidly as to give a very woody appearance. There are two species of the hazel ; they are both equally hardy and of rapid growth. Theliburnum, or "trefoil-tree [cytisus), though only Cultivated by us for ornament, is yet a fine timber-tree, and will grow to a large size in exposed situations, and in any common soil ; the wood is extremely hard, and useful to inlayers, and is very valuable in furni- ture, taking a high polish ; it is propagated from the seed, and requires weeding between the plants. The beautiful bright yellow flowers, which hang in clusters, form a pleasing variety in the spring, and the regular unison of the oval leaves, growing in threes, OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. €f threes, is peculiarly neat, and from thence it -is called the trefoil-tree. This must ever be a favourite in shrubberies, and demesne grounds, for the elegant formation of its leaves and flowers, and their pleasing and enliven- ing contrast. The foregoing are the principal trees, which are found in this county, and several varieties of these species are also partially distributed in shrubberies and plantations. To encourage their culture in the mountainous parts is the principal desideratum, and this can be done at a very moderate expence, ensuring a cer- tain profit. In the brief sketch I have given of the soil and situation, in which each different species will flourish) I have ^consulted the best planters, and the agree** meat of authentic authorities on this head is the best proof of their correctness. If the rearing of trees, and their management and culture is so well deserving a close application, it is certainly no less a matter of moment to acquire a knowledge of the proper seasons and ages when those trees are ripe for the axe, as all the former care bestowed on them is conducive to this purpose, ornament being only a secondary con- sideration. Without a due attention to this par- ticular the best timber may be materially injured; f 2 for, 68 STATISTICAL SURVEY for, its excellence is dependant on the time of fel- ling, as much as on the choice of aspect, and the soil in which it was reared. As the timber, which retains the sap the longest, is most liable to decay, it is therefore reasonable . to conclude, that it should be felled when it possesses , least sap, or in the close of the autumn; but as oak bark will strip only in the summer, this tree is felled at that time, which is a material injury to the timber, both as to quantity and quality ; the exterior coat of the oak, after the bark is stripped, is called the sap, and is that part, through which vegetation is conveyed to the branches; this sap or juice, being in full vigour in spring, will of course penetrate deeper in the tree than at any other pe- riod, when vegetation is exhausted or dormant, until the returning season ; and as this coat of sap is always cut away before the tree is sawed up, of course there is much loss of timber ; for, that sub* stance, which was sap in spring, becomes actual timber in winter ; so far it appears, there is a loss v in quantity, and, as to quality of timber, it is well known, that the oak is considerably more durable, close, hard, and its specific gravity materially en- creased when cut in winter, as all handicrafts assert who wotk it up, than at any other season of the year. It becomes a desirable matter to enquire and find, how the bark can be saved, and the timber OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 69 timber also preserved in the best state, and it can be very easily accomplished by barking the tree, as it stands, from the root up to the gross branches in the summer, sawing off the head, and saving the small or boxing bark in the usual way, and by letting the naked trunk remain two or three sea- sons longer, where it wiH dry more rapidly than if felled ; by taking off the bark, vegetation is stopped, and no more sap springs ; the timber thus acquires considerable weight, for, it is a well known maxim, that the strength of materials must depend en their weight, or, in other words, that the heaviest timber will be able to support the great* est weight* If this process is most judicious in managing the oak before it is felled, how much more readily will it apply to other timber, when the bark is not re- quired to be stripped ? In other cases, when th# bark need not be saved, it need only be cut through around the tree, and it may or may not be headed, as convenience may require; for, the perfect sepa- ration of the bark prevents vegetation, and cuts off the sap, which is only necessary, and all timber is thus greatly increased in weight and quality. I have seen this method accidentally tried on fir* deal, in which there is so great a quantity of sap, and the same effects followed ; a tree had been be» gu* to be cut by a tenant, whose landlord stopped w 7* STATISTICAL SURVEY the felling before it was nicked around above an inch deep in the timber, and it remained in that state above two years; when it was felled , it had no aapj and even the bark was nearly as hard as any other part. Another matter worthy of notice in the felling of timber is the knowledge of thd age of trees, or at what age they arrive at vigour. An oak is said not to come to perfection until it is 100 years old, and that it will hold its vigour for probably some cen- turies more, before it begins to decay ; but, in the comparatively short period of human life,, this must ever be undetermined, and is not a matter of moment to enquire; but it is agreed, that oak wight not to be cut for gross uses under fifty or sixty years standing. An ash has nothing like so long a period ; it would lie a rare matter, and must only happen from some fortuitous circumstance, which has not a tendency to decay, or perhaps it is already rotted to the heart* The proper period of the maturity of other timber 13. within our knowledge. Connecting the observations respecting the pro- per age of timber, when ripe for the axe, and the • due season for cutting it, I shall state the following experiment, which will be found to apply more or less to every specie* of tree. Let OF THE COUNTY OF -ARMAGH. fs Let a cross cut be made in a deal tree, in the spring season, which will measure in diameter twelve inches, we will find that the coat of bark, or sap, equals the third part of the diameter, or four inches. Let the process of nicking the bark be performed at the same. time on another tree, of equal dimen- sions, of the same age, and in the same plantation, which shall be suffered to remain standing the re* quired time, and we shall find that one thkd nearly of the quantity of timber is added ; the sap becoming in two or three seasons equal to the heart ; thus eight inches of solid timber areencreased to twelve; and another most material observation is, that by this means a tree can he felled, of a thud space less growth, to the same advantage, at a tee* of so much longer standing ; of. that a tree, thirty years old, can be -put after this process* to the same profit as a tree forty-five years old, after the' usual manner. * Timber will sooner or later arrive* at perfection, according to the quality of the soil* and the tern* perature of the climate; as most foreBt trees ace- indigenous, or will be naturalized to: our climate^ it only rests for us to make choice of a proper soil" and situation for their culture. ?* STATISTICAL SURVEY Bog and Moor. Much ha* been written, and various have been the opinions on the original formation of bog. Al- though, by attaining the knowledge of this subject, it might be more easy to apply a remedy for the reclaiming of this soil, % it is enough for us in this li- mited tract to consider, from actual experiments, and the evidence deduced from thence, what are the best modes of applying these tracts to profit, which have for many ages remained in a state of waste and utter neglect. It is first necessary to en- quire into the actual quantity of bog, and the uses, to which it is applied* • The quantity of bog in Armagh county might be said to be equal "to the demand for fuel for culinary purposes, if it was more impartially di- vided, but the case is otherwise ; rating the average cost of this fuel through the county, it is not less than one shilling and six pence per statute kteb, or from two shillings and six pence to three shillings and sixpence per horse-load, including the expence of drawing ; in some seasons it is considerably dear- er : the bleach-milk consume an immense quantity, but in the vicinity where coals can be bad they prefer this latter fuel, and will draw it home on better OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. j$ better terms at six miles distance, than they could lay in a supply of turf, even though the bog was at the door , this proves the extreme dearneas of turf fuel. Considering the comparatively small area of Ar- magh with the great population, and the nume- rous and extensive bleach-greens "where so much* fuel is required, we cannot conceive there is * sufficiency of bog for the demand ; the want is already severely felt in many places; the eastern district has the advantage of the navigation from Newry, by which sea-coal is conveyed ; and if the Tyrone collieries were worked with spirit, an ' abundance of fuel wotdd be supplied from thence by .the same conveyance. A very large tract of bog in tbe northern part of the county, on the estate of William Brownlow, Esq* is in such demand, as to yield the occupy- ing tenant above 1000/. after paying tbe rent of above 700/. ; the price of turf fuel is even in thia neighbourhood more than* double the average cost of Leinster or Munster. , However unequal may be the distribution of bog, it necessarily will be desirable to occupy that part in the uses of agriculture, which has been al- ready cut out. Draining is the first process, by which means the water is carried off, and die body of bog or toil naturally condensed ; this soIk dity tl STATISTICAL SURVEY dity may be rapidly encreased by quick-lime spread oil the surface ; limestone gravel, when it can be conveniently procured, is much more lasting, and should be ploughed into the surface. It j was universally agreed, before the auger came into use, that the main drain should be, cut down to die gtavel, if possible, to intercept the springs, in- tersecting the portion of bog which is intended to be reclaimed, and, according to the natural falls, that leading drains should be made into this prin- cipal one, but these also at a considerable width, and they should be always kept clear. If tber surface is ploughed in frosty weather, after a season's draining, and calcareous manures mixed with the soil, it will soon destroy the non-putres- eent quality, and change it to a good vegetable mouid. Paring the superficial sod, and burning it in heaps, produces a calcareous substance, that fe- rvours vegetation ; but, though this will have the desired effect of ensuring a good crop, yet it is not a lasting manure, and tends but little toward* solidity. When bogs will~bear the weight of cattle, which a short time will effect in draining, it quickly assists their density. Some bogs are so deep as to render the cutting to the gravel utterly impracticable, pnd may be drained at OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. ff at a very trifling expence by Elkington's boring ap- paratus, on exactly the same principle as a pump- borer's auger. It very generally happens after piercing through several strata in bogs, we find at various depths a kind of blueish clay, through which water will not pass, it is so very tenacious ; this is called in Irish lac-leagh, and it is necessary it should be pierced, either for the purpose of carrying off the superfi- cial water, or for the discharge of the springs, which are underneath the stratum ; tbjb I have performed with great success by the auger. When we meet what we term a shaking bag, or/ so it is here provincially termed a qua, the lac-Uagk is near the surface, and with the bog floats on the body of water underneath, which is the cause of its undulation ; thus, in a shallow soil, all the in- termediate layers or strata serve as a sponge to im- bibe the superficial water, and retain it, nor can the under- water pass off till this lac-lcugh is cut through. I would commence with this mode in reclaiming bog, and leave it in that state for some time, at the surest method of gaining solidity, by convey- ing off the under-water first; where the natural figure of the surface favours it, the expence wiU not be a fourth of cutting a drain to the gravel, add will produce the same effect; it may be ne- cessary 7* STATISTICAL SURVEY . cessary to add, that a shallow drain should be cut from the auger hole, where the water springs, to the natural fall; it would be more proper to make* the narrow drain first, and in the bottom of it to bore the hole, rather obliquely than perpendicu- lar; if the intended tract to be improved i* on the side of a hill; in this case the drain should be parallel to its base, or as much so as the nature of the ground will admits I have seen this process of boring effected at an- expenee of about two shillings per acre, and in a few weeks the bog was capable of bearing cattle of five or six hundred weight. Moors, or land which has very Tight superficial bog stratum, are doubtless occasioned by the spread- ing or overflowing of water on the surface ; drain* ing ii> this instance is absolutely necessary, and we frequently find the substratum of such soils is gra- ▼el y which is so very proper a manure to correct their acidity, and restore them ,ta every purpose of tillage. If the gravel is not calcareous, the effect, whifcb such beneficial manures impart, will be produced ii* a great degree, by lightly paring the surface, burn- ing the sod, and ploughing in the ashes; a fine crop, of turnips may be yielded from this management* and it prepares the land very well for grass-seeds. OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 77 When marie is found in the piercing of bogs, it is a most effectual manure, and its calcareous qua- lity will be highly encreased by burning it in small kilns, -which Tenders as quick a putrefaction as caus- tic lime ; this is particularly valuable, where lime- stone is not conveniently had, and is an excellent substitute. Much has been objected by some agriculturists to the ploughing in the gravel, and incorporating it, with the soil, as they assert, that solidity will be acquired from draining only, and that also an her* bage will be produced, which will yield a whole- some pasture; this mode may answer for two or three years, and I have known it tried with suc- cess for so long ; but, except the calcareous matter is incorporated with the soil, I have found it to re- turn again to its natural coarse and aqueous her- bage ; an instance of this was proved at Monalty demesne, near Carrickmacross, in the county of Monaghan, about three years ago, where the late Mr. Steele had ineffectually, though very attentive- ly, followed that process ; I know many active im- provers in the King's county, who are sensible of the superior effects of ploughing in the gravel. The general turf-cutting season in this county, as in most other parts of Ireland, is too late by six weeka, or a month at least ; they seldom heartily engage in thiswotk, till the summer is far advanced, and, should ? g STATISTICAL SURVEY should the season be wet, it becomes a laborious aud tedious task to save it, particularly when band-turf is made, which is soon broken by the rain. When the month of March is dry, it is the best sea* ion for turf-cutting, and it may be saved thoroughly, and clamped in three weeks. It is strange, that the linen merchants, who require so great a supply of fuel for their bleach-mills, should neglect this im- portant concern ; if it was better attended to, thet* might be a saving to the consumer of at least one third of the cost, and the children, whose business it is now to plunder and destroy hedges half the year, might be profitably employed ; but their whole time is spent in picking up fuel, when they might easily earn from three pence to four pence per day, in the process of the linen manufacture. It frequently happens in the deepest turf bogs in this county, that, after paring the surface sod, the first spit of slane turf is good ; the second layer loose, crumbly, and indifferent fuel ; and the third stratum, which generally goes to the depth of the lac-leagh or gravel, is best of all, and makes very- firm and hard black turf. Turf ashes are so general a manure as to be adapted to every soil, but require a particular qpre in the different seasons, when they should be laid on, and certain quantities should be proportioned OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 79 proportioned to the crop they are meant tf produce. ^ All artificial grasses are assisted by this manure ; it should be laid on stiff strong land very early in spring, and should not exceed eight barrels per plantation acre, or 256 gallons, and about an eighth less to the statute acre ; a third less than this pro- portion is perhaps too much for light warm soils* I have been assured by an excellent experimental farmer, that ashes, put out in spring, is an excellent dressing on green wheat sowed in a stiff clay soil, and pushes it forward very soon, but must be rery light- ly laid on, not exceeding two herring guages to the acre, and that having tried it on a crop of bere in - Winter, it had a contrary effect, and forced the corn too soon ; the consequence was, that the pro- duce of straw was great, with a small head, and a withered stunted grain. It had a happy effect on whea-t land in winter, though it disagreed with the bere crop; for further experiment, part of the wheat crop* which had the manure in winter, was lightly dressed again in spring, and the effect was still more succesful. It considerably assists this manure, if rain should come soon after it has been spread on the surface, as it warms the roots of the. plants, and destroys many animalcula, which are prejudicial to crops, to So STATISTICAL SURVEY to turnips in particular, which never should be sowed but with this manure. On light sandy soils or light limestone gravel, ashes do not answer so well, except in rainy sea- sons ; in dry weather, they tend to burn all kinds of pasture f but if this dressing is laid on a deep soil in rainy weather, it produces a quick vegetation, and an ample recompence. When bog is burnt for manure, it is best to use the deep turf, as the ligneous particles, which it contains, are there in greatest purity, as being less exposed to the air, and containing a considerably greater quantity of salts and sulphur. Turf ashes, being of a very fiery substance, may be also happily applied in the destruction of sour bad kinds of grass, and aqueous herbage, which is sot nutritious in low soils, after which, a light sur- face dressing of clay will ensure excellent grass, but small drains ought to be made to dry the surface. I thinjc the lands beyond the bog, in the parish of Killevy, might be greatly improved by a judi- cious application of this manure, and it could be ob- tained at small expence; the first crop might be potatoes, which would yield a valuable return. I would prefer this crop, as it produces that degree of moisture, which is necessary to the soil, after this manure, both, as being a succulent plant imbibing the OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. jfc the dews and retaining the moisture, protecting the surface and sheltering it, with its large spreidmg leaves and stalks^ from the heat tad power of the sun. Reclaimers in this country should commence with this crop, if they have not stock enough to consume a crop of turnips, as it is so ngpe&ary for the ac- tion of ardent and calcareous manures* that a dufe degree of moisture should be preserved. The potatoe will still be. found a beneficial crop tbe second y&r, as corn crops very frequently fail ina boggy soil after calcareous manures ; the third year <*ts may be sown, but the land should be pre- viously ploughed deeply, and laid in high ridges; from this culture a reasonable crop of twelve bar- rels of oats will be yielded in a very middling soil ; if tbe reclaimed land is intended for gras», it should never be laid down with a corn crop, but the seed* should be sown after a vegetable crop, as turnip*, potatoes, &c* Bog, which has been reclaimed after this man* ner, will frequentfy yield white clover sponta- neously. The small farmer, who might gradually improvte his little tract, could not cultivate a more valuable crop than cabbage plants for market ; the attend* ance they require is well proportioned to the time he can spar%from his loom. o Tbe 0s . STATISTICAL SURVEY The wealthy proprietor of extensive tracts may more largely engage in reclaiming wastes, and should always prefer the culture of green crops.; they not only enrich the soil, but will also feed a numerous stock, which should be proportioned to their con- sumption; the profits in this respect will greatly repay the expence, and ultimately, when the tract is reclaimed, the proprietor has not only gained so much land, but is also considerably in pocket. Improvers have naturally an anxious desire to see the wastes, which they have taken in bands, con- verted into grass ; to effect which, a great error is committed in laying it down too early, for it re- quires a long culture and frequent ploughings, be* fore the coarse sour herbage is destroyed; the drains should also be kept open for a considerable time, and dragged of weeds, or any stuff which may have fallen in ; the property of bog-water be* ing directly opposite to that of rain or river wa- ter, any weeds, grasses, or plants, which lie in these drains, are not rotted or decayed, but rather swelled and macerated, so as to form an impedi- ment to the passage of the water, which the bog again imbibes, and sucks up like a sponge, and, wherever it prevails, destroying vegetation. Bog plants will strike root again in the bottom of these drains, which shews the necessity of their being kept constantly cleared. The OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 9j The advice of all improvers is unanimous in this instance: some even assert, that nothing more is necessary than to keep a strict attention to clearing and scouring up these passages for the . under- water; that, when it is discharged, the bog plants will die, and their putrescence will produce a wholesome natural herbage for young store cattle; and that afterwards the nicer modes of culture may be adopted, as leisure or circumstances will admit, always observing, when lime is applied, that the more caustic it is, so much the better, and the speedier its operation, and that it should be laid on bog while the soil is moist. When potatoes are sowed in bog, which has been manured with dung, they are never of a good qua- lity, but are watery, soft, and will not keep; with lime manure they are in every respect the reverse. A principal matter in reclaiming bog is to pro- cure shelter ; this may be effectually bad, by em- banking a long ridge between two wide drains and planting it. Firs, larch, and beech, quickly af- ford shelter, and form a beautiful and capital erf- closure ; and if the sides of this bank are quicked with white-thorn, it considerably adds to its per- manency and effect. o 2 Sect. STATISTICAL SURVEY Sect. 7. Minerals. The minerals of this county, as connected with metallurgy, are so few, which have yet been dis- covered, as scarcely deserving notice, that of lead only excepted, which is confined to one particular district. Of perfect metals there is none r some imperfect lead, and some indication of iron, semimetals, reguhis of manganese, and antimony,, and these only in very few and partial spots; but of the various substrata of minerals, which have no ne- cessary metallic properties in themselves, except fortuitously, better distinguished as fossils, there is a great variety, which would afford ample in- vestigation for the natural philosopher. Fossils, native, and extraneous* * All bodies beneath the surface ape termed fossils in natural history, whether they have been origin- ally produced, or have adventitiously been placed there; what we have now to consider are unme- tallic, for, although every mineral is certainly a fossil, OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 8; fossil, jet no fossil can be strictly termed a mineral, but that which is found in a mine* The most valuable fossil yet discovered in this county is limestone, of numerous kinds, and more or less calcareous, under which is ranked aU the variety of marbles. The fossil usually termed freestone, from the soft or easy working of that stone, but which in mine- . ralogy is termed sandstone, is found in Boulders and loose blocks, but I do not recollect to have seen any quarries of it in this county ; here, it is pretty much superficial, and of course more hard, and less esteemed by stone-cutters. I have seen detached pieces of it in the mountains, very fit for grinding* stones, but not of sufficient magnitude for mill- ttones. There are also some other native fossils, as clay, potters'-ore, soap-stone, coloured earths, and a va- riety of ochres, and also some indication of slate <parry. The extraneous fossils, which I have learned to have been found here, are confined to the vegeta* . tie kingdom, as trees, and some variety of plants ; of the former, the oak and the bazle, both in roots and nuts, at great depth in bogs, and the petrified woods on the banks of Lough-Neagh ; of plants, principally the fern, add, 1 am told, the spleenwort also, V 86 STATISTICAL SURVEY also, and some mosses, which have been discovered in the heart of slaty stones. I have not v heard of any shells being discovered in stone, nor any fossils of the animal kingdom, which are frequently dug out of many of the bogs of Ireland. Mineral Waters. In the mountainous district are several springs, slightly impregnated with sulphur, and chalybeate, and there are frequent ferruginous oozings, most generally on the borders of bogs ; one of these, in the midst of the Fews mountains, is said to be useful in scrophulous complaints, and operates as a purgative. I had not an analysis of it, but it was very sulphureous and cold ; silver was changed m colour to that of copper, \ind a glass of spirits, mixed in a quart jug of this water, turned black ; in the spring, the water looks as pure and clear as chrystal. I cannot find there is a mineral water in the coun- ty, of any eminence or well proved medicinal pro- perties, nor does Rutty take notice of such. The waters of Lough-Neagh, which border the county, are medicinal, and have been indubitably proved to cure scrophulous complaints ; on the norths wes$ OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH, 87 west side of Armagh, touching Tyrone, this virtue is said to exist principally : here is a bay, with a sandy bottom, and a gradual descent; it is said that, by ten or fourteen days bathing in this place, and drinking the waters also, running sores will be dried and healed, and even the king's-evil ef- fectually cured. ' Boate, in his natural history of Ireland, relates a remarkable cure* of the king's-evil, in this place, in eight days. He remarks, that the declivity of this bay is so gentle, that a man can gradually walk out for a- great distance, until he is up to his chin, , and that frequently the sand changed from cold to warm, and from warm to cold ; this observation yet holds good, as also that the drinking of the waters will relieve chronic complaints, and stop fluxes. Formerly the natives considered, th?t this heal- ing virtue was only imparted on the anniversary of St John, on which day they resorted to the lake, in great crowds, and also drpve ip their sick and distempered cattle; the superior efficacy of the waters, about mid-summer, must have occasioned their attributing the benefit derived to the influ- ence of this saint, whom they yet invoke, when they * In a letter from Francis Ncrillc, Esq. to the Bishop of Clogher, ps^ge 120. ft STATISTICAL SURVEY they have occasion to try tfie medicinal effect of this celebrated lake. Its petrifying quality will be considered in the next sQCtipn, Sect. 8. Waters. 1. The Blackwater river, forms the western bounds of Armagh, and divides it from Tyrone, to \vhich it is equally common with this county. This river rises in Tyrone, and is, near the foun- tain head, an inconsiderable stream, but many ri- vulets are discharged into it* before it touches Ar- magh county ; the point of junction is at Caledoti demesne, and from hence it becomes a very wide and beautiful river, highly adorning the spacious banks, through which, it flows, and from thence, coursing the confines, is discharged into Lough-Neagh. The towns of Blackwater and Charlemont are on the banks of this river, as also the villages of Benburb and Caledon are just in its vicinity. 2. The Ban, flows only in the north-eastefn dis- trict; after passing through Down county, near Guilford, and from thence joining the Newry canal, it is discharged into Lough-Neagh. The neat trad- ing to^n. of Porfcwtown is \vatejced by the, Ban, which t OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. $9 whtoh here is a spacious river ; it also flows con* venient to tbe town of Lurgan, and is navigable throughout in its passage through this county. 3. The Newry rvoer, or die Newry water, as k is more generally distinguished , rises in the county of Down, flowing but a short distance, in a narrow valley, from its source to the bay of Car- lingford, into which it is discharged ; it is in itself bat an inconsiderable stream ; its connection with the tide-water renders it of the first consequence to tbe trading town of Newry, through which it courses in its passage to the sea. 4. The Callcnj is said to have two sources, one of which is in tbe centre of the county,, in tbe parish of Mullabrack; passing near Lisnadill church, it still keeps a central course, flowing below Armagh town, and quite contiguous to it ; thence taking a north-easterly, and, soon after, a north- westerly direction, it is discharged into tbe Black* water river, close to the village of Charfemont; the other source is tbe fifteenth river mentioned in this section. The village of Keady is on this liver. 5. The Tatt-water, is also a central stream rising between Ricbift a§d Hamilton*' bawn, and. passes through the parishes of Kilmore and Loughgal, in a direct northerly course; thence changing due west, it flows towards Cbarlemont, and joins the, Callea 90 STATISTICAL SURVEY Callen river at a short distance from its union with the Blackwater river. The town of Richill stands on this stream. 6. The Cushier, rises rather central near Baleek village, and flows contiguous to Portmorris in a north-easterly course; thence it changes to a northerly direction, till it meets the village of Clare, and in this course is encreased by several streams, with those which pass by the town of Market-hill, and the village of Mohan. From Clare, it again takes a north-easterly course to the town of Tanderagee, near to which it is dis- charged into the Newry canal. 7. The Tynan river, which flows near the small town of the same name, in the north-western angle of this county, rises in the county of Monaghan, flows through Castleshane, and meets this county near the village of Middleton; thence intersecting that small angle of Armagh, which runs into Monaghan, it is discharged into the Blackwater, near Caledon. 8. The Camlough stream, which is narrow, and very rapid, rises at the lake of the same name, at the foot of Slieve-Guillien mountain, in Killevy pa- rish, and is discharged into the Newry canal ; its whole course does not exceed four miles, but the astonishing business performed in the numerous mills on this small stream, of which I shall have again occasion to take particular notice, renders it of the first consequence aud value to the county. The OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 91 The rapidity of this water towards the valley of Newry, and the'many mill-scites on its banks, which are all overshot, is a very strong corroborating proof of the great elevation of ground, on which Slieve-Guillien mountain stands. The falls of this stream are so sudden, that no head of water is re- quired, as a mill pond, for any of the works, the tail-race of the higher mill being the head of the next below, and so in succession, till it reaches the valley, 9. The Newtown-Hamilton river, rises in the mountains, north of that town, passes close to its rear in a southern direction, coursing through the Fews mountains in Creggan parish ; and near to Crossmaglin village, it enters Louth county, and flows into Dundalk, where it is emptied into the bay* 10. The Tara stream, rising eastward of New- town Hamilton, keeps a course pretty nearly pa- rallel with the last river, enters Louth county, at about three miles distance from it, and is discharged into the same stream, before it reaches Dundalk. 11. A small. mountain stream rises near Forkhill, arid enters Louth, about a mile from the last river, meeting it before itsj unction with the Dundalk river. 12. To these we may add a fourth mountain stream, the Fteury river, which rises near Jones- borough, pretty nearly on the verge of this coun- ty, and gives name to the small post town of Fleury- bridge ; thence it passes through the delightful valley of 9* STATISTICAL SURVEY of Havensdale park, in the county of Louth, and is discharged into Dundalk bay, about two miles north of the town. 13. The south-western borders of the county are marked by a small stream, which is the head of the river Fane ; after a few miles in this direc- tion, it enters Monaghan county, at the village of CuUoviUe, and intersects a small south-eastern angle of that district, before it becomes that spacious and beautiful river, which flows through the county of Louth, and is called the Fane water; it is dis- charged into Dundalk bay, at Lurgan-green. . 14. 15. There are two other streams, which, though small, deserve mention as boundaries; they rise exactly on the verge of Armagh and Monaghan counties, and are for some distance the line of se- paration. Their courses are directly opposite, one running north, and the other south, for about four miles each, until they meet; when a new course is made, by the joint streams, of N. E. by E. nearly; flowing near the town of Keady, and a little northward of Lough-Clay, it meets the Cal- len river ; for this reason, it is with propriety con- tended, that this is the source of the Callen water, and that the stream, which rises in Mullabrack parish, already described, is but a secondary sup- ply, in like manner as a third stream, which joins it near Keady, flowing out of Lough-Clay. 16. OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 93 16. 17. 18. In the north-eastern angle of the county, are three small streams, which rise in the parish of Shankill, near Lurgan, and are imme- diately discharged into Lough-Neagh. These are the principal rivers and streams in the county, which it is necessary to mention, as form- ing the natural and prominent features, or descry- ing notice as conducive to such material benefits, which are derived from the extensive bleach and numerous corn-mills they supply. There are some lesser streams of inconsiderable importance, and it must be observed, that the nu- merical arrangement of these rivers is not according to their size, or extent, but merely as they appear important, as a feature on the map of the county, or for their value in the uses, to which they are applied ; some only are numbered, for the more easy reference of the reader, in the following table, or when tfcey form a junction with other streams, or flow near to each other. By stating the ac- knowledged length of the course of each river in its passage through this county, the proportionate body of water will more easily appear, in the area of 283 square miles, the contents of the county, Irish measure. TMt 9+ STATISTICAL SURVEY Table of the Distance which each River runs, and the course it takes through this County 1 No. River. Course. Miles. i Black-water. from S. W. to N. E. flows - - • »3 2 Bann. from S. E. to N. W. ■ - - ■ 9 3 Newry-water. from N. to S. E. — — . . ■ 7 4 Callen, isc branch. fromS.toN.& N.W. . . 10 5 Tall-Water. fromS.toN.&N.W. . to 6 Cushier, with its ) small streams. J from S. W. to N. E. — . ■ . 21 7 Tynan. from S. W. to N. — - - . - 3 8 Cam lough. from W. to E. - 4 9 Newtown-Ha- 1 milton. J Tara. from N. to S. . . • 13 IO from N. to S. — — . . 9 ii Forkhill. from N. to S. — - . - 3 12 Fleury. from N. to S; — - . • >, 1 '3 Fane. from N. to S. — — ■ 6 3 Two streams 1 flowing. J from N. to S. 1 * i from S. to N. J thence East making together }■• i8j Three streams 1 flowing. J from S. E. to N. W. making together b Total Miles 130 Thus, OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 95 Thus, independent of smaller streams, there ap- pears, in the map of this county collectively, no less a course of water, than would extend 130 miles in length, which is conveniently dispersed within the small circumference of eighty Irish miles. Very little damage is ever occasioned by the overflow- ing of these rivers, nor is there any mischief which can ensue, but may be guarded against with due care and attention, ahd which the superficial figure of the country is so well calculated to resist. Lakes. The lakes in the interior of Armagh are few*; the principal are Camlough, or Carlougb, and Lough-Clay, which would be rated as very inferior in some neighbouring counties. Small as is the area of the lake, from whence water is conveyed to the city of Armagh, it is, in this instance, of such importance to so large a district, that it would be unpardonable to omit it. A small chain of lakes occupy the boundary line, near Middleton, and are of importance to the mills in that vicinity. Lough- STATISTICAL SURVEY Lough-Neagh. We come now to speak of the great water of Lough-Neagh, which forms the northern fine of division, and presents so extensive a shore in this view. Though, strictly speaking, this vast expanse is only a boundary, yet it requires particular attention; and I had hoped, that the able reporters, who had already given a detail of their enquiries in counties, which are considerably more connected with it than Armagh, would have gratified the public with some account of its natural history, as well as observations on its great importance to the navigations, which flow into it, and the consequent extension of trade, which it encourages, throughout • the province of Ulster. This immense sheet of water, which may be well styled a sea, in comparison with all the other lakes in Ireland, covers a great area, in the heart of the province, and is bounded by five counties, viz* Ar- magh on the south, Tyrone on the west, London- derry on the north-west, Antrim on the north and east, and Down, which barely touches it on the south- eastern angle. Small as this angle is, yet on the confines of the lake there is no district, which more materially suffers from its inundations, which here have l OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 97 have sometimes overflowed an extensive plain, above seven or eight miles inland, and produced the most ^ mischievous effects. In all the old maps of Ireland it has been stated* that Lough-Neagh covers a plain of 100,000 acres ; bat the survey made by Mr. Lendrick directly contradicts this statement, and reduces its contents nearly to one half, to that of 58,20G acres. This v gentleman also corrects the figure of the lake, which, he asserts, was laid down as incorrectly as the area, and, hy his report, it is fifteen miles in length, by seven in breadth. It becomes a matter of surprise, th*t so immense a body of water, which i* supplied by the constant influx of several great rivers, and numberless others of lesser note, should have but one narrow channel, from whence these are again discharged; and we should expect on this account, that inundations were so frequent, as to depopulate its shores ; but this seldom occurs ; perhaps a great overflow wi]l not occur above once in fifteen years* Where the shore is vety flat, it is subject to every flood, *\nd its banks are arrays marshy, and incapable, from their low situations, of being drain- v ed, and $ greet exteqb is of this description ; in some few places, the coast is bold and abrupt, but entirely destitute of wood, which would be so beau- tiful * contrast to the lake, although the stumps H and ?8 STATISTICAL SURVEY and roots of trees, which have been found ra severa* . places, prove, that formerly the shores must hare been covered with forest ; nor is there any of the delightful interruptions, which Kittartiey and Lough- Erne are celebrated for, by the breaks formed ra the prospect, wkh rocky and wooded islands, pre- senting irregular and undulating surfaces ; all here is an unvaried sameness, no picturesque -views, or fomantic scenery, and but two islands in this great expanse, one near the shore, in the south-western angle of the lake, called Black water-island, just at the mouth of the river, of the same name ; and the other on the eastern borders, contiguous to the coast of Antrim, named Ram-island, and in this is one of die ancient round , towers peculiar to Ire- land. This island is rated in the county of An- trim, and diocessof Connor. The channel, through which this great body of water seeks its passage to the ocean, is called the lower Ban river, knd flows in that extensive con- fine between Londonderry and Antrim counties, neariy in a direction from south to north, for a line of about thirty miles in length, including its cur- vatures and angles, and is discharged into the ocean, at four miles distance, below Coieraine, oil Whose banks this capital town k built. 'Some -authors have considered Lough-Neagh as but an expanse of th& river, but the observation may OF Tlffi COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 99 may with as much truth be applied to the ether six considerable rivers, which flow into it. If the discharging river was called the lower -Bkokwater, it might have furnished as good .grounds for the supposition, as its course would seem to coast the lake from its entrance to Toome ; but a moment's reflection on the distinguishing characteristic df lakes will do away this idea entirely, the ex- pansion being of that description of lake, which ap- parently discharges less water than it receives $ for the flow from the lower Ban is by no means equal to the quantity admitted by the seven great rivers, and the many other tributary streams around the shore; the surplus, then, we cannot conceive to be spent in exhalation. The antient name of this lake was Echach or Eacha, which in the Erse language signified di- vine, and loch, a lake, or the divine lake. In the same language tfeasg or Naasgh, a sore, might have alluded to its virtues in curing cutaneous disorders* and from thence be easily corrupted into Neach or Ntagh ; but Dr. Smith says, the healing virtue of the lake was not discovered till in the reign of Charles the II. when a young man was cured by bathing in the lake, for which remarkable relation I have already referred the reader to Boato' Nataral history df Ireland. H2 The teo STATISTICAL SURVEY The petrifying quality, ascribed to Lough-Xeagh, has been long a matter of great doubt and contro- versy amongst very intelligent and inquisitive natu- ralists, and is even yet very strongly disputed. So long ago as the 8th century, it has been re- corded by Nenius, a writer of that age, as possessing the virtue, who says, " esi aliud stagnant) quod fa- ct! ligna durescere in lapides ; homines outcm scin- dunt ligna, et postquam formaverunt prqjiciunt in stagnum, et manent in to usque ad caput anni f et in capite anni lapis invenitur 9 et vocatur Loch* Echagh." I apprehend those, who seem to doubt this property, have not sufficiently examined it, br tried the experiment; it may be con&ned to some particular parts, and not to the whole lake, but that this virtue belongs to the soil also in some places, is unquestionable. Perhaps the means, by which petrifaction is accomplished, is not sufficiently understood in natural philosophy, or the matter might be easily cleared up. It is laid down as a general principle, that petrifaction cannot take place, but where there is shelter from air and run- ning water ; the deep marshes on this coast so far are favourable to it : for the further process, there must be a complete disorganization of the ligneous matter, and all its corruptible parts decayed, and the mere outward shell remaining only, forming a ske- leton, in the hollow tubes- of which are lodged stony particles, or plays peculiar to water, and that this moulding . OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. ici moulding anew of the substance bad been the™ deposited, whilst the waters were evaporating; that, thus condensed, in process of time, when frilly petrified, the fossil is considerably heavier than it was in its original state. The experiment has doubtless being tried, of driving stakes into the bottom of the lake, and into the soil of its shores, which have been suffered to re- main twenty years undisturbed without any visible change ; but this is no convincing proof of the non- existence of the petrifying power, as probably the process is not completed for a great length of time. I know the general idea is, that the change is completed in seven years, but this is an idle re- mark, and no way confirmed ; besides it is on holly- wood they particularly ascribe the powers; but it is more probable to suppose, that any soft wood would be sooner decomposed than a bard one. From some accounts in Boats 9 * Natural history of Ireland, if they could be credited, this change takes place in a few years, and it is not the soil nor the water, but the vapours issuing from them, which occasion the petrifaction ; he says, a gen- tleman cut some trees, for building, on the shore of the lake, and amongst others a large holly- tree, * From page 116 to page ia$, io a letter from Mr, William Molyneux, secretary to the Dublin Society, to Mr. William Musgrave, fellow of Oxford College. STATISTICAL StTHVXY tree, but that the disturbances of the time* had prevented bim from using them, and they lay or the ground for several, years, until he thought it safe to pursue bis building ; but when be came for his timber, he found the holly-tree petrified, and the other timber sound, and covered with moss, and that the water of the lough bad never reached it ; it is, however, observed, that this story is only given from common report ; the gentleman, who relates it, adds, that from his own experiments he is decided, that petrifaction* is occasioned in wood, in the vicinity of the lake, that these fossils will burn and fkme,. and the smoke smells like the smoke of wood, and that he had various pieces of them, which had arrived at different degrees of petrifaction, and one in particular, being plift, he could discover to be holly, and even see the pith in the centre of it, and also the grain of the wood ; the outer coat he describes as perfect stone, but the whole reasoning in this instance is by no means conclusive; the reader is referred to the account in the annexed note. , That a petrifying virtue exists in this vicinity, is unquestionable, but it is not sufficiently clear, to what element it may be ascribed, whether to the soil, the * We hive satisfactory *ftd ocular demonstration of the feet, la the many samples of fottils, now exhibited in the Dublin Society's museum* OF Tq& COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 90 | the waters 9 F &• exhalation which, w ficon* the - nyurshy borders or the lafee itself. It would certainly be a very desirable matter, that this subject should be well considered by some able naturalist ; it is surely worth investigation, and it would be a matter of importance to enquire into its medicinal virtues. On the strand of Lough-Neagh ace found soma transparent pebbles, which take a beautiful polish^ very much resembling cotnetian; some of them are by no jpeans inferior to this stone, are rarely found, and esteemed very valuable in the cabinets of the, curious. They are called gems in this: neighbourhood, and the peasants easily distinguish them foom the other pebbles, which are transparent, and peculiar to this shore; many people make ?> trade of picking up these gems, and selling them to lapidaries in Dublin. Samples of these are also deposited in the Society's museum* This lake abounds with salmon, pikg, trout, eel* roach, and bream, and a kind of fresh water her- ring, called in Irish pollans; they resemble large* smelts, and their scales are very bright ; they ax% much esteemed, and furnish a wholesoopa supply few the poor. The shad-fch is caught in the salmpa fishery a£ Coleraine, near where this water is discharge into the ocean; it appears very probable, that those pollanr 104 STATISTICAL SOTLV1Y pftllans are from the spawn of this fish, which ha* been deposited in die lough, and perhaps requires the sea-water to bring them to perfection. Navigations. Considering the advantages of navigation, which Leugh-Neagh affords to the several counties on its coast, it is of great importance, and in this poli- tical view deserves particular consideration. The canals, which meet this lake, are the Newry canal, that from Belfast city, and that from the Ty- rone collieries ; by means of these, a communica- tion is effected between the counties of Down, Armagh, Tyrone, and Antrim, in vessels of sixty 16ns burthen. / In the reports of the county of Down, some de- fects in the Belfast line are pointed out, or in that part, which runs between Lisburn and Belfast, ren- dering the passage uncertain and tedious; it will remain for me to say something of the navigation of this county, but I shall first beg leave to make a remark on the, line, which appears the most fa- vourable for an effectual navigation from the sea to this lake, and by which a communication would be procured with the remote counties of Ulster: every observer will allow, that this line should OF THE COUNTY OP ARMAGH. to* should be* the valley, through which the lower Bah flows to Coteraine ; the entire line of the counties of Antrim and Londonderry would- thus be benefited ; die expence, comparatively with the advantages to be derived, would be trifling ; the principal obstruc- tion is by means of some shoals, which could be easily removed, and several great rocks; but by a partial adoption of the river, for the line of canal, in some places, and receding from it where the dif- ficulties are great, and by making alternate new cuts, it could be performed for a moderate expen- diture.* I know it is contended, that the Belfast trade would probably suffer, and that Coleraine would be more particularly benefited by such a canal; but these selfish considerations are, perhaps, the true reason, why works of this nature, of such general utility, are not more earnestly engaged in ; public benefits should never be thwarted by individual in- terest, and the fears and obstructions, which illiberal and narrow minds will suggest, are often unfound- ed, and would ultimately, perhaps, have the very reverse tendency, and produce such advantages, as would be felt by the whole community. I proceed * I understand an estimate of this expeocc has bee* made, and is under caatidemioa. itf -STATISTICAL SV&VCY I proceed now fro speak of the navigation* imme- diately connected witbt tbk county, which is called the Newry canaL Ncwry amtf* The obstructions, which were encountered on the Newry river from that town to the sea, were so numerous, and invincible by other means, as to oc- casion the adoption of the present navigation; for, originally, this river could not bear boats, but of very small burthen, and only at high water, as the tide flowed up to the town. The work was considered to be a national benefit, if extend- ed to v Lough-Neagh, and there to admit the boats from the Tyrone collieries, and that the coal, brought from thence to Newry, could be dispatched coast- ways -to many parts of Ireland, which would keep at home, tfre immensity of specie paid for foreign coals. The work was entirely completed by parliament- ary grants, and placed under the controul of a Board, but there has lately been made a considera- ble change in its form and government. The original board consisted of twenty-one members, and nothing could be determined without their consent* The noblemen of the counties of Armagh, Tyrone, 1 and Down, OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. toj Down, and the. county representatives had each a v»te, but the consequence was* that the business was greatly neglected, as tbey found it difficult to bring so many gentlemen together, as wouU make a board; if casual repairs were required^ they of course could not be amended, and the navigation was for long, peiieds impeded, and rendered so uiv- certain, that the great trade from Newry, which was formerly carried on this line with the counties bordering Lough-Neagh, has. bean transferred to Bedfast, which has wondef&Uy rivalled Newry of late year % and deprived this town of many branches. ef her trade* If iu consequence of the negleee of a necessary expenditure of money, for long periods, the works were greatly injured, yet the small tolls, winch w«re yielded in particular places, that stoE remained navigable, were husbanded witk great care and management by the Rev. Doctor Campbell, of Newry, who was secretary to the boavd, and the.' savings amounted to no less than 5,000/. in hand; when that gentleman lately resigned. Since the new establishment has been askqpted, this sum, together with a large grant front the ge* neral navigation board, has been expended in some .material repairs and improvements. The board of twenty-one is now abolished, and the management of all affairs, relating to the canal, is ioft STATISTICAL SUSVIT « k vested in conductor*, who must be resident mer- chants in Newry, and naturally are interested in the prosperity of the trade of the town; five of these constitute a board, they recommend what they think necessary to be done, and communicate their opinions to the general navigation board, who or- der them to be adopted or rejected at their dis- cretion. The annual tolls .now amount to 2,500/. but for- merly were treble this sum, and, lately, consider- ably less; for one boat, which now plies, about seven or eight years ago perhaps ten or fifteen were in constant employment ; however, the trade is again improving. Limestone, sand, lime, and all manures, are toll free, no inconsiderable encouragement to agri- cultural improvements. Timber b freed into die canal, but pays a small toll in its passage; other goods pay a fee of entrance. The navigation is now greatly improved from the town to die sea, but the new locks, which have been lately built, are too narrow by three feet, being only twenty-two in the clear; they only re- quire that alteration, to admit large vessels to come up, which now unlade at Warren point, six miles frote Newry ; lighters take in their cargoes, and enter die canal at Fathom. For OF THE COUNTT OF ARMAGH. 109 For two years past, the works have been under a general repair, and the line is now well supplied with water. The Cashier river will immediately be let in, and a trough or tunnel, of cut stoue, is now building near the noted burial place of Bally- naback ; Lough-brickland and Lough-shark waters already supply it. The whole length of this navigation, from the junction with the tide-water at Fathom to the town of Newry, is four miles; from thence to Lough- Neagh twenty-seven miles, in toto thirty-one Irish miles. Its advantages are common to the whole line of country, westward in Armagh, and eastward in Down ; running for the greater way in that valley, which constitutes the bounds of those two coun- ties ; in respect of the several towns and villages on its banks, we will hereafter abew, bow they are particularly benefited, in the 13th chap, and 5th section. The great mistake in inland navigation, as has been proved in various instances, is the adopting the beds of rivers for the lines of canal, under the idea of a saving of money ; but in fact it occurs, that this only tends to great and lasting expence. Rivers, from their low situation, naturally receit* all superficial water, from snow and rain, as well* as from springs, and are, of course, subject to floods, 1 jio STATISTICAL SU3LVJLY floods, which not only interrupt the passage, iut frequently sweep away the works, and leave them Hable to incalculable expeoce: how many such navigations are there, at present, in Ireland, on which thousands have been expended to no good purpose, and whose defects cannot be remedied, but by abandoning the bed of the river, and adopt- ing a new line ? A partial selection of river beds, in favourable situations, such as are not subject to floods, is sometimes very adviseable, but where the river is liable to rapid torrents, a navigation should never be thought of . ' Formerly, the making of canals was only consi- dered adviseable, in proportion to the trade, which, it was calculated, was transported by land carriage, and would ultimately defray the cost of the work ; but there are many instances, of late years, to prove that such a calculation is too niggard, and that canals have not only assisted trade, but created new branches of commerce, as well as mate* daily, improved agriculture. The prosperous state of all the infant towns, on the Grand canal line, peculiarly confirms this observation, where, but a few years ago, nothing but a bleak and uncultU vated waste, or dreary bog, was to be seen. The immense rise on landed property, in this extended line of canal, has already exceeded the most san- guine I of the Bounty of armagh. x i i {nine expectations, and this success should -create an fenuktidn amdagst the gentry in this province, to forward works of sach great importanoe to the natives in general, and particularly so to their own private interests. Fish. Before vre conclude this section, I shall say a few words on the animal and vegetable kingdom peculiar to the element, of which it treats. The connection of the rivers of this county with the sea, by means of Lough-Neagh, has supplied them with salmon, which fish resorts all the major wa- ' ters. I have already mentioned, that there is a kind of smelt or shad-fish, peculiar to the lough, and very abundant, so as to furnish an amply sup- ply for the poof. I do not learn there is any es- tablished right of fishery in Lough-Neagh, but there is no interruption to any adventurer. Lough- Neagh, and the mouths of the neighbouring rivers, are celebrated for a very fine kind of salmon-trout, which are frequently taken to the weight of above thirty pounds. *The common, trout, found in all rivers, is abundant, and of a large size, in most 6f these rivers. The us STATISTICAL SURVEY The pike is found in Lough-Neagb, Lough-Shark, die Ban, and the Blackwater ; the eel is of a large size, and ray plenty, in rivers connected with lakes. The bream and roach are numerous, and easily taken with bait, JqwtU Birds. Of the feathered tribe, peculiar to this section, are the wild duck, widgeon, teal, all the variety of gulls, sea-plover, swans in great abundance, wild geese, cape-geese, herons, curlieus, coots, water- hens, king-fishers, and divers. There is scarcely a description of water-fowl, which are common to the sea-coast or great lakes, but frequent many miles around the vicinity of Lough-Neagb, and, in hard weather, take shelter in the adjoining demesnes. To Mr. Brownlow's beautiful lake, at Lurgan, they have a constant re- sort, as they are always protected, and are now become so familiar there, as to regularly breed every year. Amphibious animals* The otter, which is so destructive to fish, is sometimes seen in the Cushier river, and has even frequented OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 113 frequented the Newry water, but seldom of late years. The water-rat is common in the marshes, on the fhore of Lough-Neagh, and it is said the bite of this animal is venomous and difficult to cure. Aquatic plants. The most useful aquatic plant is \hepoafluitan$> or the water-fescue grass, which is found on the borders of the marshes, that are left dry in summer; this grass is luxuriant, and makes excellent hay. When this plant appears, the marshes are covered with water-fowl, which delight in feeding on it. The iris, or flagger, flourishes on the banks of the river Callen ; I have seen excellent garden-mats made of this plant, and also bed-mats, which it is peculiarly proper for, as it will not rot on ground floors. The ranunculus, or crow foot, is common to all low marshy grounds. The water-lily, nymph<ea, grows on the bor- ders of Lough-Neagh, and in muddy ditches ; there are two kinds of this plant, both white and yellow; of the latter, dye-stuff is produced by decoctions, and is of a deep brown colour. t Tb* ii4 STATISTICAL SURVEY The water-hemlock, or phdlandrium aquatictm ; this plant is eaten by all our cattle, but cows, which will refuse it; it is said to sicken horses, yet they eat it greedily; stupes of it are known to be pow- erful in repelling ; it grows on the- banks of the Cushier and Blackwatcr rivers, and in the vicinity of Lough-Neagh. The cuphrasia, or eyebright, useful for com- plaints in the eyes, is frequently met in the low grounds near the river. The colchicum 9 or meadow saffron, grows on the borders of the Blackwater and the Callen, and is highly ornamental, its flowers affording a beautiful variety ; the medicinal virtues of the root are diu- retic and balsamic, when old, but it must be used with great caution, for even a small quantity of it, when young, is acrid and highly poisonous; the root is bulbous, the flowers are a variety of shades, of red, yellow, white, and purple ; it grows in low meadows, on the banks of rivers, and in marshy places. Th$ senecio paludosus, or bird's tongue, in low marshes. The mare's tail, or hippuris, .grows in stagnant waters, and is found in the marshy ground near the junction of the Newry canal with Lough-Neagh; its OF THR COUNTY OF ARMAGH, tij its properties are astringent, cattle refuse it, but gaats aat it greedily. Tbe pondweed, or patamogetan mtans, is an 3gpeeable and wholesome plant ,to catfje, and grows in stagnant waters near LoughrNeagh. The parnassia, or gcaw of ptfnaaw, a plant of extreme elegance and beauty, grows in the vici- nity of Lough-Neagb, and on the banks of the Tynan river. The water figwort, or scrophularia aquatica, is esteemed, when mixed in an ointment with hog's lard, as a cure for scorbutic ulcers, and, it is said, a strong decoction of this plant will cure the measles in pigs ; it grows on the banks of the Newry water. The mentha aquatica, or water-mint, is too well known to require any comment, and is found in all the low grounds and marshes ip this county. Amongst the ornamental aqueous plants, many of which are medicinal, are the lysimachia, or loose- strife; the ly thrum s die aria, or purple loose- strife ; the menyanthes, or purple buck-bean, which is extremely beautiful ; the thalictrum flavum, or meadow rue, which I found on the lake side near the summit of Slieve-Guillien, and, on the river side, near the village of Middleton; the typha angustifolia, or narrow leafed catVtail which pro- i 2 duces u6 STATISTICAL SURVEY duces a fine down, and certainly might be turned to useful account, in stuffing cushions, Kc. To these may be added a collection of curious plants, which flourish in the marshes, on the borders of Lough-Neagh, and will afford a pleasing variety to the researches of the botanist CHAP* OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. iiy CHAP. IL STATE OF PROPERTY. Sect. 1. Estates. A VERY considerable tract of the lands of this county is church and college property, and the ma- nagement of estates requires much cleverness in their regulation to the mutual advantages of the landlord and tenant. The parcels of ground, or farms, if I may so call them, being very small and numerous ; rents being paid so irregularly, on ac- count of the many divisions of these little plots; the attention necessary for proportioning turf bog and approaches to each little farm ; and the judi- cious laying out of new roads, are together fully adequate to employ the time of an active agent, who will also have no small trouble in bis magis- terial capacity to adjust disputes amongst the te- nantry* Sect* *iS STATISTICAL SWUTET Sect. 2. Tenures. The property of Armagh is . of three descrip- tions, freehold, church, and college lands; the two latter descriptions considerably exceeding the first, in many parts of the county. Leases in perpetuity are not numerous, nor of great value ; the terms are but short, twenty-one , years and a life, or a life only; some are for thirty-one years, or three lives, and on account of die short tenure few are under value* Landed pro- perty k in much demand, and a small estate well circumstanced will bring from twenty-five to thirty years purchase ; few large estates have been offered for sale. There are some great properties in college lands to the first lessee, but the occupying tenantry pay the full value ; where forms are so small, the land seldom suffers in the same manner as great tracts of church land, which are seen in various parts of Ireland, where the lease is but during the in- terest of the incumbent, in the heart of a country, where the surrounding farms are leased for a long term of years, and where such tenures are the custom of the country : in such places, it is very discouraging for a wealthy farmer to have any thing OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 119 thing to do with church lands, as his improvements cannot even be secured to him during his own life, or the life of his landlord, bqt he may at any time be deprived of the fruits of his industry, by the incumbent changing his living, as his interest then terminates, during which only he could set. The church and college lands in this county are, of course, subject to all these inconveniencies; yet from the great extent of the linen trade, land is in such demand, and, from the similarity of ad- joining tenures, even on freehold property /in respect of duration, few leases being longer than twenty- one years, or a Jife, the grievance is scarcely felt, and the farms are in no less esteem. But one advantage so materially, and, from what I have seen, almost solely enjoyed in this county is, that the occupying tenant has no lazy middle- man between him and his landlord. Where there are large farms, none of which are met here, as much land is generally set by the original lessee at a rack rent, as will leave himself a great portion, and the prime of the farm, rent free ; but, where agriculture is not the main pursuit, and gives place, as here, to manufacture, there are so many bidders for farms at a high rent, that it is the interest of the landlord to give each tenant only sufficient ground for his family, and thus none can be spared to a middleman* In asserting that this baneful x system no STATISTICAL SURVEY system is not felt here, it must be understood that the original lessees of church and college property are not rated as middlemen; they should, more properly speaking, be termed the head landlords, as those establishments, to which they are annexed, in few instances derive from the original lessees a tenth, or more, of the rental, which they them- selves receive, and the equal estimation of such tenures is the best proof there is no grievance in this respect to the occupying tenantry. Sect. 3. Rental. The rental of the cultivated parts of Armagh, including the reclaimed spots in every district through the county, may be rated, on an average, at 25s. per acre. The tenures are almost all in English acres; those parts of the mountains and other wastes, which bring but a very low rent, are few, in comparison with the like tracts in other counties ; and as Armagh is allowed to be the most populous county, so must its lands be in the greatest demand, and they, of course, are en- hanced by the superior excellence of the soil. Per- haps a fifteenth part of the county only is- not In profit, including towns, villages, bog, mountain, wood, and water, which let us deduct from the gross OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH, tix gross number of acres, which pay rent, the re- mainder at the supposed valuation of 25s. per acre, plantation measure, the average of the cultivated lands, will produce the gross rent of about 209,000/. This calculation has been tried different ways and found nearly to agree, by striking off the probable superficial waste, and uncultivated spots, whether from sterility or local circumstances, as water, &c. by computation of the allowed population propor- tioned to the number of acres, and by the reports of the statistical surveys of counties bordering on Armagh. Let the reader view the waters and mountains, as laid down in the best maps of the counties of Ulster, or, if he is acquainted with the province> bring those wastes to his memory, and he will find that a deduction of one fifteenth in the superficial area of the county> not in profitable culture, will be nearly the proportion, and that 25$. per acre will be about the average rental of the occupying tepantry. 8ect. 11% STATISTICAL flVRVEY Sect. 4. Landed Proprietors* Alphabetical abstract of the names of gentlemen, who have freehold property in Armagh, with the re- sidence of suxfuas have houses in the county, specify- ing the barony, in which each property is situated. County at large. His Grace the Lord Primate. Barony of Armagh. N: Pr*f>riHH* Namu, i, Blakely, Esq. flaeis tf Retukmci, Annt-villc. Oistrvstum. 2, Charlemont, Earl No residence. 3, Close, Rev. Mr. Elm Park, 4, Cremorne, Viscount No residence. 5, Faroham, Earl No residence. Nmai frhese are the only freehold land own* ers in the barony of Armagh i the re* mainder of the Hands consist of ■church and college Vproperty. A great property under the college' of Dublin, on. which is a valuable lead mine. v No. OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH, 1*3 2fi. JV^rlrf^iVflBW, Fkns tf Rtdlencc, 6 9 Hickey, John, Esq. Tullamore. 7, Holmes, Esq. Hew Holland. 8, Johnston, — - Esq. Nappa. 9, Levingston, — — Esq. Armagh. io» Maxwell, John, Esq. No residence. ii, , Rev. Henry Ditto. i %9 , Robert, Esq. Elm Park. l j, M'Can* Robert, Esq. Armagh, 14, McCartney, — Esq. Rosebrook. 1J* M'Gougb, Joseph, Esq. near Armagh. %6j Perry, —Esq. Armagh. 17, Scott, — Esq. •«« Armagh. 15, Simpson, — Esq. near Armagh. Okfrwtihit These three pro- prietors hold as /immense estate uo- f der the college of -Dublin. i, Bond, — Esq. 2, CakdoA, Ear| 3, Charlemont, Earl 4, Cross, — Esq. 5, Gosford, Viscount Barmy of Turermy. BondTtUe. No residence. Ditto. Ditto Gosford. 6, Hamilton, Robert Esq. No residence. 7, Johnstfo, ~* Esq. }A minor, his seat in the occupation of M^. Burgess. "4 STATISTICAL SURVEY V: trfrlam Nam* % Plat* *f RidJna, 0**rv*'#». J Purchased by Doe- tor Sterne, and be- queathed by him to trustees for'certaia charitable uses. No residence. No residence. r This seat in the Fair?iew. J occupation of Cap* V^tain Waring. Churchhill. \ Middleton estate 9, Pringle, — Esq, lo, Steele, — Esq* n# Strong, Rer. Mr, 12, Verner, — Esq. Barony of O'Neiland West. *&. Pnprktm N*mt f Plata •/ RtMm9 % Ohtrvalhm. i, Ashmur, — Esq. N$wry. «, Brownlow, W. Esq. Lurgan, 3, Charlemont, Earl No residence. ( This seat in the 4, Cope, Archdall, Esq, DrummiUy. ) 0**^ (c^ Clone! Cope, 5» — — # Colonel Ditto. 6, Dungannon, Viscount, Nb residenco, 7, Forbes, — Esq. Ditto. 8, Harden, — Esq. Hanybrooki 9, Hardy, — Esq, Drummart. OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. if*. Pnprittort Ndmt, flaus *f RuMnct> 10, Kelly, — Esq. Armagh, n, Lawson, — Esq* 12, Marks, — Esq. 13, M'Craight, — Esq. New Grove. "5 f Now called Waw, £kenshaw's grove 14, M'Gough, — Esq. near Armagh. 15, Molesworth, A. Esq, Fairlawn. i6,Mo!yneux, Sir CapelBt. Castle Dillon. 17* 9 T. Esq. No residence. iS, Newton, —Esq. Ditto. 19, Obins, — Esq. Portadown. 10, Obre, — Esq. Clantelew. 21, O'Donnell, — Esq. Summer island. 22, Richardson, W. Esq. Richill. 23, Shields, — Esq. Hockley. 24, Verner, ~ Esq. Churchhill. 25, Wakefield, — Esq. No residence. 2f> Workman, Miss Mahoo* Barony of O'Neiland East. IP* PnpritUrs Names, Phcts «f Rendtnrtt it Blacker, Rev* Dean, Carrick. h Brownlew, W. Esq. Lurgan, GWvftiM*. AT#. 126 STATISTICAL SURVEY No. PropritUn Names f times of Reside**, O istntaHm. 3, Burgess, — Esq. Waod Park. 4, Cope, Archdall, Esq. Drummilly, 5, Cuppage, Colonel Silverwood. 6, Fivcy, John, Esq. Knocknamuekly, 7, Ford, James, Esq. No residence. 8, Grier, Joseph, Esq. Eliza Hill. 9, Hall, John, Esq. Lurgan. io, Magennis, — Esq. Waringstown. lit M'Veagh, — Esq. Lurgan. 12, Robinson, — Esq. Lilo. 13, Sparrow, Colonel Tanderagee. 14, Turner, — Esq. Newry. 15, Waddell, — Esq, Springfield, Barony of Lower Orior. No. Pnpruton Names, Pieces of Residence, Cisff*0wu. I» Bell, — Esq. 9, Cope, Henry Esq. 3, Dawson, Colonel 4, DtStUf, Count Point* Pass. No residence* ClareGutfe. 5 ^ the ocenpitioti I of Mr. Leigh. /* Inherits the estate 1 ofLordFanejoinu No ftudeoce* < , ...-E.tr J ly with the Earl of V>aadwich. Mi OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. ,* 7 Mb PrfrUUrs Names, Plan ./ Residence, Qhentti-,. Hanna,— Esq. Re- 1 A *' presentativesof J Actoft * 6, Harden, — Esq. Harrybrook. Levingston, Rev. Mr. 7 ni 7 * Representatives of j Uarc * 8, Lofty, Win. Esq. Tandmgee. ft Macartney, — Esq. No residence, io, M'Conwell, — Esq. Mulhvilly. ii, More, — Esq. Drumbanagher. /"Inherits the estate 12, Sandwich, Earl of No residence. ) ofLordFanc J™*- ^ly with the Count (jk Sails *3# Sponow, Colonel Tanderagce. JSarom/ of Upper Orior. ifc. Fnfrittmi Noma, Places tf Rssuknce, ObservatUns. i, Atkinson, George, Esq. Flour Mills. a, Ball, — Esq. Crossmaglin. 3, Barton, Mrs. Forkhill Lodge. 4, Charlemont, Earl No residence. 5> Cony, Rt. Hon. Isaac Derrymore. 6, Courtney, *- Esq. Southwark. 7» Hall, — Esq. No residence. 8, Jackson, Mrs. ForkhilL S> Joftes, — Esq.. Mo residence. Mr: nS STATISTICAL SURVEY A* "* Ffoprutors Nsmet, IO, Moore, — Esq. n, M'Neale, J. Esq. 12, M'Neale, Neale, Esq. 13, Needham, — Esq. 14, Seaver, — Esq. 15, Turner, — Esq. 16, Whaley, — Esq. PUcu •/ Resubvf % Drumbanagher. No residence. Jonesborough. No residence. Heath Hall. Newry. No residence. Oiarvdmu* HIO Barony of Lower Fews. Mc. fnfrUton Namts % PUttt *f Ruidtmct^ 1, Acheson, Hon. Col. Gosford. 2, Charlemont, Earl 3, Gosford, Viscount 4, Haywood, — Esq. 5, Reed, — Esq. 6, Synnot, Sir W.Bart. 7, Vernon, — Esq. S, Wilson, — Esq. O l s s rmims , No residence. Gosford, No residence. Ballymoier. Ballymoier Lodge. Hockley, now set to Mr. Shields. No residence. Barony of Upper Fews. N: Pnfrittts Names, I, Ball, —Esq. a, Charlemont, Earl Plates of Re%\dtnct t Crossmoglin. No residence,. OlHrvatim. If* OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. n 9 Jfc Prefrietfrs Names, JPlaees *f XesiJiMCt, Observe^**. 3, Eastwood, F. IJsq. No refidence. 4, , , Rev. John, Ditto. 5, Hamilton, Right Rev. 1 Doctor, Bishop of > Ditto. Ostory, J 6, Hcnecy, —Esq. Ditto. 7, Hill, — Esq, Ditto. 8, Kelly, Rev. Mr. Armagh. 9, M'Can, — Esq. Carritt. io, M'Corab, — Esq. No residence. ii, M'Gough, -—Esq. near Armagh. 12, M'Masters, — Esq. near CullaviUc. 13, O'Callaghan, O. Esq. Cullaville. 1 4» Reed, Joseph, Esq. Jun. Ballymoier. CHAP. l*» STATISTICAL SURVEY CHAP. III. BUILDINGS. »»•« « Sect. 1. Public Buildings. TO the princely liberality of the late lord Rokeby this county is indebted for the numerous elegant public buildings, that environ and adorn her metropolis, which) from his Grace's care and attention, may well be said to possess also the most elegant built streets, the best regulated police, and the most numerous advantages of any inland town in Ireland. When we shall speak of the town in its proper place,* the public buildings will be particu- larly described. The several towns and villages in the county have the general characteristic of neatness and pro- portion in their buildings, as will also be shewn in the course of the work. The * See Chap. 13, Sect 1. OF THR COUNTY OP ARMAGH. 141 The churches throughout this county, and indeed through this whole metropolitan diocess, are ex- tremely well appointed) simple and chaste in their architecture, and display a lightness and degange for which they are justly admired. Sect. 2. Houses of the Gentry. The magnificent palace erected by Lord Rokeby, daring* bis primacy, being detached from the town and surrounded by a beautifal demesne, may be styled under this section, and is unquestionably the meat magnificent buildtqg in the county. The majority of the most wealthy proprietors? houses are quite in the old style of architecture, and have been the castles of their dny; they are ge- nerally erected in low situations, under shelter of a hill $ and the wealth, not die taste of the pro* prietors, is exhibited in these bulky mansions. The erection of many of these are the covenants, by which the original proprietors enjoyed their grants; they mast have been considered in those times aa magnificent edifices, and were so strongly fortified, as to leave no apprehensions of attack or surprise ; the apartments, however, possess all the k 2 comfort tp STATISTICAL SURVEY comfort and convenience, for which antique buildings are remarkable. . In the more modern mansions we see compactness, and a correct style of architecture, but few of tbem are on a large scale ; they will, however, be spoken of in another part of the work. Sect. 3. Farm-houses, and Offices. This description of buildings ranks in the middle class, between the gentleman's house and the cot- tage, and, strictly speaking, is scarcely to be found ill this county. The more industrious, yet less wealthy occupier than the gentry, in other coun- ties, is the respectable farther, who acquires his property by the pursuit of husbandry; but here, this middle class is engaged in the linen business; we cannot call bis a farm house, 'tis more properly a manufactory ; agriculture is but a secondary con- sideration, and he will not be encumbered with more land in his own occupation than is necessary for his business. The habitations of this respectable class may be more justly ranked under the head of the preceding section ; and to such houses are an- nexed excellent and commodious offices, besides all the necessary buildings for conducting their works, mills, &c. Sject. OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. «# Sect. 4. Manufacturer^ Houses, and Cottages. These habitations, of the better kind, are similar to the small farm-houses in other counties, and are generally confined to a ground, floor ; the apart- ments consist of a kitchen, dairy, and perhaps se- veral small bed-rooms, and a workshop. It is to be regretted, that the sedentary employment of the -weaver has been rendered still more unwholesome by bis being obliged to shut up so many windows and chimneys of his house to evade the taxes. Ground [floors particularly require ventilation and frequent fires in the apartment, but in many of these cottages there is no admittance of air but through the door. Such defects might be remedied, to the better health and comfort of the manufacturer and pea* aant, and, perhaps, to the improvement of the re- venue ; the partial repeal could not hurt these taxes, aa the people deprive themselves of the light and necessary air rather than submit to the imposition. The offices of this description of houses consist of a cow-house, stable, and pig-sty, generally under one roof, thatched with straw, and the walls of mud. The cottage is also thatched, but the walla We built of stone and mortar. The \& -STATISTICAL SURVEY The wealthy weavers have all their house* of stone, and the apartments fully correspond with the engaging and* neat exterior, and" are remarka- ble for comfort and cleanliness. Bog oak is esteemed very much for roofing, but in many places the country affords so little tim- ber, that they are obliged to use foreign deal, which comes very expensive. The miserable hovel of the lowest class, which so often wounds our feelings in other parts of Ire- land, is scarcely to be seen here, nof does that squalid poverty or filth disgust the traveller, which more southern provinces too often display, and which is perhaps less to be found in Armagh than in any other county in Ulster. The meanest hut has something of neatness to recommend it; almost in every one the exterior is white-washed, and the roof well thatched, with a neatly enclosed little gar- den, affording abundance of esculent vegetables, and also a pleasing relaxation from the sedentary labours of the loom. Happy country, whose very peasantry feel the blessings of independence, resulting from their own honest exertions ; whose labour is not bestowed on an ungracious soil, or a precarious manufacture* and is sweetened with the hopes of sure reward, which, when gained, is not lavished in idleness or dissipation, but wisely applied to the encreasing the OF THE BOUNTY OF ARMAGH, i# the comforts, and advancing the respectability and independence of a well civilized and industrious community. On reviewing the subject of this chapter, we will find the public buildings elegant and commodious, the mansions of proprietors, in general, more of the antique ostentatious style than of modern or chaste architecture; the houses of respectable gentry, more engaged in business, neat and well finished ; and the farm-houses, and cottages, indis- putably comfortable, cleanly, and well appointed, with the exception of a great privation of light and ventilation. CHAP, IS* STATISTICAL SURVEY CHAP. IV. MODE OF OCCUPATION. Sect. 1. Size of Farms. THE soil being excellent, the pursuit of manu- facture, and the population very numerous, are the causes of the small size of farms, which are of so little extent as to leave the average of the county at less than five acres. Industrious and wealthy people are fond of seeing their children early pro- viding for themselves ; the various arts of the linen manufacture are easily acquired, even by children ; and young folks are, in this county, soon obliged to lend their labour, or are sent out, on their own account, to commence a livelihood ; a scrap of land is now the great desideratum for a cow's grass, and a garden, nor does the indulgent parent often refuse a portion of his own scanty plot, to ensure the comforts of the young people. Marriages are therefore OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 137 therefore encouraged, and take place very early; this is by no means a secondary cause of the sub- division of farms, or of the great value of land. Proprietors find it in their account to let land in small parcels, as the weaver will pay for ju$t what suits his own convenience, in the vicinity of a good market town, much more, than could be af- forded for a large farm, the rent of which is to be made by the business of agriculture. To these we also may add another cause, that the political interest of the proprietor is greatly en* creased in the county, though I must here do justice to the general spirit of independence in the electors of Armagh by remarking, that it must be some- thing more than extent of property, which will en- sure to the landlord the disposal of his tenants votes; they feel the value of their franchise, and on these occasions frequently take the liberty of thinking for themselves, and deciding perhaps ex- actly contrary to the choice and interest of their landlord. Though the average size of farms is certainly small, yet there are some of large extent; these are principally situated in the Fews mountains, and afford a good pasturage for young cattle, and this may be considered the second or the other kind of division. I speak not of demesne ground occupied by the gentry, nor of the tracts which bleachers occupy ijS STATISTICAL OTRVEY occupy for their greens; these, though are not subservient to the business of husbandry, either in arable or pasture. The occupation of the first, or more numerous class, is merely for the raising of provisions for the people employed in the linen manufacture. The second, and but inconsiderable, is pasturage fery*uog cattle. More minutely considering the former, die bom of their fawns seldom amounts to twenty acnes, and often does- not exceed one or two ; many of these far- mers are master weavers, and are styled manufactu- mrs ; though they do not work at the loom, they em- ploy many weavers ; their time is occupied at market chiefly in procuring yam for their journeymen, or disposing of their webs ; where a man of this de- scription settles, and is so fortunate as to get a few acres, he soon establishes a manufacturing village around him, with those families to whom he gives employment, Sect, 2. Character of Farmers* As the pursuits of husbandry, exclusively oc- cupying the attention of the people, are scarcely to OF THE CCWMTT 0* ARMAGH. 139 to lie found any where in this county, it is difficult to point out die farmer unconnected with facturc. Under this head, therefore, we distinctly speak of such a person. From early habits of industry, and the knowledge of the value of labour even children accumulate money, and feel a degree of independence ; and as money is the reward of labour, so it is more prized when acquired by industry ; thus, a knowledge of the world, and the value of various comraeditios are learned at a very early period, and, perhaps from this circumstance, more kaawiug and clever dealers are not to be met with than in this previnea* The many wise and strict regulations, which nt- Ifcte to the linen business, and the -impartial distri- bution of justice in its laws, defy dishonesty in a great measure, and it is rarely attempted in .the various dealings of the trade. ; but a very strong propensity to a traffic in house flash generally pro- vails, and perhaps in no county in Ireland is jookejw sbip practised with more extraordinary enterprise, shameless fraud, or greater success ; the knowledge of recipes for disguising the blemishes of this meat generous and useful animal, the quickest and most injurious methods of what is termed getting him into condition, and the many cruelties practised to make him appear spirited and lively, are esteemed as invaluable nostrums, and are withheld from the nearest *4b STATISTICAL SURVEY nearest relatives and neighbours with close and mys- terious secrecy, each jockey confiding in bis own superior judgment and knavery, and the infallibility of his remedies. To disclose this valuable know- ledge, he considers, would be the same as furnish- ing his competitors, in the trade, with materials against his own interest. If this general abuse through Ulster may be of- fered in extenuation of any particular county, it is less excuseable, though in no place more gene- rally practised, than in Armagh. The people ought to be more honest, as being more wealthy, and better informed than their neigh- bours, and the increasing demand for the article of their trade leaves them totally independent of any secondary pursuit. So greatly has this mania raged here, that the ambition of acquiring an excellence in the art, or what they term a name, has actually been the in- ducement, rather than the profit which might arise from the traffic. I mention it with regret, but truth compels me to remark this provincial disgrace, and it is strange, that the man, who with the most bare faced effrontery will endeavour to defraud his neighbour in this dealing, would not perhaps attempt an imposition in any other, and with the most scrupulous exactness would refrain from OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 141 from the infraction of all the exterior marks of re- ligious duties. Hence it may be concluded, that the transactions at fairs are not the most respectable. If the character of the people were to depend on the exposition of their dealings at such places, little eould be said to their credit* Sect. 3. Bent. Rent is always pud in specie, where leases exist. Cottiers, who indeed are few, and the journeymen of manufacturers pay their rent in personal services ; as none but verbal covenants subsist with this latter description of tenants, they are only bound so long as it is their own and their employers 9 mutual pleasure or benefit. Some duties, which ought to be considered as rent, exist in leases at times, but are not exacted. The tenant should, however, un- derstand that a receipt for such is necessary, as well as for the rent in money, nor would a liberal land- lord, who scorns to exact these degrading relicks of the feudal system, refuse to give a receipt for them, or strike them out of the lease altogether. All i 4 t STATISTICAL SURVEY All rent is paid in specie, which is a great emo- lument to the agent of a large estate ; he sells the gold to the linen merchant, at from two to three or four per cent in exchange, for bank notes, the entire •of the linen trade being carried on wkh specie only. At fairs, or markets, the purchaser must pay in specie, or allow the discount, except, there is a previous agreement that bank notes will be taken. Sect. 4. Tithes. A subject of so great importance, as should tend to any alteration or revolution in the church, should be touched with peculiar caution. It is complained, that animadversions on this subject have been too freely discussed in some of the Statistical Surveys, which have been already published. What I have offered to public consi- deration, was with diffidence and caution, to avoid giving offence, and indeed with great reluctance. But the subject of tithes being an article laid down by the Dublin Society in their detail to be enquired into, it is the duty of the reporter to declare truths, and OF TKE COUNTY OP ARMAGH. i 4 j and, in exposing errors, to point out remedies for their amendment. That in this system there are errors and abuses, very destructive to the real interests of agriculture, cannot be denied, and it should, however, be re- membered, that such errors are sanctioned by the laws of the land. When parties and troubles have subsided, it is to be hoped that the legislature will seriously think of correcting the evil, nor suffer the idle bugbear of the danger of the church by any amendment in this system to deter them" from considering the subject. In the mean time, a fair and honorable compromise between the incum- bent and his parishioners, by an acreable assess- ment, would greatly lighten the burthen. Tithe- proctors would thus be dispensed with, nor would the poor man feel the effect of his griping avarice. I have seen many instances, where a reasonable composition ensured peace and harmony with the pastor and his flock; in this case, the former is much better paid, and the latter scarcely feels the charge. Shot. 144 STATISTICAL SURVEY Sect. 5. Leases. Much of this county is held under church and college leases, which of course are not freehold* Other properties are leased generally in freehold, for lives and years, or lives only. Twenty-one years, provided the incumbent's interest so long continues, is the term of church leases. Several leases of private property are for the term of twenty-one years, and one, two, or three lives; thirty-one years and three lives are rarely granted. The more general term is for one life and twenty-one years, some few for a life, or lives "only, and very few indeed are leased in perpe- tuity. Clauses, in Leases. The penalties are not insisted on, when there is any infraction of clauses; but the restrictions are not numerous, nor burthensome, even wefe they exacted. The OF Tfafi COWtTY OF ARMAGH. i 4 j The most useful restrictive clause would be to prohibit alienation of lands if it could be effected, but great difficulties bar its operation. The in- terference of the middleman between the landlord and occupying tenant is universally allowed to stand as a total eclipse between agriculture and im- provement. CHAP. M STATISTICAL SURVEY CHAP. V. Implements. HITHERTO the implements of husbandry hare been very few, and are only encreaaing in demesne grounds. A light plough, harrow, and spade, only, are required to cultivate the lands. A wheel- barrow, and boxed est for carrying home turf and potatoes, . or for putting out manure, make the gum of their farming utensils, all of the com- monest and most unwieldy shape* Those gentry, who have introduced improved implements of husbandry, will be mentioned in the baronial survey, thirteenth chapter. The Scotch plough seems very well adapted for this soil, and it is rather encreasing in repute, and, from the exact and peculiar formation of the mould- board, it is strongly recommended, * The OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH, 147 The harrows arc very light with short teeth, and are but poorly effective. I would recommend Mr. Christy's* farming ap- paratus, to be carefully inspected by amateurs. This gentleman's mechanical abilities are wall cal- culated to make improvements in the art, which he has in no small measure fully evinced ; his modes of cultivation and management are ingenious and complete, and every implement of real use, or which tends s to diminish labour, is found in his farm- yard. Much of the labour is manual, as the faqns are so small, and it is performed principally with the spade and shovel. Prices of Implements. Spade, Shovel, Fork, Plough, L2 £. s. d. : 6 : : 2 : 6 : I : 6 2 : 5 : 6 Harrow, * Mr* John Christy resides in the county of Down at Xircaasock, just adjoining the county of Armagh, about two or three miles from Lurffu. 4* STATISTICAL SURVEY £• $• a. Harrow, - 1:2:9 Car with creeli, and boxed, - 3 : 16: 10} Wheelbarrow, 0:11 : 4} Hay-rake, - 0:7:1 Handles for forks, shovels, &c. &c. 0:0:8 CHAP. OF THE COUNT? OF ARMAGH. H9 CHAP. VI. INCLOSING. Sect. 1. Thorn f faces, hedges. IN this well-civilized country the thorn fences are generally well taken care of, and look very neat and comfortable ; the smallness of the fields, and the numerous orchards which these dose thorn hedges surround, give a woody appearance, though actually but with few timber trees; this holds through the civilized part of the county, and indeed even in the mountainous district we see such im- provements getting forward with more than gradual progress. Thorn fences are of all others the most desirable, affording shade, shelter, security, and profit; but before we attempt planting, our consideration should be directed to the nature of the soil, to know what ptpoft* ijo . STATISTICAL SURVEY plants or shrubs are best suited to it. In moist soils the black alder is found to be superior to the willow, and also makes a good fence ; but it is erroneous, that it will not thrive in dry grounds also, as some writers have alledged. The alder will be very ea- sily propagated by layers, and the willow by plants raised in the nursery, and should be put out in winter ; if deferred till the spring, it will be diffi- cult to accomplish it with success. The shoots should be two years old at least before transplanting, and, to constitute a very ornamental fence, should be put in the ground in two rows, at opposite or con- trary directions, forming a diamond, or resembling the mesh of a net, and the tops secured together with plaited osiers ; this makes a very beautiful inclosure, and soon becomes a very firm and strong lasting fence. In all hedges to be planted, one matter should be kept in constant remembrance. If the hedge thrives slowly, and tends to decay when young, cutting the plants, to within an inch or two of the surface, will insure a quick and vigorous growth ' of shoots, which may then be trained to any shape or form. This operation ought never be delayed till the spi'ing., by which time the buds should be shooting, and only a few leading ones suffered to remain on the stem,, or they would otherwise be numerous and good for nothing. The culture of the OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH, iji the white and black thorn is so well known as to render any thing on this subject superflu- ous, more than advising the young plants to be carefully weeded, and new and rich earth stirred in about the roots of the quicks ; but let us now consider their preservation, and the modes of re- newing those which have decayed. When the young quick is not of a vigorous appearance and looks dwindling, it should be immediately removed by a fresh one from the nursery ; but the great mischief or neglect, which prevents these hedges from coming to perfection, is the want of a temporary fence dur- ing their infancy, to protect them from cattle ; dead thorn stuck in the ground, and made firm, is the best preservative, and will hold good during the time the quicks will be arriving to maturity and hardihood. In planting thorn fences, it would be a matter of ornament, and of great profit, to inter- sperse crab-thorn at proper distances, which would be so valuable for cider, and its toppings useful for many purposes ; large gaps and openings in old thorn fences cannot be restored by young quicks, which will never prosper in such places ; I have seen old plants dug up, and transplanted into gaps with great success; or, if the thorns at either side of the opening are long enough to meet, it is most adviseable to plash that part of the hedge ; this is too frequently but a slovenly operation, and when the i 5 * STATISTICAL SURVEY the bough is nicked and hud, it is kept down only by the weight of a crumbling sod thrown lightly on it, which every rain diminishes ; the true way to plash thorn hedges is to procure sharp pointed stakes of about two feet long, tolerably strong and pointed at the end, with a crook at the head ; this crook should confine tlie branch, and the stake should be malleted into the bank of the ditch to a proper depth, after which a layer of good earth should be thrown on the surface, which has been previously stirred ; the elasticity of the branch is confined thus by the stake, not by the weight of earth, and from whatever small branches the mould will cover, new shoots will appear as from layers. Bryony is very destructive to young quicks, and soon choaks them, from the extraordinary size of its roots^the tendrils from them, and their enor- mous length. Bindweed is a so closely entangling plant, as to choak die shoot after it gets up, as also are several other injurious plants which ought to be carefully weeded out. Our limits will not allow a more minute enquiry into this subject, but the former should understand, , that the great profit he would enjoy in early spring grass, and its preservation from the nipping frosts at this season, is produced from shelter ; and of no small consequence is the shade to his cattle in sum- mer; y OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. i 5i < mer; the fruit, which may be yielded from a ju- dicioui intermixture of cider trees ; the wood, which is afforded for various purposes of husbivndry as well as for fuel ; the security of the crops from cattle or interlopers; the warmth, the neatness, and comfort, which a well inclosed farm possesses, will always command an appreciation above its value, and insures character, respect, and applause to the farmer, who has it in his occupation. Sect. 2. Paling. This mode of fencing is rarely met in Ireland, though so generally practised in England. Ptorhape its success is enjoyed from the better civilization of the people; and so much greater is tfle reproach to magistrates and country gentlemen, who do not - put the laws in force aud protect improvements. In many parts of England, where fuel is the scarcest and dearest article in life, we see these fences stand unmolested for ages, which here would not be left a single night. The great emulation in the spirit of improvement, which now so happily prevails, will only be successful by a rigid observance of the laws agaupst defaulters. • - Park- 154 STATISTICAL SURVEY Park-paling is a very lasting and sec&re fence ; it may be objected to as not ornamental, but it pro- duces the desired purpose of inclosure immediately, and, if offensive to the eye, it is. easily planted out of sight with quick growing ever-greens, which soon become a fence in themselves, if judiciously planted. Oak-paling is far preferable to all other kinds, and should, if possible, be procured, it being more lasting and far cheaper than any other, taking all circumstances into consideration. These pales should be cloven or sawed in thin scantlings ; if left thick, they become too heavy, and are apt to de- cay sooner; and it must be observed, that the tim- ber for this purpose should be cut in winter. I have in a preceding chapter shewn how this can be done without losing the bark. If the paling is high or above six feet, it becomes necessary to secure it at top by a rail fashioned in . a triangular shape, so as to let off the rain. Low paling has a rail about the centre, but this receive* the wet and hastens its decay, and some palings are made without any rail, but are drove deep into the ground, and placed close together; this is an expeditious mode of fencing, and, where the soil is not stony, is made with, little expence ; it has also the advantage of being either temporary or lasting, and is often used as a shelter and pro- tection OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 15; tection for a young plantation, till it is arrived at sufficient maturity. A well constructed paling will hold good for fifty years, and there is no fence so cheap. SztT. 3. Walls. For security, shelter, and duration, walls are, of course, to be preferred to all other modes of in- closing, but the great expence of these works is the. best argument against their adoption. A cheap kind of wall, which is easily reared up, and is seen in several parts of England, is termed a dyke ; this consists of two slight walls of dry atone, or sometimes mortared, about three or four feet asunder at bottom, and about one at top, and five or six feet in height; the intermediate space is filled with earth ; this fence, if not made with judgment, will be apt to crumble, burst, and decay, and excepting that the stones are convenient to be picked off the ground to be inclosed, they are hardly worth the cost of drawing ; but dykes made of rushy sods are very durable, as they can be cut square with exactness, and laid regularly like brick- work, one sod covering the opening of the two underneath it, and projecting so as to throw off the 1 56 STATISTICAL SURVEY the drop, and prevent bursting ; this is made still more secure by digging a small ditch at either side of the dyke, which gives it additional height in pro- portion to the depth of the ditch, and prevents cattle from injuring it ; the clay from this ditch may be thrown into the trench, which was made to procure the mould for the centre of the dyke, but the ditch cannot be made with safety till the dyke is com- pleted ; this fence will remain good for forty or fifty years ; even cottage walls are formed in this man- ner, and are very warm. It must be observed, that this mode of fencing will not afford the same warmth or shelter to the land, which will be acquired from a hedge; the expence of this dyke* will, exclu- sive of the ditches, amount to about sixpence the running perch. Dry walls judiciously built, coped or sodded at top, and dashed, are a cheap and lasting fence, but, where a gateway is left, there should be a pier built with lime- mortar and good stone. I have seen dry walls in England, through which, as the work ad- vanced, mould and mat-rooted grass-seeds were scattered, and creeping plants sowed with them, whieh had soon taken root, and held the wall ' as strongly together as any cement, besides having a very pleasing effect. Sect. * For a very minute account of dyking, see Doctor An- derson's Essays on Agriculture. OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 157 Sect. 4. Water Fences. No species of fencing is more useful, or necessary to be properly understood than this mode; rivers are generally excellent boundaries, and it is a mat- ter of much moment to secure their banks from the violence of their streams in times of flooding. To prevent accidents of this kind, the surest way is to cut down the bank like a glacis, sloping towards the bottom, and to plant mat-rooted grasses thereon. An inclined paling at the top of the bank would effectually bar intruders of every description, and the earth gained in the paring would be worth the expence, as the banks of rivers are generally of a very rich loam, or vegetable mould; this is the properest kind of manure for young quicks set in the breast of ditches. Perpendicular banks will be gradually undermined, as they resist the violence of floods ; earth softened with water will naturally crumble, and be washed away, nor does it require the force of floods to sap it ; its own weight brings] it down. Breast-works of stone are often used in rapid streams, but these are expensive, and by no means equal to resist floods; whereas, if the flaggers, rushes, and aquatic grasses ' once i 5 5 STATISTICAL SURVEY once strike root, they form a firm and everlasting barrier to floods, which can by no means injure them. Sect. 5. Ditches. Ditches, wet or dry, are seldom judiciously made ; for security and cheapness, these fences are very proper ; the great mistake is in forming the banks perpendicular ; where water is stagnant, or of very slow course, that bank may be perpen- dicular, which is UP higher tb&n the surface of the field, though it would be better to have a small inclination to widen towards the top; but it is very necessary, that the other bank should be much in- clined, on account of the materials of which* it is composed ; these are the scourings of the drain, which of course are v$ry moist, when thrown up, but, when baked in the sun, have great durability ; for this reason the bank should be raised very gra- dually, and left to harden, before too much of this wet stuff is heaped together, which otherwise will burst or fall down with every rain, and require con- tinual repairs; this fence answers a two-fold pur- pose, being also an excellent drain for wet land, and should be kept scoured and dragged oc- casionally OF THE COUNTY 1 OF ARMAGH. 159 casionaUy of aqueous plants and grasses, which in- terrupt the drains, and in still water will soon appear. These fences may be made very ornamental by quicking the breast of the ditch, but a good vege- table mould should be the bed for the quicks ; they will not thrive in the hard baked clay, of which the bottom of these digbes is composed. Sect. 6. Gates. In this fine country, 'tis a pity that so few of these ornamental and useful improvements are seen ; the expence is complained of as the cause of this neglect. Gates made of the heaviest and most valuable timber are generally the soonest destroyed ; their own weight pulls them down, and the weather has great influence in swagging, splitting, and warp- ing such timber. The lighter the gate the better, if well put to- gether so as to preclude the rain from the mortices and joinings; I never saw better gates than some, which had been made of lime-tree, and were full twenty years in use; light gates, of good workman* •hip ifo STATISTICAL SURVEY ship and well painted, will stand double the time of those made of more expensive and weighty ma- terials. If the farmer cannot procure other timber than oak or ash, he should make his gates in pairs, and never use such timber in long swinging gates ; the clapping of these weighty bodies tears open the mortices, and quickly destroys the work. I have seen gates of oak and ash, which were very well put together, with diagonals dove-tailed through every bar; but they did not stand one year, from»the causes already assigned. Taking a general review of the fences and modes of inclosing throughout Armagh, they are found little inferior tb those in any other county, and su- perior to a great many. The well cultivated and populous districts, which occupy much the greater part of the county, are rendered extremely com- fortable and secure in this respect. J Sunk fences are only to be met in demesne grounds, and are well adapted for such places, and very profitable, as the ground is in use to the brink ; they are peculiarly estimable, as forming the necessary bounds without obstructing prospect, in- terrupting the natural inclination of the surface, or interfering with its beauties. PART OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. iSi PART II. CHAP. VII. AGRICULTURE* Sola res rustic*, qa« sine dubitatione proxima ct quasi coasaoguinea saptentte cat, tarn dit centibua eget quam m*- gistris. Columella de re rustics* PRELIMINARY REMARKS. THE subject of this chaptw being a direct reply to the Suggestions of Enquiry, stated immediately preceding the first chapter of the work, I shall, for the satisfaction of the Dublin Society, recite the Parochial Queries, as given in the second printed detail of enquiry. By the numerals, which are sub- joined to each query, is meant the reference to that section in the following or the preceding chapters, M where 1*9 - STATISTICAL SURVEY where such query is considered and replied to. I have adopted this mode for conciseness, as the pa- rochial enquiry in so many instances agrees with the original general printed detail ; in most parts of the county the same answer will hold good throughout, and where there is any material altera- tion it will be remarked ; it would be a tiresome tau- tology to reply to each query, in both details generally and parochially also, and would swell this book to a useless size. I need not observe that the following sections of this chapter are those which are set down in the Suggestions of Enquiry 9 commencing at the head of 4GRICUETVRE, immediately preceding the first ehapter of the work. This mode xcill also have the good eject of pointing out to those gentlemen or farmers, who are well ac- quainted with the local state of the county, whether there are errors and omissions in reply to such que- ries, and will of course afford them but little trouble in correcting for a future and perfect edition, which, in such a work, can only be accomplished by joint endeavour's, and never by the labours of an individual, who can do little more than point out a system for its more easy adoption, and compile and select from the many opinions necessary for its completion. Parochial pF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. itj Parochial Queries suggested by the Dublin Society. 1. « WHAT is the oatare of the soil, whether flat or hilly, and how supplied with water ?~ See Chap. i. Sett. 6. 2. Are the estates large or small, and are the proprietors resident or absentees?—^ Clap. %. Sect. i. and 4. Chap. 10. Sett. 11. 3* Are there any held by perpetual lea«es ?— See Chap. 9. Sea. J. 4. Who are the proprietors of the estates ?— &r Chap. t. Sect. 4. Chap. 10. Sect. 11. 5. What is the most common size and rent of farms ?—» See Chap. 2. Sect. 3. Chap. 4. Sect, i.and 3. Chap. 9. Sect. 1. 6. For what term are farms usually let, or what peculiar clauses or covenants are there in their leases I— Sec Chap. 2; Sect. 2. Chap. 4. Sett. 6. Chap. 9. Sect. 4. and 6. j. What may be the general size of fields, and how are they inclosed ? — See Chap. 9. Sect. 9. . 8. What is the common course of crops and the mode of preparation for them : and whether there are any of such crops as are not commonly cultivated in this country l-~See Chop. 7. Sect. 1. and 3. 9. What is the usual process in breaking up grass land to tillage, and in laying down to grass ? — See Chap. 8. Sect. 7. M2 % 10. , 164 STATISTICAL SURVEY 10. What is the usual proportion of each kind of grain and fallow on a farm ? — See Chap. 7. Sect. 3. 11. How much land is usually allotted to potatoes, by each fanner ? — See Chap. 7. Sect. 3. 1 2. What is the arerage produce of each kind of grain and of potatoes ? — See Chap. 7. Sect. 2. 1 3. What manures are made use of, to what crops chiefly applied, and in what quantities ? — See Chap. 1 . Sect. 6. JBog and Moor, and Chap, 9. Sect. 13. 14. Is draining practised, and how is it performed ? Set Chap. 9. Sect. 1 2. 15. What sort of implements are in general use, and whe- ther threshing-mills have been erected, or any improved in> plements adopted ? See Chap. 5. and Chap. 7. Sett. 5. * 1 6. Are there any oxen employed in draught, and do they work in collars or yokes ? See Chap. 7. Sect. 4. 1 7. What may be the number of working cattle in propor- tion to the size of the farm ? See Chap. 9. Sect. 8. 1 8. What number of milch cows ? See Chap. 8. Sect. 10. 19. Is there any artificial green food raised either for the summer or winter use of cattle, and are they housed in win- ter ? See Chap. 7. Sect. 7. 2o« Is red clover generally sown, and how is it applied I See Chap. 7. Sect. 7. 2t. What proportion does the grass land bear to that un- der tillage, and how is it chiefly applied ; whether to rear* ing, or feeding, or to meadow ? See Chap. 8. Sect. 1. 22. Is any attention paid to improving the breed of black cattle, sheep, or swine, and by whom i See Chap. 8. Sect. %. OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 165 23. If there be any dairy farms, of what extent are they, and what is their average produce per cow ?— How is the butter disposed of? See Chap. 8. Sect. 10. 24. What is the mode of hay-makiog, and are the mea- dows cut early or late ? See Chap. 8. Sect. 9. 25. Have the farmers comfortable houses, convenient offices, and stands for their corn stacks ? — and have (hey any orchards? See Chap. 3. Sect.y. and Chflp. 9. Sect. 2. 26. What sort of cottages do the poor inhabit, and how much land is there commonly allotted to each ? See Chop. 3. Sect. 4. and Chap. 10. Sect. 3. 27* What are the wages of labourers, and what rents do they pay for bouse, garden, potatoe land, and the grass of cows i See Chap. 10. Sect. 4. > 28. What is the common fuel, and the expence of it ? See Chap. 10. Sect. 4. 29. Are habits of industry, and the English language, well established or increasing among the lower classes i See Chap* 10. Sect. 25. 26. 30. How are tythes paid, in kind, or by composition ?— and what are the usual rates of each species i See Chap. 4. Sect. 4. and Chap. 10. Sect. 5. 31. What manufactures are there, and to what extent are they carried on i See Chap. 10. Sect, 14, 32. What number of looms in the parish i See Chap. 10. Sect. 4. 33. Do they increase or diminish i See Chap. 10. Sect. 14. 34- *6& STATISTICAL SUHV1T 34. Are there any woods or extensive plantations or hedgerows, of what kind of trees do they chiefly Consist* and what is the price of timber i Set Chap. 1. Sect. 6. Wood* and Chap. 10. Sect. 17. 3$. How many acres under timber ? See Chap. 1 . Sect. 2* 36. Is there any nursery, and where I See Chap. 10. Sect. 20. 37. Are there mines of any kind near you, and are they worked to any effect I See Chap. 10. Sect. 32. and Chap. 12. Sect. f. 38. Are there quarries of limestone or of fr e est o n e? Set Chap. 1. Sect. 7. Mineral*. 39. Are there any bogs or tracts of waste knd which are capable of improvement ? See Chap. 1. Sea. 6. Beg and Moor* and Chap. 10. Sect. it. 40. What is the population aad number of inhabitants in your parish ? See Chap. 10. Sect. 1. 41. What number of houses? See Chap. 10. Sect, u 42 . Have they increased or diminished of late ? See Chap, jo. Sect. 1. 43. If there be any ruined towers, castles, monasteries, or other ancient buildings or remarkable places near you, what historical or traditional account is there of them? See Chap. 10. Sect. 27. 44. Are there any mills, and of what kind ? See Chap. 10. Sect. 16. 45. What quantity of com may each manufacture yearly upon an average ? See Chap. 10. Sect. 16. 46. Are' the roads in good repair ? See Chop. 10. Sett. 7. 47- OF THE COUNTY OP ARMAGH. t« 7 47. Is tjiere a church— or glebe—, and where does the clergyman reside? See Chap. 1. Sect. 4. a*/ CA*/. 10. meet* 2o* 48. Are there any schools, and how endowed? See Chap. 10. &rt. 10. 49. Are they well attended ? oV* CA<ip. 10. AVtf. 10. 50. Is there any thing particular in the parish ; or any remarks or improvements you would suggest i See Chap. 12/ Sect. 1. Mode of Culture. The mode of culture in this county is either with the plough and harrow, or with the spade ; much land is tilled with this latter implement, as the farms are so very small, and of these little por- tions a sufficient spot must be assigned for the. cows maintainance. This tillage is of course well performed, as ploughs, and all the improvements made thereon, tend to the important purpose of reducing die soil to a proper tilth, which no other implement but the spade has yet effectually an- swered. To adopt this mode of culture,* in large farms, would be too tedious and expensive, but it should be considered that, where the soil is well dug, and the particles of earth properly separated, so as to afford new food for plants, the less manure will be required* Vegetable idS STATISTICAL SURVEY Vegetable or green crops impart to die soil a rich- ness, which, with a due proportion! of tilth and ma- nual labour, will yield more abundantly than rich manures or a slovenly and ill ploughed field. But tillage' must be assisted by manures in some cases. In strong heavy land, judicious manuring will more easily render it friable, and divide and separate the clods, than any course of tillage ; with- out this crumbling of such a soil, the roots of plants will not be able to penetrate it, and must perish : on the contrary, in light land, from its being so ex- tremely porous, we find the same defect : manures of a binding quality must here be applied, which will have the same effect as pressure, closing the pores ; hence we often find, that virtues imparted to, the soil from manures are from mechanical prin- ciples rather than from any other causes; substances, whioh have no putrescence, will, by opening die soil, answer purposes on stiff clay, which the rich- est stable manure will not in the least benefit. The mode of culture therefore in this county is judicious, as the spade, the plough, and har- row, are certainly capable of receiving great im- provement. Defects in the Plough, and remedies proposed. The sole is not straight, and the projection has a very mischievous tendency. The OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 169 The sole of the plough should be perfectly level, and not at all raised behind, or else a ridge of earth must remain undisturbed. The breadth of the sole is also too ftrach, as it re- quires a greater force of cattle to draw it ; this should not exceed the track sufficient for a man or horse to walk, for which nine inches will be fully ade- quate, and the work will go on much brisker and with greater ease. The Scotch ploughs are shorter in the beam, but length of beam gives steadiness, though doubtless it encreases the draught. Expert ploughmen will work a Scotch plough so as to remedy its unsteadi- ness in our hands. Defects in the Harrow, and remedies proposed. . It is ridiculous to suppose, that any one imple- ment, of this description, can answer all the various purposes, for which it is required, though how sel- dom do we find the farmer who has an idea, that one erf a second form is requisite. It will engage but little reflection to determine, that no one instrument can be adapted to the various sorts of soil, or to so many purposes as this is found necessary for. Preparing the ground for seed and tearing the surface will require a more severe instrument, than in seed sowing, when it is to be presumed the ground , 7 e STATISTICAL SURVEY ground is reduced to a proper tilth* For the first of these purposes, the harrow used here is too light, the teeth are too close together, by far too short, and only skim the surface ; for the latter purpose, it is too heavy, and the teeth are too short, not laying the seed so deep as to preserve moisture, but ex- posing it to the sun which parches the surface. Double harrows are the best calculated to obviate these defects; thin long teeth penetrate the soil, and lay the seed deeper ; when yoked evenly toge- ther, they work as one harrow of twice the weight, and are very steady. Harrows should be so constructed that no pin should follow the track of another, but each have a course of its own, and all work together. Treble harrows are well calculated for broad-cast husbandry, and have also the superior effect of intermixing top-dressings qn ploughed ground, and reader the tilth finer than single or double barrows possibly can ; but the instrument termed the scuffler answers the purpose still better than any other ma- chine I have seen ; it is now too well known and ia too genertd use to require particular description. Sect. OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 171 Sect. 2. Extent of culture , and of each species of grain sowed. This can only be conjectured, and not minutely ascertained. The population we know to be great in an unprecedented degree, and we also are cer- tain that, although much com is exported from this county, particularly wheat, yet scarcely any is imported, the soil yielding abundance for its nu- merous inhabitants. Wheat is a very general crop in the barony of Armagh, and also in O'Neiland, when the farms ftre larger than is necessary for the family's supply ; but the great crops throughout the county are of oats. Taking the average of the county, twelve barrels of oats, of fourteen' stones to the barrel, Are yielded from the statute acre; eight of wheat, of twenty stones ; fourteen of barley, of sixteen stones ; and 100 of potatoes, of twenty stones ; flax will produce ninety stones clean scutched from the acre. To produce these crops, of wheat are sown about fourteen stones, oats] twenty-four, bar- ley sixteen, flax four bushels, and potatoes, from the various modes of seed and propagation, of no Mtefttinata quantity. Sect. i 7 * STATISTICAL SURVEY Sect. 3. Cmrse of Craps. No system in husbandry is of so important a con- cern as that we are now to consider, nor is any so little understood or so grossly neglected. If the farmer reaps a crop not inferior to the usual return, he is contented, and supposes the soil has produced to the best of its ability ; he only sees his mistake when a neighbour of superior judgment or manage- ment surprises him with more abundant produce, from a proper mode of cropping. This error, which has so effectually retarded the science of agriculture, is pretty fully known and of course exploded in England, and in many parts of Ireland the change has been rapid and successful ; it is to be lamented, that a county, possessing so generous a soil, should not also hare fair play and indulgence ; but as yet this new system is scarcely heard of here, and except by a very experimental gentry, has not been attempted. Happily the most certain conviction follows the trial, and en- sures a steady adherence to a system of such supe- rior excellence. The great principles, on which it depends, are a judicious mode of manuring, an4 a particular attention to removing weeds, which by the application of the hoe is accomplished, bringing new OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 173 new earth or food to the roots of those plants we mean to cultivate. Thus advantages are gained not only in the yielding of more luxuriant crops, but in the perpetual produce of these crops, and the system of fallowing is of course entirely exploded. The introduction of a vegetable or green crop, between two corn crops, will never reduce the soil, and, by exploding fallow, a dead year's rent is saved. We very well know, that some land has produced wheat two years successively of abundant crops,, and perhaps the last superior to the first ; but this does not prove but that the land is the worse for such a course, and must be reduced in its strength* I, myself, have seen seven successive good corn crops taken from fresh ground, which had been high- ly manured with lime-stone gravel, but surely no one will say, but that land was unfairly dealt with, and might have had better management : the issue has proved it, for that farm, though laid down in apparent condition, and in the first season, wa9 spread with white clover, and nice herbage, yet the following year, being dry, the grass wither- ed, nor ever after recovered, though profusely top-dressed ; when broken up again it would pro* duce no more corn, and it is now under a nursing with the culture of green crops, which is gradually restoring it to good condition. One J74 STATISTICAL SURVEY One certain objection to the new system, in Ire- land, is the general poverty of the farmer; his stock should be proportioned to his number of acres, to ensure a sufficiency of manure ; this in most cases is out of the question, through a deficiency of ca- pital. In this county this objection does not hold, the farms are so small ; in the stock of cows and valves, there is a sufficiency of manure to be ac- quired with proper management ; but a greater at- tention being paid to the loom, and the farm be- ing but a secondary consideration, makes as /mtch against it as the other is in its favour. It must be by slow degrees, and by experience from the prac- tice of the gentry, and ocular demonstration of its superior excellence, that any new system will be introduced in a pursuit, which is not the main dependence. I am now to expose the erroneous course of crops practised in this county; first, potatoes on a lea Hubble ploughed, and manured with duug ; second, flax, with spade culture ; third, oats ; fourth, oats ; fifth, oats ; all prepared by two ploughings and two harrowings ; stubble left for cow pasture : another course, first, potatoes; second, wheat, sowed im* me d iately in the potatoe fellow, and always trenched in ; third, oats ; fourth, oats, as before. Wheat, one ploughing only ; if the ground is very fine, after flax they sow a crop of barley with two ploughings and OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. i fs rod tarrovipgB, or oftene* trench it in, and after, vwfc take two crops of o«*s. Clover is sown in small patches for summer soil, and this cannot be too strongly recommended ; the practice is gaining growd, and the country fhopkeepers, who sell this article, acknowledge an eocreasing demand for it. 0*ts are frequently trenched in. No other crops are sown here. In the vegetable garden much beans are sown for food, which ia very salutary, after the long use of oatmeal, the during spring season ; this refreshing vegetable powerfully corrects the effects of their late heating diet. The farmer will find his account in having cul- tivated a sufficiency of green food, such as turnips, tares, cabbages, &c. for the subsistence of his stock in the winter and spring, and their manure will be a constant source of treasure ; thus, the grand principle of improved husbandry, in restoring to the soil as much as possible that which it has yielded, is fulfilled. In the culture of these vegetable and revigorating crops, drilling in the seed is of course to be re- commended, as well as in corn sowing; then hand er horse hoeing can follow with success, and the weeds be easily destroyed ; little,more than half the quantity of seed will be usecUto' produce a superior crop on the sameVptflijcfty of ground, much less la- bour will be requifed, and another material ad- ..<****"" vantage iy(J STATISTICAL SURVEY vantage which is annexed to this system is, that the most luxuriant corn crop cannot be laid down in bad weather. In this, county, fallowing is scarcely known, the farms being too small, and ground too precious, to be ever unoccupied. The usual proportion of each kind of crops is as follows, supposing a farm of five acres, which in above the average of the tillage of the county. Acres. Acres. Potatoes I Potatoes 1 Flax r Flax * Wheat i or Oats - ij Oats - 2 Grass 2 Grass 1 Acres 5 Acres 5 Thus, a portion of the potatoe ground of the pre^ ceding season is always occupied with flax ; and sometimes wheat, or barley, is sown in the remain- ing plot. The oat stubble affords a good quantity of grass in the winter, as it is seldom ploughed till spring. In a farm of five acres, one is usually allotted to potatoes ; in eight acres, one and a half; and in ten acres, from two to three; their policy being to give up as much ground as possible to this crop, that they may prepare so much for wheat, which OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 177 which almost always succeeds the potatoes, except that small portion of the potatoe fallow, which is reserved for flax. Sect. 4. Use of Oxen, how harnessed* These animals are scarcely at all used here; farms are so small they would not answer, and a plough of cattle is easily made up by neighbour- ing farmers lending, or hiring their horses, for which they have constant employment, when not engaged in the field, as carrying their webs, yarn, &c. to market. " When any of the gentry plough with oxen, which they rarely do, the draft is from the shoulder, and they are yoked with collars. A description of the draft from the forehead may be seen in my Statistical Survey of the county of Cavan, page 74. Sect. 5. Nature and use of implements of husbandry. The common ill-constructed Irish plough and harrow, as I have already shewn, are in general use j much work is done with the spade, and the K shovel, j 7 « STATISTICAL SURVEY shovel, as tliey trench in most of their crops for this use ; the shovel is square, and well adapted to the purpose. There is not one th resiling machine in the count}-, and very rarely a hand winnowing machine is seen. These small farms cannot afford expensive implements, nor, where so Iitde labour is necessary, are they requisite. The Argj'leshire plough would answer well here, and is easily worked by two horses, it being equally adapted for deep and stony soils, with a small change of apparatus, which renders it a most useful implement* Tlie roller is never used, except in demesne grounds, for laying down land ornamentally. The car is very badly constructed, and so evi- dently bo, that a bar of iron is always secured under the body to keep the sides in their places. The slats are very heavy, and morticed through tfie shafts, which reduce the strength of the shafts rerj OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 179 very much, and -in this place they frequently give way;, if only the first and last slats were morticed through, and the others halved into the shafts, the car would be much stronger : on the whole, it is a clumsy, though cheap implement, not having more than about three and a half stone of iron work ; the cost of the wood work, wheels included, about twenty-eight shillings ; the whole cost about three pounds. I must observe two great defects in the plough : first, the want of a plate to the side ; from this defect the plough is always obstructed in the draft by the mould, which clogs this aperture, and passing through it frequently falls back : and, secondly, the mould board not being curved, the sod cannot be regularly laid down, and is fre- quently left so perpendicular as to fall back again ; it is impossible to make a clear open furrow with this implement; indeed, excepting where the ploughman guides the horses and holds the reins, a straight furrow will never be made ; a driver walking beside the cattle, his attention being taken up in setting each beast to his draft, cannot surely keep in a straight line. In irregu- lar furrows, the crop will lose the advantage of ventilation, which is secured to it by straight and even ploughing* n 2 The 1 8a STATISTICAL SURVEY The Chain, or Small's plough, represented in the annexed cut, is the most easily worked of any, in soils free of stones. wBBSmmm The slide car is used in some parts in the moun- tainous district. It is of the usual make, and shaped like a common car without wheels, sliding on the points of its shafts, which are fashioned for that purpose, and shod with iron ; this car is used where the country is moist, and has not been drained: in such places, wheels would sink : it is used for carrying hoYne potatoes, and taking out dung, which is loaded in a basket, or creel, fastened across the slats. The annexed plan of a harrow is well calculated for gathering weeds, and cleaning land. *»nsr^ m^m jny^- **** *£*%& & In OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. t tfc In demesnes, where improved instruments are used, they will be noticed, when we speak of im- provements in the Baronial Survey, 13th chapter. Sect. 6. Markets for grain. There is not one extensive market for grain in die county, indeed little is reared for sale. His Grace, the present Primate, intends rebuilding the market-house of Armagh, and encouraging a wheat market;, and since I have been in the county, I understand that at Lurgan Mr. Brownlow's spirited exertions for the same purpose have had great success. Hitherto, merchants in th^ vicinity pf the navi- gation, as at Newry and Portadown, have pur- chased all the extra corn of the county, except what was sold to the Armagh buyers, who had also a considerable share of (he trade. The greatest clog on establishing markets for grain, is the high toll generally imposed; it would be much better policy to abolish this custom altogether; when it is taken in kind, it become? actual robbery, as a measure of corn, when the toll was first laid on, was not of the value of one penny, and the en* creased value of the same quantity may from many circumstances, at times, be worth several shillings. I have known this practice to ruin a market, which had been well established. Sect. }8* STATISTICAL SURVEY Sect. 7. Use of green food in winter. Greek food is no where cultivated for cattle by the peasantry, except small patches of clover, which come in early, and last a good while. The gentry are slowly engaging in these crops. In the description of the management of their demesnes, their attention to this subject will be noticed. Sect. 8. General observations on the modes of Agriculture, as practised in the county, with remarks on drill husbandry. A proper and judicious rotation of crops, which would ever keep the ground in good heart and vigour, is not at all considered or understood. The soil is very grateful, and yields much more abundantly than in the neighbouring counties, which perhaps is sufficient to keep the farmer in ignorance of the errors of his practice. A due or regular preparation for culture is not attended to ; the following is the general routine : Wheat OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH, 1*3- Wheat culture 1st. Preparation. — Levelling the potatoe furrows, which sometimes get one harrowing, and ono ploughing, if the seed is sown broadcast; if two crops of potatoes have preceded this crop, a trifling application of ashes is scattered on the surface. 2d. Quality.— Principally red lammas wheat, and, as this seed is always produced from potatoe ground, it degenerates in quality, such land greatly injur- ing the grain. In corn countries, wheat raised in a potatoe fallow is depressed two shillings per barrel in value, and a judge of this grain will easily distinguish it, 3d. Steeping. — This is only used here to separate the good and bad grain ; the latter will always float on the surface, which is often done by win- nowing ; however, steeping is of more consequence, as it prepares the seed for vegetation very quickly, and is really necessary to nourish it in a dry season ; but here it is not left sufficiently long in steep for this purpose. . 4th. Liming. — The seed is always well mixed with lime previous to its being sowed, but is seldom pickled with salt, which would more effectually prevent smut or the worm. 5th. Seed. ,«4 STATISTICAL SURVEY 5th. Seed. Quantity sown. — The acre is statute, generally through the county, and to this por- tion of ground two and a half or three bushels are sown. I have heard skilful agriculturists argue for a greater quantity of seed, and that, the heavier the graip is sowed, the less room there is for weeds to spring up. If the principal desideratum is to raise the largest crop from a given quantity of ground, there must be some attention likewise had to the quantity of seed also, and if twenty shillings worth of seed can be saved on an acre of ground, surely it is of the first consequence. Drill husbandry will ensure this saving, rating wheat at forty shillings the barrel of 20 stones, ten stones of seed will be sufficient : by this mode, the weeds are more easily destroyed, and the produce of wheat threshed has been considerably greater. I remember having seen a field of wheat thickly sown on the principle of keeping down weeds, and which looked very pro- mising, but the crop was only productive in straw, and much under the average return of a middling crop in weight of grain, 6th. Time of sowing— Conw*eT\ce& on the digging out of the potatoes, and is generally finished before Christmas ; few instances of a spring crop of wheat, but even in those few there have been ample yieldings. I have seen wheat sown in the county of Kildarc in August, and in the same field again in March, OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. i8j March, for experiment sake, and the latter sown crop was the best of the two, but near a month later in harvesting. 1th. Weeding and tramping. — When the crop is too rampant, they scratch it with a harrow, which they run over it a second time reversed, with a weight of stones on the top ; this process would be more effectually answered by the roller, but of this implement they make no use. I have seen sheep turned in on a rank crop of wheat in spring, which had been sowed in autumn, nor were they drove off, until the field seemed as bare and brown as a fallow, and the crop was of extraordinary yielding ; the soil was $t very loose tilth and loam, and had been washed away from the roots of the plants by heavy rain ; the tramping of the sheep caused it again to plant, to which I attribute the good effects which followed, for the crop was afterwards full as rank when it arrived to the same height ; it was how- ever later than usual by a fortnight, which is a good argument in favour of late sowing on light loamy soils. Weeding is performed with a reaping hook, but this only cuts the weed, which is again in vigour by the reaping season ; the root in the mean time iipbibes as qrach vigour and food as the corn ; such a crop cannot be said to be effectually weeded, but only clean tp the eye. It is surprising that farmers i86 STATISTICAL SURVET farmers will deceive tbeoabehres in this respect; a wooden tongs, which has great power, would after rain effectually and very quickly pull up the weeds by the root ; by cutting with the hook, the seeds are shed after a second growth, before the corn is cut. 8th. Harvest. — Early sowings will be reaped against the beginning of September, ajd spring rowings seldom before October. The corn k generally left in the field in small stooks, until thoroughly seasoned, and seldom stacked but in the haggard. Much more depends on the situation or rather elevation of the ground, than on the climate in difference of harvesting. Corn crops on cold elevated exposed grounds will be always from ten to fourteen days later than those, which have the advantage of shelter. Sth. Threshing. — There are two modes practised ; •ne of them is termed slashing ; this is done without opening the sheaf; the slasher holds the butt of the sheaf in both hands, and strikes the bead of it against a bar, placed horizontally for that purpose. This is a very good method, as a sufficiency of grain is procured for any purpose very quickly, without damaging the straw, which may be again stacked )n sheafs as before, and kept fresh for winter fod- der, and then what grain remains is to be finally* threshed out with the flail. 10th. Produce— OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 189 10 tli. Produce — Must depend on the nature of the soil, and the mode of culture; there are few wheat soils in the county but, with proper ma- nagement, would average ten or twelve barrels of twenty stones per acre : the present average scarce- ly exceeds eight, which, at forty shillings per bar* rel, will leave its value at sixteen pounds sterling. % BARLEY CULTURE. 1st. Preparation. — When the ground has bin a year idle, it is ploughed three times, and, if not in heart, is manured with dung, lime, or ashes; the grain is sometimes sowed on a potatoe fallow, and trenched in with the shovel. 2d. Sort. — There is little choice as to the sort; the two or the four rowed barley being impar- tially or accidentally used ; from their ignorance in dressing the latter kind, the mahter makes a heavy deduction from the gross weight, which is an imposition. 3d. Seed. — The quantity of seed is about two hundred weight per acre, and in some places even three hundred weight, which is an enormous waste, and always succeeded by bad management, lodging of the crop, &c. 4th. Time of sowing. — This must vary according to the state of the ground ; but, as the soil is sound, and lU STATISTICAL SURVEY and rain makes no great impression on it, the seed is got in generally about the beginning of April ; the genial showers in this month afford a due degree of moisture for vegetation, which now is necessary. This grain is usually, and very properly, trenched in. 5th. Weeding.— This operation is performed, as on the wheat crop, by nipping the weed with the hook, which will soon sprout again. 6th. Harvest.— The general reaping of barley is in the month of September. It remains stooked in the field until dry, whep it is brought hpme, *nd stacked in the haggard, 7th, Threshing— 1% all performed with die flail, in the common way, and paid for by day's work. 8th. Produce.— New well-tilled land will yield from sixteen to twenty barrels, of sixteen stones to the barrel. They seldom sow barley in this county, but in nice, well-prepared land. The average rer turn may be fourteen barrels to the acre, in the b*. ronies of Armagh O'Neiland, and Lower Orior, but much less in the other districts. . The average value of ftp sere of barley, in this county, will be* about 15 f. sterling, at one shilling per stone. OATS OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. i* 9 OATS CULTURE. 1st. Preparation. — For this hardy grain there is no regular preparation, and seldom more than one ploughing ; nor is this thought of, until just before seed sowing, so that the stubbles may yield pas- turage as long as possible, which they are but badly supplied with in spring. Oats sown from the lea are seldom attempted here. Potatoes mostly engross the lea crop; and the sod is better prepared by rot* ting for a corn crop. They seldom have occasion to manure for this crop, the ground being in good heart after potatoes, except two or three crops have previously been taken; in this case, they manure the surface . with a compost of lime, dung, clay, or ashes. In moist light ground it is trenched in ; in sound warm land, sowed broadcast. ' 2d. Sort. — In their best land they sow white Poland oats, and white Holland; in the mountainous dis- trict, black oats, and sometimes white oats on limed ground. When white oats are sown on the moun* tainous parts, which have not been previously ma- nured and drained, they will degenerate into a black grain in two or three seasons. This grain will not make so bright meal, and has a much greater hull, and quantity of offal. The white oats are the ear- liest %go STATISTICAL SURVEY liest ripe ; tbe white Holland come in- sooner than the Polish ; the black oats have the advantage over the other two kinds, in not easily shedding, if cut before they are fully ripe, and left to ripen in the stook. 3d. Seed. — About twenty-two stone to the English, or twenty-eight to the plantation acre. 4tb. Time of sowing— Is generally a month or fire weeks before barley, or as early in the spring as they can be got in. 5th. Weeding — In every respect the same as mentioned in the wheat and barley culture. 6th. Harvest. — This seldom begins before die second or third week in September; it is earliest in places where there is a limestone soil. A statute acre of oats may be cut by five men 9 and bound by as many women. This grain also remains in stooks in the field; and what quantity the farmer may judge is over his probable demand, is frequently sold in the stook, and rates from Is. to is. 4d. per stook. This grain is kept longer on the ledge than any other; and it is said that it improves in quality by this mode, after it is perfectly dry. 7th. Threshing.— All done by the flail, and fre- quently paid for by task- work. A good thresher will earn sixteen-pence per day. 8th. Produce. — Frequently, on well-tilled good land, the produce will exceed twenty barrels of four- teen OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. ift teen stones. The. average of the county is considered about fourteen barrels to the acre ; but I suppose this calculation to be short of the actual return. The averfege value of an acre of oats may be about 8/. per acre, at ten-pence per stone, 9th. Mamtfucture. — The grain, being ground into meal by water or wind-mills, is divided into two kinds, the coarse, and fine; the former for boiling with water into that strengthening dish called stir- about, which is commonly used at breakfast. This dish is, however, declining, as manufactures are en* creasing, and the people more wealthy; they are, of course, more inclined to indulge in tea breakfast, as is usual with all tradesfolk. In this case the fine meal is kneaded with water into thin cakes of bread, baked on the griddle, and eaten with butter. Oatmeal is also used at the dinner meal, and is often boiled with meat, or stewed with vegetables, which correct the humours stimulated by this strong and beating diet. This the people are sensible of, %n<i their little gardens are well stocked with vege- tables, particularly beans, cabbage, and sallad. POTATOE CULTURE. .1st. Preparation* — The old lazy-bed way is the usual mode of planting ; the dung being spread on the surface, the breadth of the intended ridge, the seed i 9 t STATISTICAL SURVEY seed is laid thereon, and a trench dug at either side, the clay from which is thrown upon the seed ; the culture is just the same, whether on grass ground or stubble, or in high or low land, but that grass land is rich enough to require no manure. Judi- cious farmers will plough up their stubble fields for potatoe culture before seed time, which will well repay the expence. It has been observed that, however expensive the lazy-bed mode is, yet, in no instance, are crops produced of better quality, though they may be ex- ceeded in quantity. Several farmers now begin to drill in their pota- toes, which they acknowledge to be a less expensive and more abundant mode. The various methods of raising the potatoes from scoops, cuttings, and sets, have been severally tried with various success, but the old method is in most estimation* Potatoes are twice covered with the spade, and twice when sowed in drills, but the latter mode, in this respect, has the advantage; the plough with- out mould boards passes up the centre of the fur- row and loosens the soil, the mould boards are then set on, and at both sides the loosened soil is thrown up. In the lazy-bed way, it will require twenty men to plant an Irish acre, and but three men and two horses to sow it in drills, or the value of the labour OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. t 9i labour of five men altogether ; the saving is ma* nifest of fifteen men's labour, and of manure at Jeast one half. 2d. — Seed— quantity sown* If the lazy-bed way is adopted, about 200 stones of fourteen pounds aro sowed to the Irish acre ; in the drill husbandry, rather less than half that quantity. Let the ad- vantages of the drill in the several stages be com- pared with the lazy-bed process, and the profit in every instance is in favour of the former, full two to one. Zd.—Sort. — The potatoe in general use here, is the early white, the black, apd the Cork-red; but, though the land is unquestionably good, there must be a defect somewhere, either in the seed or culture, as the quality is in general inferior and of a diminutive size.' In Munster, such potatoes would not be stored for the food of man; that superior potatoe, the apple, which is so little cultivated here, is there in general use, and, after the early po- tatoe is exhausted, excels all other kinds for hold- ing good the longest time of any other species, for dryness, and for possessing more farina and con- siderably more weight than any other kind. The English red potatoe is coming into estimation in this country; the produce is superior to that of any other kind in poor land, but this potatoe is glutinous, and o grows 194 STATISTICAL SURVEY grows very strong and rank after three or four months. The black potatoe is fruitful, and, I think, keeps better than any other kind, in general use, in fhw country. The apple potatoe requires both good ground, and rich manure, but it will well repay all expence. 4th. — Time of planting. — From March to the latter end of May, in uplands; and from May till the middle oF June, in moist or boggy »ik» In this kind of soil, potatoes are often planted to change the seed, which, from long sowing ift up- land, will degenerate, and this effectually answers the purpose. 5th. — Digging w/.— From the latter end of Oc- tober until the beginning of December, those sowed tn the lazy-bed way are taken out with the spade, the drilled potatoes with the plough ; the labour of forty men is required for digging out one acre ; for the latter, two horses, the ploughman, driver, the pickers, and four men, to break and toss die clay, and separate it from the potatoes with their spades or forks. The saving in this mode is as great as in planting, as six men and two horses accomplish the work of forty men. €th. Preserving.— This is more commonly by helping them into the cabin, than by placing (hem in pits in the field , it is a very slovenly method and OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. j, s and often occupies the room of two looms, always crowding the house. I cannot learn their reason for this practice, as their ground is so sound and dry they could be as well preserved in pits, here, as in any other part of Ireland. General hints on potatoe culture. As potatoes are liable to be nipped by frosts, this can be prevented by covering the ridge with turf-mould, for the depth of an inch or two, and besides it is a good manure to the soil. Scooping potatoes will save about one third of the seed, but they have a less chance of succeeding in a dry season than cuttings. In planting shoots, let a small portion of the akin of the potatoe be cut off with the eye, from which the shoot springs, and the crop will be con- siderably earlier. We are told, that after stripping the young po- tatoes from the roots of the stalks, early in the sea- son, and earthing them up, a second crop, and Yery abundant, has been yielded in the usual time. * Shoots ought never to be taken from small or dwarfish potatoes, but from the largest size, and those which are the grossest are to be preferred, as possessing most vigour, • 2 Applt ig6 STATISTICAL SURVEY Apple potatoes, for a keeping crop, ought to be planted late, not before the latter end of May ; the crop will be more luxuriant, and the quality superior ; the rains of July, which is generally a wet month, will serve it very much. To early crops the rain is injurious about mid- summer, as the potatoe is past the period of bene- fiting from moisture, and, if a dry season precedes July, they are stunted with drought* Scoops have a better chance in a moist than a dry soil ; however, they are only to be recommend- ed in times of scarcity ; there is no doubt of their success in a proper soil. Turf-bogs are remarkable for yielding excellent crops of potatoes, and the soil good for preserving them, for which ^ reason a potatoe pit lined with turf is esteemed preferable to straw ; the surface sod, which has the soft grass and herbage well wi- thered and dried, is the best for this purpose. The earliest crops will be produced from shoots, and even these are forced by keeping the potatoe warm and dry all the winter ; they may be planted in February, if the season is open, and put down with a setting stick in a soft dry soil, without in- juring the shoot, so deep as to leave the top about cue inch below the surface, which should be co- vered with turf mould to protect it from frost, as it OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 197 it springs very quickly; great care should be taken in carrying the shoots to the field, that they are not broken, or they would be good for no- thing. The manure of ashes for potatoes should be ap- plied, when the ashes are most caustic ; ashes made the preceding year lose much of their substance and virtue. An acre of potatoes, well cultivated, will average, at 3d. per stone, a return equal to 25/. *LAX CULTURE. 1st. Preparation. — Flax is invariably sown on po- tatoe ground; the tillage Un4 being almost entire- ly in the bands pf small farmers, they are wedded to tilts practice ; they cultivate the plot carefully with the spade, but they omit rolling it, which is very necessary. Flax ground in this county is ge- nerally ploughed twice before Christmas, and once before the seed is put in. 2d. Sort.— The flax-seed used here is of two sorts, the American, and Dutch; the latter is dear- er, but the produpe considerably greater in a heavy cold soil. The produce of American seed, in the same kind of the soil, will be a third less, but it thrives better in a light soil. %d. f£tf STATISTICAL SUkVEY 3d. Seed — quantity sowed. — On the average, about thirty gallons of seed to the acre, which will cost from two and a half to three guineas. 4th. Time of sowing. — Generally about Easter, or earlier, if the season admits of it. 5th. Weeding. — This is well performed, and very carefully attended to. 6th. Harvest. — As little or no flax-seed is saved here, it is pulled when green, or just before it turns colour. It is supposed, by this practice, that the flax will make much finer yarn ; but this, I appre- hend, is a mistake ; as the finest Flanders laces are made from flax, which previously had yielded the seed. This subject, and the various other processes of watering, grassing, heckling, &c, I have minutely considered in the Survey of the County of Mo- naghan, to Which the reader is referred. Crops not commonly cultivated to any extent* Under this head we may rate those which, in im- proved husbandry, are termed vegetable crops. I shall commence with soiling grasses ; that, which is culti- vated to a greater extent than any other of this class, is red clover. It is, however, to be lamented, that we OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 199 we see such trifling patches of it; much too small, in proportion even to the very limited size of the farms ; although the supply of milk depends 00 much on a doe proportion of this valuable plant. The culture of clover is simple ; it will thrive in all but wet soils, whether loam, gravel, or clay. The best crops are produced from a rich, mellow soil, kept in due tilth, which should be carefully picked of atones, and ought to be lightly rolled before the seed is sown. In sowing the seed, it should be evenly distributed on the surface; and a light harrowing will be suffi- cient, as it thrives with a very small sprinkling of mould over k; perhaps not more than an inch of ■oil is sufficient, or what will secure k from the birds. It should not be sowed until the spring has jet in mild and genial, when it is intended to be left for* late crop, and should be carefully weeded. The quantity to the English acre, when it is aowcd for grass, should not be less than twenty pounds; and tome contend it cannot be sown toe thick, as the plants of grasses shelter each other by their close- ness, and better retain the dews and moisture so necessary for their nutriment; besides, the more slender the stalk, the fitter it is Car cattle, and pre- ferred by them to strong coarse stems. .Clover iy~ 4prires shelter when getting up ; for which reason, the crop is more vigorous when 8*wed with grain, than by kself. White ioo STATISTICAL SURVEY White clover is sown bqt by a few gentry, in lay- ing down demesne land in sheep-walk, and this bat rarely. The culture of this plant is, in general, similar to that of red clover, but it is much more lasting and valuable to ground newly laid down* It thrives in a light, tilly, warm soil. Lime, or lime- stone-grave], generally produces this fine herbage naturally, as does a burnt surface, in almost all soils; and it will flourish as long as the calcareous matter holds good. Ryty or Bay-grass, is not . at all cultivated here. When the gentry appropriate more of their demesne ground to sheep-walk, they will find the want of it, and become better acquainted with this valuable grass. It k particularly nutritious for ewes and lambs, coming in nearly a month earlier in the spring than other grasses. Rye-grass, sown with red clover, makes a fine green soiling early in the season, and may a second time be cut, and yield a crop of hay, if the seed has not previously been forward in the head. Rye-grass gives the earliest meadowing, and the bay is very strong, and preferable for horses. The seed of this plant, when threshed from the hay* will produce to the value of 3/. sterling per acre. The other grasses, not cultivated here, are sain- foin, lucerne, timothy-grass, bumet, which are so valuable for soiling, and rank as vegetable crops. There OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 101 There are but slight grounds to expect, that these grasses will be cultivated in this county, which are yet ' so rarely seen in any of the best improved farming parts of Ireland. I shall, therefore, leave the modes of their culture to some more experienced author. Having spoken of grasses of this class, I shall pro- ceed to other crops under the same denomination, and used as green food, which are but rarely culti* vated here ; but it i$ hoped, tbat the gentry wil) soon avail themselves of their great value, and become sensible of their importance, both to cattle, and also to the improvement of the soil. These are tur- nips, rape, cabbages, and vetches, or tares. I shall commence with TVRNIPS. 1st. Preparati0n.-Few soils, when judiciously tilled, but will produce this valuable plant. It is said to thrive b«rt in a gravelly soil. I have seen the finest crops on cut-out bog, which had been levelled, drained, burnt, and graveled with a rich loamy limestone. To produce this plant to perfection, the ground must be brought to a very fine tilth by successive harrow- in gs, and exposed to some months fallow in the winter, as the frost has the best effect in meliorating and pulverizing the soil, The longer it can be left in this state, previously to seed-sowing, the better, except to* STATISTICAL SUHVBY except weeds sprout, which should be weU harrowed up end burned. The scuffler should now be used, to incorporate, or mix with the soil, the manure of lime or ashes, as may be judged expedient ; no im- plement can more effectually answer this purpose. But turnips may also be successfully raised, with- out leaving the ground idle in fallow. Here we are to presume it is in previous good tilth, having been under die culture of tares or vetches in the winter, which when cleared off, the ground should be well ploughed, cross-ploughed, and harrowed, and the weeds gathered with the scutch-rake, heaped toge- ther, burned, and the ashes mixed into the surface with the scuffler, on which the seed may be sown broadcast, or with the drilling machine, which is the better mode. By these means two green crops are raised, on the same plot, in one year; and both of these very enriching, and meliorating to the soil, lor any culture. 2<L S*rt.— The Swedish turnip, the purple, and the white oval turnip, are all excellent yielders. The purple is most certain, as lying deeper in the «oil, and less liable to be injured by frost; but die green turnip grows to the largest size. 3d. Seed—quantity sewn.— In broad-cast, they seldom sow less than three pounds to die acre ; but half that quantity wUl give a better crop, with drill husbandry, 4th* OF THE COUtfTY OF ARMAGH. *o$ 4th. Time of sowing. — This is generally deter- mined by the time the former calculates he will have occasion for this root for his cattle. Early sowings are in the month of June, and are not calculated to last longer than the winter months, as early turnips are too apt to run to seed; but seed, sown in a month or five weeks after, will be preserved good consider- ably longer, though the crops will not generally bt so productive. * The purple turnip should be the latest crop. A slight rolling will be necessary after the seed is sown. ... 5th. Culture whilst growing. — A careful attention to hoeing is particularly necessary, as the fresh earth about the roots gives a great supply of nourishment, and they swell very much after this operation. ' If the seed has been drilled in, they are easily hoed with die hand or horse hoe, at quarter the expence and trouble in broad-cast sowing. When the turnip* are too thick and close, which is seen at the first hoeing, or just when they put out four or five leaves, the hoer draws the superficial plants, which are thrown in the drill alley, along with the weeds, or in the furrow in broad-cast husbandry. Children can be taught to hoe with as much expedition as men, and at an evident saving; but, where the horse-hoe can be introduced, it will be by far cheaper than any other mode* 6tb. sg4 STATISTICAL SURVEY 6th. Preserving. — Turnips may be p r e s e rved in pits, like as potatoes, having been previously ex- posed to the weather a few days after taking out of the ground, and the pit well lined with straw, which mode I have seen effectually answer ; or they may be preserved in a close bouse, with straw, after the following manner. A bed of straw being laid on the centre of the floor, which is free from damp, a layer of turnips may be spread thereon, and alternately a layer of straw; the turnips should be placed in layers, of about eighteen inches or two feet thick, with so much of the straw projecting from the tur- nips, as will be sufficient to fold over, confine, and secure them from bulging out; this to be continued In every layer, always reducing its area, so that the last one will end in a conical shape, or come to a point. This mode is generally adopted in England, and has been reepmmended in the Bath Agricultural Papers. The heap may be made of any size, which the walls of the house will admit, leaving a free passage around the heap between it and the walls. 7th. Produce and uses. — The produce of an acre of turnips is rated from forty to fifty tons weight, after good culture; medium value four to five guineas. . Their uses in feeding sheep and black, cattle are so weU known, as to require no description; the ordure of these animals, after this feeding, is much • more OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. to 5 more valuable as a manure : indeed the very culture of the crop impart* a high degree of vigour to the soil, and is an excellent and profitable substi- tute for fallow. RAPE, This plant may be cultivated for two purposes, as green food for cattle, or for the seed, from which oil is extracted for various branches of manufacture and for lamp light. As green food, it is wholesome, and very greedily eaten by cattle ; it is seldom used until the turnips are consumed, and thus a constant succession of green food is kept up. For this purpose, trans- planted rape will produce the best crop, which must be raised in the seed-bed, brought to a very fine tilth, and well manured. The ground, into which it should be transplanted, should be ploughed in drills, and rich dung laid in the furrows, which are then to be closed up with the plough, thug changing the ridge into the furrows. The plants are sometimes laid in the dung, before the furrow is closed, and fixed upright by a person following the plough ; or they are set with a planting stick, as cabbages are planted in gardens. A due atten- tion must be had to earth up the transplanted rape with the horae-hoe> or by passing a plough up the furrows, *o6 STATISTICAL SURVEY furrows, and then setting on a double mould-board, end earthing up at both sides in the one journey.— This crop also enriches the soil, prepares it for any culture, and answers all the purposes of a fallow. The leaves are in spring in their full vi- gour, and should be stripped off the stalk, and carted home to the cattle. The new spring of de- licate sprout*, which will afterwards shoot out, may be used by turning in sheep, previously to plough- ing up the stalks. I have seen fifteen shillings per acre given for the run of a rape field in this state, after having yielded its winter supply : a numerous flock of sheep, I think six score, were turned 3T, and fully subsisted on about six acres of ground for four weeks, an*} in that short time were brought .more quickly into condition than could possibly be expected. Rape culture for the seed, may be broadcast, or in drills, but the latter husbandry is superior ; in this, as I believe in every other instance, a great attention should be paid to the time of its ripening, as it soon sheds ; the whole field generally ripens in me day, and should be then cut, for which reason, in the countries where they cultivate this plant, a sufficient number of hands is procured to cut it all in one day ; this is voluntarily and without price contributed to by all the neighbouring farmers and jabenrers, who generally thresh the grain on the stubbles, OF THE COUNTY OP ARMAGH. *© 7 stubbles, with sheets spread underneath, the moment it is cut, as it would not bear the carriage home to the haggard, but would shed on the way. This is always a feasting day at the expence of the proprietory but no wages are paid. Soap-boilers purchase the ashes of the straw, for which they pay generally at the rate of two shillings and six pence, or three shillings, for every barrel of seed which the crop has yielded, seventeen stones, of fourteen pounds each, making a barrel. This crop thrives well in a wet season in upland newly broken, after a crop of potatoes, and is ex- tremely luxuriant in boggy soils, in a dry season, which have been well drained. Rape seed for oil has hithertQ, of late years, kept up a good price, average one guinea and a half per barrel. The crop is precarious according to the sea* son, but the average may be ten pounds per acre ; some acres frequently yield three times that sum. By erecting a rape-mill for the manufacture of the oil, and by introducing the mode of culture, and the consequent profit of the crop, there would be some encouragement to engage in this culture ; the want of a market for the seed is the only objection, that can ever be raised against it : yet many farmers in Monster will send it thirty or forty miles to Biarkat, and no crop will pay so well. ac>3 STATISTICAL SURVEY No manufacture require less expence, when the 1 mill-work is complete ; the rape-cake will pay alt cost, and leave a valuable surplus, independent of the value of the oil; one barrel of seed will, on an average, yield eleven gallons of oil ; the average price is about five shillings per gallon, when the cost of the seed is one guinea and a half per barrel, which is an enormous profit, as the rape-cake more than pays the expence of manufacture, it being rated at about four shillings per hun- dred weight, either for the purpose of manure or feeding cattle. Notwithstanding the encreasing culture of this plant for oil, and the many oil-mills, which of late years have been erected in the south of Ireland particularly, still the price holds up, and rather gradually encreases. The machinery of an oil-mill is very ingenious, and rather expensive ; a complete mill will not be fitted up for less than 1000/. exclusive of storage; only one man and a boy are required in the ma- nufacture, but there must be a helper or two, to turn the raw seed on the lofte according to the quantity of stock. This seed must be most care- fully and frequently turned, when it is new, and, in that state, it will often heat in the carriage of a few hours journey in the sacks. It should never be left in the sacks, but, if it shews any indication of beating, should be constantly turned; four, five, or OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 209 or six times a day will often be necessary, as heat- ing will lessen its value by several shillings in the barrel ; after a month or two, it will not require turning above once in every three or four weeks. CABBAGES. The culture of this plant, for food for cattle, may be successfully practised, under the direction for rape culture. If the seed is sowed with the drill machine, the superabundant plants may be drawn with 1 the weeds; but transplanted cabbages, on ground well manure^ with dung, always ensure good crops. Quantity of seed sown, from sixteen to twenty pounds the statute acre. When cabbage-plants are reared for the sup- ply of gardens, and sold in the markets, the profit is oftentimes from 30/. to 100/. value per acre* CARROTS AND PARSNIPS, Are excellent food for cattle. To bring these srfps to perfection, the ground should be ploughed, and dug very deep ; having naturally a loose open soil, reduced to a fine tilth, and well cleared of stones. I have seen fine crops of carrots, whioh had been drilled in, produce from two hundred to six hundred bushels per statute acre; medium, four hundred. p In «t# STATISTICAL SURVEY In a few dajfs hogs will fatten on carrots, and the At becomes firm and transparent. They are also ex- cellent food for horses, and very grateful to that animal. potatoes, As intended for feeding cattle, are also a profit- able crop. Their culture has been already spoken of. Bat we shall conclude the subject of green food . Ibr cattle* with som? remarks on the crops of tares and vetches, of no kas importance than any of the preceding. TARES AKD VETCHES. • The great value of this crop is, providing food for a large stock of cattle in the hands of a former, who is principally engaged in tillage ; thus ensuring an ample supply of manure for his crops. Indeed this is the great superiority, which green crops in general have, and in preparing the ground for corn crops without fallowing; which none of them so fully an- swers 'every purpose of, as do tares or vetches. They so effectually enrich the soil, that they are said to leave the field, in which they have been sown, a rank dunghill. The process of their culture is as follows. 1st. Preparation* . OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. lit 1st. Preparation. — Plough the field in high ridges, rounded at top, and rather convexed, so as the moisture may easily flow off; on which sow the sped, which may be covered with the harrow, or lightly with the shovel, as barley is trenched, farmers generally choose their poorest soils for thfc culture, which it is sure to enrich ; and the field must be very poor indeed, if they give it a previous manur- ing. Vetches may be sown with great success with the drilling machine. 2d. Sort. — The sort most generally in use is the winter vetch ; the other is the spring vetch. There is, however, a great variety of this species, but those two sorts only are sown. The former kind defies the severity of the season, which the latter is liable to be greatly injured by, and should be steeped be- fore sowing, if the weather is very dry, which will very much forward its vegetation. 3d. & 4th. Seed (quantity sown), and Time of sowing*-^ About twelve stone per statute acre, when the crop is intended for soiling early in the spring ; but the quantity varies according to the time of sow- ing, or rather the time when it it intended for use. Winter vetches, which are used as soil, should, if sown in August or September, have eight stone to the statute acre, but be considerably decreased in quan- tity as the sowing is deferred, and should be all put in the ground against the latter end of October. P 2 Rich ait STATISTICAL SURVEY Rich soils will not require as much seed as poor latyl ; nor will a crop, sown for seed, require by two or three stone so much, as that intended for soiling. I have seen, at the Right Hon. John Foster's, at Collon, a parcel of ground laid out for a regular ♦accession, which was cultivated in a very superior style. Judicious farmers should sow it at several periods, to ensure this succession. Spring vetches are sowa for hay in February and March. "5th. Culture. — Weeding should be carefully attended to, and fully drawn up, so as to leave no- thing to interrupt the scythe. For this purpose, large stones should be picked off the ground, before the crop rises. 6th. Harvesting. — The winter vetch comes w two or three weeks earlier than the spring vetch. They are fit for use, as soil, when the blossom ap- pears ; but, if intended for hay, they should not be cut until the pod is formed, and just before the blos- som drops. The scythe should be shorter than usual for cut- ting them, and it will be found much more conve- nient than the long meadow scythe. The time of cutting ought to be particularly attended to, as, if they are let to grow too strong, and the stalks too large, cattle will refuse them. Perhaps the best mode is to use every crop for both the purposes of soiling and of hay ; giving the crop, whilst in blos- som, OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. « j som, to the cattle, and to make what remains, after the pod is formed, into hay. By this mode npnt will be wasted. Vetches, however, require good weather, when mowed, to insure their making good hay ; for, if they are made up in wet weather, they are liable to rot. When cut, and well dried, they are made up into sheaves, like corn, and should be drawn home before they receive wet, which occa- sions their shedding the seed. Wet will have this same effect on them at all times after cutting, for which reason they should be carefully covered, or kept in an office for that purpose. 7th. Produce. — The weight of hay from an English acre may be from two and a half to three tons, «n poor land jr the value is no ways inferior to that of the best meadow hay, on rich soils, and the produce is more than trebled. The seed of an acre, when threshed from the straw, will generally yield ten barrel*; average value, from thirty to forty shillings per barrel, 8th. appropriation. — Horses greedily eat vetches, either as soil, or hay ; in the latter stage it is far preferable, and better food for this animal. Black cattle and sheep greatly delight in this soil, and fat- ten very rapidly. Stock should be housed pa this, and, indeed, on all vegetable crops, which con- ' siderably encreases and enriches their dung. Some farmers feed their stock on the land j this should *cv*r 7XJk STATISTICAL SURVEY never be done hut in folds, as so much is destroyed by tramping. The seed, rwhen saved, should be (or a length of time exposed to the sun ami air a and fre« quently turned, before it should be stored. The strong vetch, which black cattle will refuse, should \$ picked out of their soiling, and given to horses. 1EAS. TbU crop thrives in a light gravelly soil, is sel*> dom used as green food, but, when ripe, is threshed, and the straw made into dung, or burned for ma- nure. Two kinds of this pulse are in use, the white, and the grey, the former for culinary purposes, when split; the latter k kiln-dried, and ground up. for meal, which is a very insipid and unwholesome food, except when mixed with equal parts of wheat- meal, which renders it more nutritions, and less heating. It is frequently given, in the straw and pod, to horses for food, and admirably agrees with them. Pigeons delight in this food ; and they, who rear those birds for market, well know its value. The price of peas is generally from twenty to thirty shil- lings per barrel, of twenty stone. Medium produce, seven barrels per acre. KAN*, OF THE COtTOTY OP ARMAGH. *i$ BEANS, May be sown either after a corn or a green crop. They are most perfectly sown in drills, as being more easily hoed by the hand or horse hoe. Wheij split, and given to horses, they become the very best and most strengthening food. They are cultivated in this county in small patches 01%, and aH lor the food of man, and are generally boiled, and meshed with oatmeal, milk, butter, and pepper. This dish is provinciaUy called stulk, i» wholesome, and very palatable. Beans thrive in a deep, moist soil. They should be drilled or sowed in furrows, to admit a free cir- culation of air, as they continue a long time grow- ing ; this is extremely necessary, tfs, otherwise, much of the crop is smothered and rotted, and the pods but poorly filled. Early in the year, after the heavy frosts, the ground for beans, which has been previously ploughed, and left under fallow, should be harrowed finely, and the seed sown. If not drilled in, they should be trenched, the mould beaten with the back of the shovel, until reduced to a fine tilth, and the seed covered pretty deep, to six or seven inches. They should be sown in dry weather, and the plants cfther hand or horse hoed. Bean* *ifi STATISTICAL SURYET Beans are preserved in the pods, by tying the stalks in the fork of a tree, and thatching them over with straw, when only saved for seed in the garden; but, when in large quantities, they are stacked in the pods in the haggard, and thatched carefully. HEMP. Of the culture- of this most useful plant we have very little knowledge, though, in many respects, it is nearly similar to flax. For a very minute account of its culture, management, and uses, the reader is referred to the Statistical Survey of the County of Cavan by the author. CHAR OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 217 CHAPTER VIIL PASTUBJt. Sect. l. Nature of it. THE pasturage of this county is naturally sweet and wholesome. The limestone furnishes much earlier grass than the clay soils ; however, in sum- mer, these latter soils yield grasses more abundantly, and better resist a burning sun, and they are more productive for the pail ; but there is very little sys- tematic arrangement for grass. The numerous small farmers never lay down their grounds with grass- seeds; stubbles supply their winter pasture; and small patches of clover, with the casual herbage .of the ditches and road side, afford a scanty subsistence in summer, together with potatoe-tops, and the gleanings of their little gardens. When the farmer holds land on the banks of tivers, or in low moist situations, it is mostly em- ployed tit .STATISTICAL SU1VET ployed for dairy purposes. In the valleys, which art numerous, in qonsequence of the great undulation of the surface, rich grasses are natural to the soil; these spots are chosen for meadow land. A little . meadow land is considered a great prize, and, where it can be afforded on the small farm, it is to the great prejudice of the cow in the summer season. Very fine natural grasses spring on the edges of turf-bog, particularly on that part which has been burned to raise a supply of manure. But, although this great benefit is pointed out by nature, yet few take advantage of it, when so little labour would, in such districts, afford a great profit, and an ample growth of grass. In the hands of spirited and expe- rienced reclaimers of turf-bog, this kind of land soon becomes the most valuable meadow ; and they depend on it for their supply of hay, with more cer- tainty than in upland meadows. In the mountainous parts the pasturage is short and prolific, but not fattening ; although grown cat- tle will not improve, they, however, do not decline on it; it rather furnishes a good belly-full, than it imparts much nutriment, except to- young cattle, which thrive well on it. The proportion of grass lands to tillage, in. the populous places, and best soil% is rather less than as one to five ; but in the mountainous districts the re- verse is under the proportion. Young cattle chiefly . occupy OF 1HE COUNTY OF ARMAGH, a* occupy the grass of the latter district, and milch cows the meadow of the former. There is so small a share of the lands (excepting in demesnes) appropri- ated to feeding heavy stock, that it cannot be taken into account ; and as to sheep-walk, that is entirely confined to the parks of the gentry ; so that there is no regular trade in the county of fattening black cattle or sheep for market. But what good pasturage can there be expected to be produced in a country, where every field of grass, in the tillage district, is that, which is no longer ca- pable of producing corn, and: let out wild, without culture, grass seeds, or any kind of manure? Yet such is too often the abuse of this excellent soil. In the many places I have seen in this county, the soil, if judiciously cultivated, would be equal to aus^ tain twice the quantity of stock, which now barely have an existence in it. In five-acre farms, they endeavour to proportion grass to tillage, as one and a half to five; of this two-thirds are pasturage, and the remaining third is meadow. , The prices of grazing, in the mountainous dis- tricts, are very low. This extensive range is gene- rally set, without a previous admeasurement, at a small bulk rent. The boundaries of estates are not well defined here, nor is there much trouble taken to have them ascertained. Sect. %io STATISTICAL SURVE* Sect. t. Breed of cattle— how far improved f In the black cattle, the defects, and also the beauties, of the native breed are occasionally seen. Hitherto there have been but small pains taken to improve them ; very few of the gentry have yet en- tered with spirit into this desirable pursuit Amongst the foremost of these few is Mr. Brownlow, of Lur- gan. But in the twelfth and thirteenth chapters this subject will again be necessarily considered, Sect. S. How far capable of further improvement* Perhaps, as milch cattle, they require no im- provement, having already a decided superiority in this respect ; all they want is a sufficiency of pas- turage. The same reason may, perhaps, truly apply why the breed is here rather small, and insufficient in bone, for the purposes of draught; and, indeed, is proved in those sent from hence to Fermanagh county, where, as the grass is rich and much more abundant, they soon grow to a large size. In gene* ral they are fine in the neck and horn, but they re- quire OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. %%t quire a good deal of food to keep them in condition* This has been remarked by some gentlemen, who have had this stock on the best pastures. Sect. 4. Markets or Fairs for them. In the second section of the tenth chapter, the market-towns will be particularly noticed, in the table of towns and villages. Generally at fairs, the traffic for the interior of the country consists in sell- ing out strippers, and buying in springers, or newly calved cows ; and there is much dealing in horses of every description. Young horses and black cattle are purchased for the mountainous districts ; and much of this stock, brought to fairs, have been reared on these lands* and sold by one farmer to another. Fermanagh graziers are ready purchasers for cattle fit for feed* ing. Stock to a considerable amount is purchased by jobbers, who drive them from fair to fair, or pur- chase them for exportation to Scotland, making out a very lucrative trade. Indeed to the dealing at fairs, amongst jobbers, we may very much attribute the great rise on cattle of late years. The sale of pigs is very great, both alive and slaughtered, for exportation ; but that of sheep is inconsiderable. Alphabetical a« STATISTICAL SURVEY Alphabetical List of the Fairs tf this County* i, Acton, (May 4),' (Dec. 12). Custom free. 2. Armagh, (March 28), (May 20), (July 10), (Aug. 12), (Oct. 4), (Nov. 1). 3. Baleek, (Feb. 3), (May 3), (Aug. 3), (Not. 4). 4. Btllybought, (March 22), (June 21), (Sept. tc), (Nov. 22). 5. Ballyoeglera, (Jan. 5), (June 8), (Aug. 12), (Oct. 3,) (Nov. 8), Dec. 11). 6. Charlemont, (May 12), (Aug. 16), (Nov. 12). 7* Cfare, (May 12). 3. dough, (May 3), (Dec. 6). 9. Coollavilfe, (April 26, two days), (Oct. a«, two dap). to. Cross, (May 30), (Aug. 5), (Sept. 5), (Dec 27). 11. Fork-hill, (May 2), (Aug. 1), (Sept. 29), (Dec. 8), 12. Hamilton's Bawn, (May 26), (Nov. 26). 13. JohnatonVbridge, (May 25), (July 25), (Sept. *$)t (Nov. 25). 14. Jonesborougb, (June 4), (Aug. 15), (Oct. 2 1), (Dec. 21). 15. Ready, (Jan. 17), (Feb. 13), (March 17), (April 4), (June 4), (July 5), (Aug. 15), (Oct. 14), (Nov. 17). 1 6. Killyleagh, (the last Friday in each month). 17. Legacurry, (Feb. 9), (July 26), (Oct. 15). 18. Loughgall, (Jan. 1), (May 5), (July 1), (Sept. $\ (Dec. 30). 19. Lurgan, (Aug. 5, two days), (Nov. 22, two days). 20. Maghery, (April 30), (June 24), (Oct. 31.) 21. Market-hill, (May 5), (June 22), (Oct. 26). 22. Middleton, (Feb. 5), (May 4), (Aug. 8), (Sept. 12), (Nor. 4}, (Dec. 28). 23. Newtown* OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH, 223 23. Newtown-Hamilton, (May 7), (Nov. 7). 24. PoyntzVpass, (Jan. 4), (Feb. 1), (March i), (April 5), (M*y 3% (J*** 7)f (Mr 9\ (Aug. 2), (Sept. 4), (Oct. 4), (Not. i), (Dec. 6). $5. Porta4owo, (March 28), (April 14), (May 16), (J«nc 2), (Nor* 13). 2©\ Portnorris, (Feb. 12), (May 14)1 (July 16), (Oct. 10). 27. Sargowney, (Jan. n), (May 14). a*. Tanderagee, (Julys), (Nov!. 5). 29. Tuflyvallen, (May 6), (Nov. 6). $0. TuBcanVpojf, (March 28), (April 26) , (Nov. 8). Sect. 5. General Prices. Milch cows, bought in from eight to twelve guineas ; medium price, 10/. Dry cows, sold out at from five to eight guineas; medium price, 6/. Dry cows kept up for spring sale from November ; condition generally bad. Sheep, on an average, 10s. per head for the sea- ton's grass, besides the fleece. Fat cattle, generally fed out of the county, or in demesnes; price, 8/. to 14/.; medium, ten guineas. Two-year-old oxen, from six to nine guineas. Ewes, in poor order, from seven to twelve shillings each. Young *s 4 STATISTICAL SURVEY Young pigs, which lately sold at one guinea each, are now so low as half a guinea. Slips for fattening, from twenty-five to forty shil* lings. Fat pigs, ad valorem, at about Ad. per pound, alive. The average weight of fat pigs, about three hun- dred and a half to four hundred weight. Milch cows, bought in for ten guineas, will sell out dry at from five to six guineas in spring, and, on good keeping, will be fat against Christmas, and be sold to a profit of from three to five guineas. Dry cows seldom exceed four hundred weight. Working horses sell in spring for from 5/. to \0L ; medium ll. Winter provender is so scarce, that this stock sells out at full one-half Ions. They prefer smart, well-turned, light cattle, which amgper for their spring work, after which they make them up for fairs in distant counties, to be sold for the saddle. The fairs of Palmerstown and Donnybrook, in the county of Dublin, are always well frequented by Armagh dealers. Sect. 6. Modes of feeding— how far housed in winter. I have already observed, that feeding is prao tised only in demesnes, and always on grass only. Stall- OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. ty Stall-feeding is seldom engaged in but for homo consumption ; the food hay only. Milch cows are housed only from December till May. Sects. 7, & g. Natural grasses — Artificial grasses. The natural grasses of this county have been par- ticularly noticed in the sixth section of the first chapter ; and in the first section of this chapter the "nature of the pasture has been considered. The culture of artificial grasses, which have been recommended, is treated of in the last section of the preceding chapter, under the head oi Crops not commonly cultivated to any extent. In converting grass-land to tillage, they take the first crop potatoes, but they manure with lime on the surface^ sometimes three years before the sod is broken, and this they conceive superior to liming the broken ground ; they contend, that the grass crops in the interim are greatly superior, and that the ground virtually possesses all the good effects, as when lime is incorporated by tillage into the soil. The second crop is generally potatoes, and also the third. Flax occupies a small proportion of the po~ tatoe plot, and barley the remainder, if the soil is dry, and of a fine tilth ; if otherwise, they sow it 4. witb ?i6 STATISTICAL SURVEY -with oats. Of this last grain they take three suc- cessive crops. They never lay down, except in de- mesnes, with grass-seeds and white clover. Sect, 9. Mode of Hay-making. Meadows are begun to be cut about the latter end of June, and mowing generally holds for two months or more, as the grass ripens, or the weather permits. The hay crops are lighter than in more southern districts ; the quality is sweet and whole- some, but the hay is deprived of some of its juices by too great exposure to the weather. Hay on limestone soils will not require so much drying. After cut- ting, they make small grass-cocks, which they leave so for one day in good weather ; next, they make these into top-cocks, and in this state they leave the hay frequently for a week, which is very wrong. The tramp-cocks which they now make are very small, not containing more than from seven to ten hundred weight, and are left in the fields until the harvest is got up. In proportion to the number of these tramp-cocks, the quantity of hay is destroyed which composes their bottoms and tops ; besides, the ground on which they stand is scalded, and, without manure, will not yield grass the next year. Add to these OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. $2% these losses tbe cutting up of the' fine aftergrass with the cars and horses, when they draw home the bay, at the time of its best vigour, and this mode 'must be condemned in the eyes of every thinkiog person. This has been admitted ; but they argue, that their climate will not allow them to draw hoqoe the hay, without having been long kept in the field. If so, thes* tramp-cocks should be made con- venient to the gate, and thus (the entire grass of tbe field would be saved from destruction. But, surely, these cocks might as well be made at first in an airy haggard, and would be convenient at any time to be made together into a rick. The annexed plan represents a machine peculiarly well adapted to hoist h*y or corn to the rick, in a car-load at each draught. a 2 The *2S STATISTICAL SURVEY The proportions are as follow: The main pole from the ground to the collar twenty feet. The top pole from the 'collar to the arm eight fret. The length of the arm from the pole to OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 2*y to the pulley and block fourteen feet. The length of the short part of the arm eight feet. Thomas James Rawson, Esq. of Cardington, near Athy, in the county of Kildare, is (be inventor, Sect. 10. Dairies — their produce. Although there are no farmers exclusively in this branch of husbandry, yet x in the aggregate, a considerable quantity of butter is sold in Armagh and Newry markets for exportation. The small fir- kins, in which this article comes to market, prove the very slender stock of milch cows with each pro- prietor. It must not be understood, that the nu- merous small firkins, which are purchased in Newry, are all the produce of this county ; perhaps not a fifth or sixth part will be found to be so. The counties of Cavan, Monaghan, Down, and Tyrone, send a great supply, any of them much more than' Armagh ; and I can shew two reasons for the asser- tion. Those counties are more extensive, and the people are more wealthy, and, of course, live bet- ter, and can afford to consume their butter in their own houses. Scarcely any farmer is without a cowj jnany have two or three, but their pastures are al* ways overstocked. \t is generally the wealthiest ftrmec »j* STATISTICAL SURVEY farmer who sends most butter to market ; pfcrfcaf* he keeps the second cOw entirely for profit. Some Belfast buyers employ c6mmissioners at the prin- cipal towns to buy butter, which Is sent thither by the Newry canal. One hundred weight of butter per cow is considered the usual yielding, but perhaps not above half of this quantity goes to market. The proportion of milch cows to the size of the farm is, for every * small farm, under five acres, one cow; if exceeding five acres, and not exceeding ten, per- haps two, seldom more. There are bo extensive dairy farms in the county. Sect. 11. Prices of Hides , Tallow, Wool, and quantity sold. There is no great trade in any of these articles. When we shall speak of the trade of the several towns in the county, what usually occurs under this head will be mentioned. The average prices through the county the last year were ; Green hides, according to weight, from - - 35s. to 45s. 6rf. per cwt. Calf-skins, ad valorem, from 2s. 6d. to 6s. 6d. per skin. Tallow, ... eos. per cwt. Wool, * - 1 Ss. per stfcne of 1 6 lbs. This OF THE (SOtfNtY Off A*ttAGH. *$t* This last article is retailed in small parcels, at an advance of two-pence or threepence per pound, and is usually sold at fairs; it is principally manufac- tured into coarse druggets and blankets. Very little of the wool, which thi$TO>unty affords, is exposed to sale ; the very slender stock in th$ hands of an indie vidual is reserved for home us?s. CHAP, *jl STATISTICAL SURVEY CHAP. IX. FARMS. Sect. I. Their size. THIS particular has been often spoken of ; but for sake of regularity, in reply to the query, I shall re- peat that the average size of farms may be five acres ; the rent of the best cultivated districts three half guineas per acre, and from thence down to fourteen shillings. The medium rent of the poorest grounds, or mountainous district, five shillings per acre. Sect. 2. Farm Houses and Offices. There is so material a difference in this respect, betweei} the centre and the boundaries oftbe county, that no average report can be strictly given. In the former OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. *ft former the bouses are remarkably comfortable, sur- rounded with orchards and neat enclosures ; in the latter the reverse is the case, though still improving. Very little actual, poverty, or few miserable huts, to be seen at all. The offices are not many, nor are they to be spoken of with any degree of credit. A stand for corn-stacks is rarely seen out of a gentle- man's farm-yard. Sect. 3. Mode of repairing them. The tenant always repairs at bis own cost. If he is really improving and industrious, he seldom fails of assistance, from his landlord, of timber and other indulgences. Sects. 4, 5, 6. Nature of Tenures; General state of Leases ; of particular Clauses therein* General information on this subject is given in the second section of the second chapter. The working weavers, who form the great bulk of the people, generally hold at will from the manufac- turer or employer, or farmer, if we may so call him, as being a landholder. A very scanty garden, cot- tage, 2)4 STATISTICAL Stf *VE¥ tage, turf bog, and grass for a cow ate furnished him, for which he pays about five pounds or gui- neas per annum. IJe is, by his agreement, to work ih the field or at the loom at the option of his em* plqyer; if the former, the average wages is one drilling per day; the latter business is generally by task work. Perpetuities are only in the bands of wealthy in* dividuals, and those are but few. The general term of leases twenty-one years, and a life, but they are seldom clogged with restrictive or parti- cular clauses. Sect. ?. Taxes or Cesses paid by Tenants. County cess and parish taxes only. The great subdivisions of farms often occasion much wrangling about the several proportions; in this case, the weakest too often pays the greater share. The coun- ty cess is more cbearfully furnished, ag the benefits are individually felt, labour on the public roads be- ing well paid for. Sect. OF tffcfi tdUtffY Of AfcMAGH. i# g£CT. 8, Proportion of working horses , or bullocks, to the size of farms. There is not a horse on every farm in the bounty for the work of that farm ; a plough of cattle it made up by neighbouring farmers, who accomodate each other in turn, and there are no working buU lofcks at all. But, if the query should be, whether the number of farms or of horses be greater in the county ? the answer would be greatly in favour of the horses. But, as I have already noticed* borsei are speculated in for an exclusive trade, per* haps as much by townsfolk as by fanners, and tat oftentimes only purchased for the probability of selling again at a large profit; # we may continue there is small use for working cattle, when we con- sider there is scarcely any but spring ploughing, during the year; of course, there is more work for their cattle at markets than in the field] they are employed much longer in drawing turf abd ma- nure, than they are in the plough and harrow* Sects. 9, 10, n. General size of fields , or enclo- sures \ nature of fences ; mode ofhedg&ro t m and keeping hedges. Crass fields, or well inclosed parks, close to the dwelling, which ate not intended to be broken up for »jtf STATISTICAL SURVEY for tillage, are neatly fenced with quickset hedges, and are generally in size under one acre. The or- chard is also well inclosed, but covers a very small area ; the boundaries of the farm are generally well fenced, but the interior of it is mostly witboot any permanent division to keep cattle from tres- passing on the corn ; to prevent this, they tie their cattle to a stake, giving them a range of rope, till the plot within their reach is eaten down. The fences are of white-thorn, with a ditch, or fre- quently are only loose stone walls; this boundary is repaired yearly, in turn, by the farmers whose lands join; but in several parts of the county fencing is shamefhUy neglected, and it is no uncom- mon thing, when the lease of a farm is nearly ex- pired, to destroy the fences, and other improve- metit4,"to prevent the rent being raised in the new lease. Many of the gentry, as I shall just now shew, are extremely attentive to making good fences. Planting screens and clumps is now a more favourite pursuit, than that of hedge-rows, which in the present style of ornamental improvements give place to the former, *** " Sect. 12. Mode of draining y Is generally by open sewers in the mountainous dis- trict -, the interior of the county requires but little draining, OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 237 draining, as possessing a fine dry soil ; the draining here is by French sewers ; in moist lands they make open drains, which are only attended to, whilst the crop stands ; very little has been yet done in drain- ing turf bogs, or in making lasting drains through the laads, nor has the draining by the auger been yet attempted. I hare seen some improvements by draining, when the trench was only opened in moory soils for the purpose of procuring manure. The mountainous district might be made rery valuable land, by a small attention to this branch ; the numerous springs and quas,* which cover a great portion of ground, might be easily diverted off the surface, and large plots acquired which are now of no value. Water, 1 which lies on the surface and proceeds from rains, is easily diverted off, by sinking drains accord- ing to the fall of the ground ; but the grand method of arriving at springs has been lately discovered by the ingenious Mr. Elkington, for which the parlia- ment of Great Britain have rewarded him with a grant of one thousand pounds, and this has been ef- fectually accomplished by the auger, or tapping and boring the earth, until the spring is reached, so that the water flows through this passage. Of this useful instrument, and of the method of using it, I have already given an account in my Statistical Survey of the county of Cavan, Chap. viii. Sect. 3. Ssct. * Quas, a provincialism, signifying quagmire*. ?j8 STATISTICAL SURVEY Sect. 13. Nature of Manures. Jjme is the general manure and powerfully, efee-r live in this country \ it is chiefly mixe$ with (lung, clay, &c. for the culture of potatoes ; it is also applied in surface dressings to grass lands, prepa- ratory to $ tillage course : the quantity varies very much, from fifty to sometimes but ten barrels to the acre. Dung made of every scraping mixed with bog-stuff, when convenieatly had, is also used, and with good effect, if a sojalj portion of lime is added to the compost. In the clay soils, lime is pot mixed with other composts, and succeeds better than any other manure ; this is carried perhaps from ten to twelve mi}e* distance; there are few in- stances, in which dung is applied to the raising of CQrn crops, their potatpe culture requiring ail that can be supplied from their slender stock of live animals on such small farms. I have seen very fine crops of potatoes in a boggy soil, which bad but a very slight sprinkling of lime, and no other manure ; excellent crops of this root are raise i in raoory soils, with the manure of turf ashes j burning ?s however only permitted in low boggy soils* The OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 339 The quantity of lime is proportioned to the length of time the ground has lain untitled, as, on stub- bles, they only lay half the quantity they would spread on land long in gjras^ : but we should sup- pose that, the later the soil has been in tillage, it would require the more of a revigorating manure, and vice versa with old lea ; the farmers here, fes elsewhere, are fond of old customs and their own opinions, which they defend on this principle, that lime, being spread on stubbles, is immediately ploughed in, and of course the grass receives no virtues of this manure, whereas in manuring lea two or three seasons before a course of tillage they assert, that two or three good crops of grass are ensured, and that they have the sod in fine preparation for quickly rotting, and the ground meliorated against the tillage course ; and that, in liming on the stubbles, the good effects of this manure will not appear, except there are three, or two ploughings at the least, before the seed is sown. Another mode of liming is also practised, when they mean to work the soil to the utmost it can produce, or, in other words, to run it out, previ- ously to the expiration of a lease, which they do not expect will be renewed : they spread the liipe on the potatoe ridge, which they cover with dung, and thereon lay the seed with two or three sho- velings 240 STATISTICAL SURVEY yelings of earth ; this ensures a great crop ; wheat, or bariey, or both, are riext sown, the potatoe plot being divided under these two two crops, and this culture held for four successive seasons, changing plots each year from wheat to a barley crop, and vice versa, and seldom with more than one ploughing. No intermediate green crop is ever sowed, or any manure applied, and the whole ield is then given up to raising oats, and it is held in this tillage whilst it can yield a crop, which some- times it will for three, four, or five successive sea- sons, until it is totally exhausted ; this mode is fully as destructive to land as burning, and yields as ample crops. Lime is applied to clay lands with advantage, bat I have observed many farms of this county, where it has been prejudicial on light soils, par- ticularly of limestone, where it had not been previ- ously mixed with clay or bog-stuff, but was applied in its caustic state. Limestone gravel, as a manure on deep stiff clays, or on moory soils, is superior to any other ; on the former, as imparting not only its calcareous, but its mechanical use also in opening and separating the soil, and both of these effects are durable ; on the latter description of soil, it is of equally good effect, though in a contrary manner, as it binds this soil, and gives it that degree of firmness and consistency, which stiff clays possess in too great an extremo. This OP THE COUNTY OP ARftAGH. $41 This manure is not sufficiently used here, though in many places in the interior they possess it in great perfection. Limestone gravel when heaped and burned, to- gether with the surface sods of boggy soils that have been drained, becomes a very fine manure for destroying all aquatic herbage, and is also an excellent preparation for a turnip crop, before the land is laid down in meadow: this, however, should previously to the last crop, or to that in which the grass seeds are sown, have another dress- ing of the gravel in its purity unmixed, which will give weight and strength to the soil ; in this case, rye or ray grass, or clover, have been profitable crops ; the rye grass should be sown in winter, and will ensure a very early crop of hay, and we may reasonably calculate on the seeds, which will be threshed from it, full three pounds per acre, exclusive of the value of the hay. A material benefit in the manure of limestone gravel on ground newly laid down for sheep-walk is, that such land never fails to produce white clover naturally and abundantly. Before we conclude the section] of manures, it i^ necessary to remark, that by feeding cattle in die field, according to the usual custom, above one half of the manure is lost, which might be gamed from the urine of animals only, if collected in proper K reservoirs, *4* STATISTICAL SURVEY reservoirs, and mixed with suitable composts. If the cattle, which are necessary for the culture of a farm, were fed within doors, their dung would go a great length towards the supply of manure requi- site for that farm ; by this mode it should be un- derstood, that the best farming is by blending these two pursuits together, and by making the tillage farmer depend on his vegetable crop for a supply for his stock, whose dung will always keep his ground in perpetual heart and vigour. Irrigation is now known to be a very powerful manure to meadow land ; there are numerous farms in this county, where it might be applied with success, and at a small expence ; I have aeen this operation practised on potatoe crops in drill with very good effect, when the general crop of the kingdom had failed from a long and continued drought. Though sheep will fatten very quickly on the aftergrass of water meadow, it is not adviseable to hold them over for breed, as this pasturage has a great tendency to rot their liver ; indeed it sel- dom fails to produce this effect. Such sheep only, a* are intended for market, should be fed on this grass, and be sold off as soon as in condition; otherwise they gradually fall off and grow con- sumptive. The OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. .243 The produce of hay, yielded by irrigation, is per- haps incredible. I have known land which, from this circumstance, not otherwise intrinsically worth six- teen shillings per acre, made equal to ten guineas per acre in the Queen's County,* or which yielded that sum by being set out for meadow, exclusive of the aftergrass, and continues to do so every year without intermission. The proprietor could easily have solvent tenants for the whole tract of his water meadows on a long lease at seven guineas per acre. Marling is so little engaged in in this county, that I shall not enter into its merits. Lime is more certain, and generally more easily obtained than this manure. Aftergrass, as a manure, is not known here; pasturage is too scarce a£ all seasons. Bog-stuff is excellent in a compost with lime for light soils, as it corrects the caustic heat of the lime ; it is used with great success without any mix- ture, in protecting the buds and leaves of potatoe crops from the spring frosts ; it can also be highly enriched by being spread in stalls under cattle, as it soaks up their urine and retains its salts : it is also a valuable manure, when applied as a surface dressing to meadows of a light soil, ensuring a very early verdure. R 2 Good * See the Statistical Surrey of that County by tip Author, pages 77 and 78. *M4 STATISTICAL SURVEY Good lime-kilns are rarely seen in this county. It should be the care of the proprietor of an estate, to erect proper kilns to supply his tenantry with lime at first cost ; where it can be accomplished, no surer means could be adopted to improve an estate without any expence to the proprietor. For an improved plan of a lime kiln, see the Statistical Surrey of the County of Cavan, page 68. CHAP. OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. t 4 $ CHAP. X. GENERAL SUBJECTS. Sect. i. Population, ARMAGH is indisputably, in proportion to its size, the most populous county in Ireland. Al- though much of the surface is covered with moun- tains, yet the greater part of the wildest country * is very thickly inhabited, and it is on this account that its superior population is allowed. I doubt not, but in the neighbouring county of Down there are certain parishes, where the inhabitants and houses are as numerous, as will be found in the like area in this county, but their mountains, which cover so great a tract, are almost uninhabited ; a cir- cumstance which pretty clearly proves, what great capability the roughest parts of this county possess, as sustaining qp numerous a po pu lation, Mr. **6 STATISTICAL SURVEY Mr. Bushe's* calculation of the number of inha- bitants of Armagh was ascertained by taking the population of 1705 houses, of every description, which were found to contain 6988 souls, or more than six to each house. Jn Dr. Beaufort's Memoir of bis Map of Ireland it is stated, that, from the re- ports of the hearth-money collectors to the year 1790, the county contains 21983 houses, and 120,000 in- habitants at five and a half to a house, but this he supposed to be far below the truth. The population is at the rate of eight and one- fifth acres to a house, or of nearly seventy* eight houses, and 429 souls, to every square mile, whiph is something less than one and a half acre per head; and he justly attributes the extraordi- nary population to the great indt^stry of the peo- ple, apd the flourishing state of the linen manu- facture. . I believe the general report will be nearer the truth, if estimated at 125,000 souls. I have heard that the late Rev. Dr. Hamilton, who was unhappily murdered during the disturb- ances in this country, had made some ingenious calculations, and took the actual population of some districts, in which the return exceeded all belief. * See his paper on this subject, in the Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy, 1789. OF THE COUNTY 1 OF ARMAGH. 247 belief. In «ae pariah the inhabitants were so nu- merous, as in the same proportion would have equal- led 300,000 souls in the county. The population and the number pf houses are at present in progressive encrease. Sict. 2. Number and size of Villages and Towns* In the thirteenth chapter will be found a particu- lar description of the several towns in the county, and the trade or manufacture for which they are remarkable* In the following table are the names of the several towns and villages in the county, distin- guishing the market, fair, and post towns, with the number of days in the week on which the post arrives from Dublin. The fairs and markets are, in general, well at* tended by retailers of hats, stockings, shoes, cloth, and wool, from other counties ; and also by pedlars, whose stock consists of articles of apparel, princi- pally of women's wear, and hard-ware. These itinerant dealers are always travelling from one market town to another; some of tbem have no fixed residence* TABLE J4* ' STATISTICAL 3UKVBT TABLE OF TOWN* AND VlLLAOBS. Baronies. Towns. 1 ' Villages. Armagh. Armagh, M. F. P. 6\ Blackwater Town* F. Charlemont joins Moy , which is a post town in the county of Ty- rone, F. Ready, F. KiUylcagh, F. Fews, Upper and Lower. Market-hill, M.F. P. 6. Newtown-Hamilton, F. Baleek, F. Crossmaglin. Culloville, F. Hamilton Vbawo,F. lohnston's-fews. Mohan. O'Neiland, East and West. Lurgan, M. F. P. 6. Portadown,M. F. P. 3. Rkh-hitt, M. F. P. 3. Loughgall, F. Maghery, F. Orior, Upper and Lower. Fleury-bridge, better hnowB by Jonesbo- rough, F. P. 6. Newry, M. F. P. 6. Tandcragee,M.F.P.6. Actoii. Ckre, F. Drumbanagher. Fork-hill, F. PoyntzVpass, F. Portnorris. Scam. Tuscan Vpass, F. Tnrenny. Tynan, F. P. 3. f Middfeton, F. M. denotes a market ; F. a fair ; and P. a post town. The figure marks the number of days in the week, on which the post arrives from Dublin. Sect, OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. M9 Sects. 3, 4. Habitation, Fuel, Food, and Clothing of tlie lower Bank; their general Cost; Price of Wages j Labour, and Provisions; and general View of the Rural Economy of the County. I have already stated, that the habitations of the lower order are tolerably comfortable, and by much exceeding any thing in this respect, that I have ever witnessed «— ^— — — — — — — — — m i .1 i n ■ i pi - ii , ■ In some of the old maps, Magheralm village is set down within the bounds cf this county, which is erroneous, as it is in the county of Down. In Seward? s Topography of Ireland, there are des- criptions of two villages qf this name j one of which he states to be in Armagh, and the other in Down county ; however, this is only confusing the account ff one and the same village, which is situated on the Lagan water, in the county of Down, and is re- markable for a very neat church and steeple, and a good episcopal palace was built here, anno 1695, by the Bishop of Dromore. The bounds of Armagh range very near to this village, wfiich doubtless. has occasioned* this mistake. Some remarkable ruins have lately lien traced in this village. a 5 » STATISTICAL SURVEY witnessed among the peasantry of Ireland, nor is it solely to be attributed to their attention to die linen manufacture ; their neighbours, of the same order and trade in Cavan and Monaghan counties, are far behind them in wealth and. comforts, or, indeed, in civilization. The county supplies a suf- ficiency of fuel for its culinary consumption, but the distribution of this necessary article is very unequal ; this is a general complaint, but the na- vigation, which extends along the whole line of the county, serves very considerably to redress this grievance. A supply of coal might be had for the whole bounty, if the collieries of Tyrone were properly worked; in fact there are means of remedying this want of fuel, if they were only brought into fair trial. The general rent of a cottage, with a garden for the potatoe and flax plots, is from two to three guineas per annum. In towns, where they hold but a small cabbage garden in the rere, the rent averages about forty shillings. They pay for turf annually about three guineas, or two shillings per horse load, but in scarce seasons it will double this cost. Turf bogs are, in general, very much exhausted. For house, garden, potatoe and flax land, with grass for a cow, the weaver pays from five to six guineas per annum, and receives, OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. *$i receives, with diet, six pence half-penny per day tbrbugh the year, for- his work in the field or at the loom, or one shilling without diet. The rent of a cow's grass has been more than doubled within these five or six years, and the pasture in general very poor: potatoe and flax land averages six guineas per acre. The expence of building a comfortable cottage will amount to about seven guineas, viz. : £. s. d. Mud-work and plastering, - - 3 8 3 Roofing,. ---- -' - - 114 l£ Thatching and straw, •--256 Door, and leaded windows, - Oil 4i £.1 19 3 Some cottages are put together at the cost of from three pounds to five pounds, but are of very inferior materials. A rood of ground is generally allotted to each cottage. The food of the lower rank are potatoes, stir- about, oaten bread, garden vegetables, bacon in summer, and beef in winter : there is no part of Ireland, where the peasantry consume so much flesh- ipeat. Average % 5 t STATISTICAL SURVEY Average prices, for the last seven years* of the fol- lowing articles of provisions, excluding the twe years of scarcity : s. i. Potatoes per atone, of I4lk ---OS Oatmeal per cwt. of 112/4. ---90 Beef, per lb. .--.-• • - 04 • Ale, per quart, ■.•»'. . ... 2£ Cheese, per lb. - • - - «• * - 09 New milk, per quart, 1} Butter milk, per pottle, - - . . • Of Herrings, per hundred, of six score, -46 The clothing consists of strong cloth, much of which is manufactured at home, and they dye it a good blue ; this cloth is never exposed for sale, but always made for home use. It is not so fine as forest cloth, but wears much better, and does not stand the consumer in half the price of the latter; this clothing is more commonly worn by the wealthy farmer or manufacturer ; the lower class purchase frize at two shillings and six pence or three shillings per yard, which is retailed at fairs, markets, and country shops, and is chiefly manu- factured in Connaught. General OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 253 General cost of clothing. £. s. d. Frize coat, waistcoat, breeches, trim- ming, and making, - - - 1 10 Outside coat of ditto, - - - 1 Shirt, 040 Shoes, - - - - -066 Brogues, - - - - -050 Stockings, - - - - -026 Hat, - - - - - -OSS General cost of man's dress, including great coat, about three guineas. Womens* wear, of cotton, will amount to about 3/., with cloak, petticoat, shoes, stockings, &c. If drugget is substituted for cotton, the cost will b* about one-third less, and the article more durable. In general, the women are better clad than the men, and make a gayer appearance on holidays. Their earnings are generally spent on finery, as the man's labour procures them provisions. The price of labour, for constant work in the field, or of cottiers wages, who are employed by the gentry in their demesnes, varies from ten-pence to thirteeiwpence per day the year round; but they pay their employers three guineas per annum for % house, a 5 4 STATISTICAL SURVEY bouse, cow's grass, and garden of half an acre, which they hold at will. Labourers, who have not cottages, or cow's grass, receive better wages, about two-pence more per day. There are few of this description who do not reside in towns, and, as la- bour is in demand, they exact high wages. Weavers are generally paid for their day's work one shilling ; but, when there is a brisk demand, and large orders out for lipens, they can average 2s. 6d. per day at task work. Those weavers, who sell their own webs at market, and rear their flax, will oftentimes make five shillings a day of their labour, when the demand is brisk. It may be always concluded, that the linen trade is flourishing when labour is high. The male servant of the farmer or manufacturer .will receive about six guineas per annum, with board and lodging ; the woman about 3/. The general employment of the women is spinning. Hours of labour in summer, from six in the morn- ing to seven in the evening ; two hours allowed for meals. In winter during day-light, and one hour only allowed for meals. Reaping, OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. ajp ^v*s>t^ diet ' • - l l verday ' r *' 1 Without, - - i 7i— *' I Without, - . 1 7} Turf- f With diet, - - 1 i cutting, 1 Without, - - 1 7* Threshing, J™***'- " ° 6 * *' (.Without, - * l l These works are often engaged in by task ; but seldom more money is earned, except in the vicinity of towns, where perhaps a third more is paid for labour ; all the weavers are expert at the general business of the field. Women's wages are about sixpence per day for day's wbrk , children's from threepence to sixpence. But, at. some branches of the linen manufacture, if they had* constant employment, they could earn ten- pence per day. Average clothing of & man, per ann. 3 guineas. —————— of a woman, - - 2 guineas. ■ ■ of a child, - * 15 shillings. The wages having been stated, I shall state the average value of labour to the employer, or to the cottager, if he works on his own account. Of a man, per annum, 25/. Of a woman, - -12/. Of a child, - - 7/. The *56 STATISTICAL SURVEY The average value of diet cannot be rated at less than 12/. per man, 9/. per woman, and 4/. per child, per annum. For fuel, soap, candles, and house rent, the average may be six guineas. Gr. £. r. d. Dr. £. Y. A Man's labour, 25 00 Man's diet, - . 13 Wooua'% - it • -Wonaa's, --90 Child'*, .700 Child's, - - - 40 House-res it* fuel, soapy £44 O O and candles, - 6 16 6 Man's clothing, - 3 8 3 Woman's, - - a 5 6 Child's, --- 15 £$* 5 J Btbaee* - 5 14 9 £.44 © o The balance is 5l. 14s.9d. y which an industrious family will soon encrease to a sufficiency for stock- ing a small farm, or setting op looms for journey- men. There are no wages in husbandry, where so much money can be saved. Sect, OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. *5f Sect. 5. State of Tithe; its general amount on each article ; what articles are exempt, and what charged by modus. s. d. Average tithe of Wheat, per acre, 8 Oats, .... 4 6 Barley, ----60 Meadow, ---26 And in some places a modus of one shilling for the quantum on the farm. Potatoes do not pay an acreable tax, but a small modus is claimed, though seldom insisted on, and in some parishes they are tithe-free. Flax pays a modus of one shilling for the quantity on eagh farnv be it more or less. In some parishes 2s. 6d. for the entire farm is sup- posed to be a fair composition. It must be remember- ed that these farms are very small, and nearly thre*- fourths generally under tillage. When there is a composition, there is no additional charge for small dues. The average tithe of grain, as stated* above, will often, when the crop is valued whilst growing, b# estimated at from two to three shillings per acre higher. In such cases the crops are very good. s Small ^& STATISTICAL SURVEY Small dues do not exceed three shillings per art- Hum for all demands, exclusive of marriages, christenings, or burials. Sect. 6. Use of Beer aiid Spirits— whether either f or which is encreasing. l>>om%hethneTofthe1ate scarcity, the use of spirits had greatly declined ; "but, since the restrictions on distilling have been taken off, there is again a re- dundaut y of .spirituous liquors at a low price. How- ever, to the credit of the people ai this county, they ate m*t€ sober, and better ptiriliaed, than we «ee in trthe* counties. Malt liquor is, for this reason, i» n»re g*oewd estimation than in odier parts. Sects. *, *, 9. State of Heads and Bridges, tf Navigations and Navigable Rivers, <f Fisheries, and of Manufactures ; or a general view of Political Economy, as affecting Jgrkulitue, *r connected mth it; -Skvehai. of the roads of this county are in good condition ; bat the greater number are bad, many of tbeta in the extremest degree* The OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. t& ' The turnpike road from Armagh to Newry is, perhaps, the worst in Ireland as a public road, and is a disgrace to an opulent county. The turnpike road from Jonesborough is generally in bad repair; and the county road from Newry to Oastleblaney is al- ways in most wretched order, though by far the greatest thoroughfare in the county. The roads in the barony of Turenny are not so rough as badly planned. In O'Neiland they are rough and narroAr, with some dangerous steps. In Lower Orior they are tolerably good, but in Upper Orior the reverse. The best roads are In the barony of Armagh. The interior of the county has abundance of good mate- rials for road-making ; the boundaries are, for the most part, very deficient in such supplies ; but, on the whole, the neglect is greater than the want of materials. County roads are made and repaired at the expence of the barony, through which they pass ; and turnpike roads from the tolls they produce, under the 6ontroul of directors. The great mistake in the roads of this county if, the neglect of originally making the centre of the road higher than the sides, which would throw otf the water into the ditches ; nor do they seem to un- derstand, that winding a road through the valleys i* as short a distance as ascending and descending thq; hills, independent of the great labour and danger at- tending the latter. $2 Af »fo STATISTICAL SUAVEY As the tenantry on the several estates, througk •which the roads pass, are employed with their horses in making aild repairing them, they are ge- nerally well paid ; and, independent of the benefit they deceive from this improvement, their profits often exceed their proportion of the tax, which is always chearfufly paid. Bridges are in good repair generally. It requires very intelligent overseers to inspect bridge-building* as masons too frequently, through interested motives, construct these works in such a maimer, as will en- sure them frequent jobs. I have already pretty fully spoken of the naviga- tion of the county, in the eighth section of the first chapter. I do not learn that there is any established fishery, of individual property, In the county. The fishery of Lough Neagh, to the centre of the lake, is the right of the proprietor whose lands form ttie shore." The grc;a rivers being on the boundaries, their nes are jointly the right of the several pro- rs on their banks.; but there is do steady re- vidded from any fishery in the county. >ball now beg leave to anticipate the subject of tUe^mteentb and fifteenth sections of this chapter, a* manufactures are so connected with the political economy of die county, which is now under discussion. A reference OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 261 A reference to the manufactures of this county has necessarily very frequently occurred in the course of this work ; and it must be understood that this pursuit, almost entirely in the linen branch, occupies the attention of the people. Agriculture is biit a secondary motive ; it is merely pursued as the means of supply of provisions, rather than of trade from which any profit may be gained. Land is sought, for the more easily and comfort* ably carrying on manufacture ; and notwithstanding the supposed superior profit on rearing ftax, the raw material of their trade, I believe that the people would rather have nothing to do with agricultural pursuits, if the markets were more numerous, and constantly supplied with provisions. I know there are many wise men of opinion, that the management of the lands of this province should be entirely changed ; that manufactures should be confined to towns; that the lands should: be portioned in large farms, and agriculture become a business in itself; that it is*a science, which require* an undivided attention,; arid that manufactures would * flourish better, if unconnected with the cares oi bandry ; and they argue, that there are not \* precedents sufficient to prove, how successfully rna* nufactures are now carried on under such regu- lations, Tbi& dfo STATISTICAL SURVEY This is a subject, which admits weighty argument on both, sides of the question. Manufacture and agriculture are pursuits, which differ widely ; and certainly an undivided attention to either business ought naturally to .ensure its success. If the sedentary business of the loom is so preju- dicial to health, and it is corrected by the labour of the little form, it will counterbalance many objec- . tions, which might be offered against the connexion of the two pursuits ; but a good garden at the rert of each house, which should be the case in every manufacturing town, would also require cultivation, so as to relax sufficiently frocp the labours of the loom. An important evil, which manufacturing towns are ever subject to, is the danger of combination amongpt the tradesfolk; and this nuiauace has raised the price of the necessacies of life, and of labour, more than perhaps all, other qausfes taken together. In further opposition to any change, it is asserted by the advocates for die present system, that it would be presumption to recommend any material alteration in a county, where the lower class of peo- . pie are wealthy, industrious, civilised, and tolerably well educated, and on whom the prosperity of the county so much depends ; tliat it would be ridicu- lous to hazard the loss of a positive good, by adopt- ing OF THE COUNTY OP ARMAGR i6f ing a novel system, whose success must be at best but doubtful ; and that, until a yeomanry or peasantry can be shewn, who are more wealthy or independent under such a system as is now pro- posed, it is absurd to talk of superior benefits. It is true that there are neighbouring counties occupied, in like manner as Armagh, by manu- facturers, who also pretend to be formers, wfcose rents are proportioned to the quality of the ftuid in a more favourable ratio, and whose forms ate as smalt; yet their culture is slovenly, their fences" naked, their dwellings miserable, and a general gloomy poverty prevails through a comparatively il- literate and uncivilized peasantry. Irt such places errors must exist, and experiments may be tried, and remedies proposed, where the evil is great ; but in this county, where the inhabitants are on a more respectable footing than in any part of th& province; there must be, of course, the less occaslori for any materia] reformation. I do not venture to give any opinion on so im- portant a subject ; but I must confess, that the ex- traordinary comforts, so eminently enjoyed hy' tMj people of this county, both of the middle arid the lower class, was a matter of astonishment to me, who had been well acquainted with the relative situation of those classes in other counties in this province, where their pursuits, both in and out of doors, so exactly **t STATISTICAL SURVEY exactly corresponded. The great difference in the comforts of those people could not entirely consist in the inferiority of their soil, comparatively with that of Armagh; for they too have very good crops of corn, and they have fuel in abundance, and on much better terms than it is to be had in this county. It is a matter of moment to investigate this differ- ence, and discover its cause. I conceive it proceeds from two causes; one of which is, that more money can be earned by the manufacture of fine, than of coarse linen ; Armagh being more engaged in fine web?, than the counties of Ulster which lie west of it. But the other is the primary and chief cause ; the people are more in- dustrious' and sober, and their earnings are seldom spent in the dram-shop. Perhaps in the poorer counties they are a more hard working people, employed earlier and later than in Armagh, but they are not regularly so ; they are only industrious when pinched by poverty, when their wages .have been squandered, and whepthey are overwhelmed with debt. In this county, a steady industry affords a sufficiency for the moderate comforts, of life, and will admit of a redundancy for other pur- poses, without exhausting nature by extraordinary labour at such a sedentary business as the looqu Unfortunately for the lower classes of the commu- nity, they cannot bear prosperity ; and, if the wage? of OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. *tfy gf six days can be acquired by extraordinary exer- tions, or a brisker demand of the trade, in four, the overplus is too frequently spent in dissipation, which enervates the constitution, and begets a habit of idle- ness. In cities, where there is less simplicity of manners, and more vicious habits amongst the peo- ple, this evil is not productive of such hardships to its votaries ; for there the tradesman raises the price of wages by combination, which his employer is sure to profit by in a tenfold ratio, and will tacitly en- courage. This burthen now bears heavy on the consumer, who has by bis inactivity seemingly con- sented to it, or left it to the correction of the legisla- ture, who have been too supine in a matter of such moment. Indeed the evil is now so far established, that it would be a very difficult task to appreciate the value of the several handicrafts labour. To proportion their wages to the price of provisions is quite out of the question, so long as the effecting an artificial scarcity is practised, and the principal trade of provisions suffered to remain in the bands of a fen! monopolizers. If this novel system, which now exists, of permitting individuals to hoard and regu- late the prices of provisions as suits their pleasure* was entirely abolished, then a law might be easily framed to appreciate the value of wages at all times. Combination would be thus completely overthrown, an* *flf STATISTICAL SURVEY sod each article of life would soon find its lore!, sod be sold at the real value. To attain this wished -far reformation, tradesmen should be prohibited to form themselves into societies. It is wt& known they subscribe weekly 800189 under the pretence of supporting their families in sickness, or procuring for them decent funerals, at the joint ex- pence of the body or trade to which they belong ; al- tho' their real design is, to consult how they can best piUaga the public by combinations for encrease ef wages 1 which when they have determined on, they yeast wosk until their unlawful demands are complied with ; aad they are subsisted, in the mean time, on the money, wfeioh they have previously subscribed to % stock pa**, which m general contains a very con* skiereWe mm, I ask pardon for the digression ; but I wish to Aew tothe-country weaver, that he lias not the same resources for idling two days in six, as the city handicraft ; he must give up extraordinary labour, hurtful to his constitution, but he cannot fix the price of hi* labour, or procure an encrease of wages bf cembinatiou. The staple commodity of the na^ tkte is happily protected by wise laws, strictly en<* forced, which it is out of his power to innovate ; and the trade is conducted by men of character, who would seem to stoop to the knavish intrigues, which i petty corporation will not scruple privately to en- courage^ OF ffcE COUtfiP V Of AfcftAGH. ' *S 7 fcottragei^ though they may publicly protest against "them. ■ Thrd* the favour of governments corporations -were privileged ; it should be theif concern, as it is 'their duty, to oppose combination by the most Vigorous and active exertions. Commensurate to -this grievance/ it is incumbent on the legislature to enact a severe law; the half-stifled teballion would receive through it a deadly blow; and industry should be resorted to, in place of the very vicious dissipation which exists, add which it is highly im% politic to suffer. In returning to the subject of the manufacture of this county, I conceive it is not within the limits of this Report to trace its origin here, nor its subse- quent history* These facts, many of my readers well know, are of the most ancient dale ; suffice it to report its present state. The linen manufacture is pursued here in all its various branches, and particular markets are esta- blished for the sale of each kind of goods and mate- rials. The Weavers of the finest goods reside north* ward in the county, and in this district their markets are; and vice versa with those inhabiting the borders of Monaghan county. The various branches of the trade consist in cambrics, lawns, linens, diaper, damask, and chequers. Those . weavers, who work at the finer branches, 2$t STATISTICAL SURVET tenches, will earn from fifteen to twenty per cent, more, in the same given time, than weavers of coarse goods, but there is oftener a stagnation in their trade. The coarse linen weavers have generally a knowledge of weaving cotton goods, and will often- times, when the demand is brisk, lay aside their linen webs, and turn to this branch ; but a regular- bred cotton or mttslin weaver h^s not $ knowledge of the linen manufacture, so that he has not equal advantages with the coarse linen weaver, and much less with the lawn and cambrick manufacturer, .who always can earn better wages than any other weaver. If a weaver works his own flax, which he ha? reared fropi the seed, his profits will be encreased from three-pence to sixpence per day, according to the excellence of the mode of dressing which he adopted, on which a great deal depends. But it is possible that a loss may happen, if yarn is in poor demand, and his stock is large^ The extent of the manufacture cannot be ascer* tained exactly by the return of sales made in the different markets, as webs from neighbouring coun- ties come in, and also webs from hence are sold ity markets out of this county. Great capitals are employed by bleachers, vhp jmrchase webs, and bleach on their own account. Considerable OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 269 Considerable sums are also engaged ih the purchase of yarn, which is given out to the weaver to manu- facture ; or the weaving is often contracted for by those wealthy manufacturers, who do not work themselves, yet keep journeymen constantly em- ployed, either on their own account, with their own yam, or on that of the merchants, with whom they contract. The general evil, which is felt in most parts of this province, and in none mote particularly than in the districts of Afmagh remote from navi- gation, is the great consumption and scarcity of fuel, which encfeases with the extension of the linen manufacture. In many parishes there is more fuel consumed in these works, than by all the inha- bitants of the parish for culinary purposes ; nor is there a doubt that, if some other besides turf fuel is not resorted to, in a very few years the bogs of this county will be exhausted. The number of looms exceed the number of houses, as most houses have two or three looms, and frequently they are all at work, when the demand for linens is brisk, at which times many new looms are made, so that we may fairly assert that the num* ber of looms is encreasing : flax land being in greater demand and of higher value, is a proof there is no diminution in the trade. Woollen *70 STATISTICAL SUfcVST Woolleu goods #re made only for home eoa- sumptiojn, and not for sale, nor is on* family hj tcij supplied with a sufficiency of their own manu- facture. In Armagh and the other towns of the county, are thg usual small manufactories of necessaries, as brewing, cbandliag, soap-boiling, tanning, &c. and also numerous handicrafts, who execute their trades well ; but there is no particular manufactory, if we except the Armagh side of Newry town, in which a respectable capital is sunk, exclusive of the linen business* The particulars of the trade of each town will he spoken of in the Baronial Survey, thirteenth chap* ter, as they occur. As to the encouragement to manufactures, and the peculiar aptness of the situation for their ex- tension, it is favourable, whilst the well established markets are so steadily attended by buyers of res- pectability. In the vicinity of nagivations, where fuel is so easily conveyed, these situations must have superior advantages, and, exclusive of the linen trade, the malting business and corn buying have been considerably encreased in these districts ; and stores have been built, which also will be men- tioned in their proper places. The OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 271 The annual estimate of the linen Arade of this county is rated at 300,000/. ; the goods of most repute, and of the best fabric, are of nine, ten, and eleven hundreds, and from thence above twenty hundreds. By hundreds is meant the number of threads in the warp of the web*, which is always rated at one yard in width. A* *7* STATISTICAL SURVEY An Account of the Number and average Value of Packs and Boxes of Linens, which have come into the Linen Hall of Dublin, from the County of Armagh, in the following Fears: Total Total num- number Total value of berof pieces of pieces Total pieces in packs and in packs, in boxes, number boxes, taking coarse Tears, Packs. Boxes. supposing supposing of pieces and fine all round, 75 pieces 60 pieces in packs at an average of in each in each and boxes £1. 14/ iy. per pack. box.* Statute price. «79« 1870 684 I40,a50 4I1O40 181,290 £. ,. 4. 309,326 1 3 1793 X546 58t "5 *950 *4>86o 1 50,8 10 «57,3t9 I* 3 1*794 1550 557 116,250 33,4*> 149,670 155.374 8 9 1795 H57 513 662 86,775 30,780 H7J55 100,578 4 4i 1796 U84 81,300 39-7 2 ° 121,020 206,490 7 6 1797 1041 439 390 78,150 26,340 '04,490 178,186 1 3 1758 1119 83»9*5 13,760 107,685 183,737 10 7 '799 923 477 69,215 18,620 97.845 166,948 7t 1800 X136 555 85,200 33.300 118,500 202,190 12 6 1801 1078 479 8a,8so 28,740 »°9>590 89,460 186,987 18 9 152,641 2 6 180a 83* 45i 62,400 27,060 Tears average f 3.337, I2li r 5 T 5794 | i,ooo,*75 j 347.640 | I »347,9l5 £1,299,87919 4 5*6 7 8 T 90.934 T ' T 3l,6o3 T 7 T l2 *»537i 8 i £209,079 19 11} Linen-office, May 29th, 1803. JAMES CORRY. An OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. * 7 | An Account of the Sums paid by the Trustees of the Linen and Hempen Manufactures of Ireland in the following Years , by way of Bounty to en- courage the Cultivation of Flax in the County of Armagh, and the Quantities of Flax Lands in the said County, which in the said Years received the said Bounty. . Tears. Acres. 1 Rood s. Bounty. £> s. d. 1786 - «* 266 3 - • 280 18 1787 - - 495 • - 391 4 S 1788 - - 428 - - 338 5 11 1789 - - 242 2 - - 191 7 10 1790- - - 254 3 - - 171 19 3 1791 - - 239 - - 161 8 6 1792 - - 389 3 - - 222 8 5 1793 - - 300 2 - - 202 15 9 1794 - - 156 2 - - 10$ 11 9 1795 - - 244 3 - - 174 S 3 1796 - - 1134 - - 2579 17 4151 2 £.4820 4 1 LlNEN-OFFiqE, May 29th, 1803. JAMES COURT. T S$CT. tit STATISTICAL SURVEY Sect. 10. State of Education, Schools, and Charitable Institutions. The youth of this county have the advantages of a better education than in most parts of Ireland ; this is evident from the superior civilization and manners of the people. A particular account of schools and charitable institutions will be given in the thirteenth chapter. Sect. 11. State of Absentee and Resident Proprietors. This is fully stated in die fourth section of the second chapter. Sect. 12. Circulation of Money or Paper. The linen trade in all its various branches is carried on with specie only. Rents are almost all paid in specie. Linen merchants pay a discount of from two and a half to four per cent, for gold, with whiph they purchase their webs* It -is also understood, that all commodities, sold in fairs or markets, must be paid for in specie, except OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. tj; except the contrary is particularly mentioned in the bargain. Sect. 13. Farming or Agricultural Societies. There is not one yet established in the count}' ; Colonel Sparrow, of Tanderagee, has set a liberal example to his neighbours, for the encouragement of industry, by offering to his tenantry the premiums stated in the fifth section of the thirteenth chapter. Sects. 14, 15. State of Manufactures , whether en- creasing ; of encouragement to them, and the pe- culiar aptness of the situation for their extension. For these particulars, see the ninth section of this chapter. Sect. 16. Of Mills of every kind. Mills are of two descriptions only in this county, those necessary for the linen, and those for the corn manufacture. Of the former kind, are bleach-mills and flax-mills ; of the latter, are oat-mills and those for the manufacture of flour ; oatmeal-mills are usually T 2 driven z 1 6 STATISTICAL SURVEY driven by water, but many of them are wind- mills. The manufacture of flour is very limited, that of oats considerable in the aggregate, but all corn is manufactured for country use and not for exporta- tion. It might be more easily averaged, what quantity of oats the mills of this county are equal to manufacture, than the quantity which they actu- ally do, as there are none of them ever constantly employed; however it is certain, that they are equal to supply the demand of the country. Sects. 17, 18, 19, 20, & 21. State of Plantations and Planting ; of the effects of the encouragement heretofore given to them by the Society , particu- larized in the list annexed. Of any Improve- ments -which may occur for future encouragement, and particularly for the preservation of Trees when planted. Of Nurseries within the County , and extent of Sales. Price of Timber, and state t>f it in the County. • Planting has only been attended to as orna- mental, and is confined to demesnes, but gene- Tally executed in such a manner, as to ensure both profit and beauty. Many parts of the county, particularly in the barony of Armagh, are highly decorated OF THE COUNTY "OF ARMAGH. 377 decorated with both old and new timber ; orchards are numerous with the small farmers, though from an unfortunate failure of fruit, for two or three successive seasons some years ago, many farm- ers, it is said to the number of two thousand, im- prudently rooted up their fruit trees, and quite spoiled a large district, which before was celebrated for the number and beauty of its orchards. I haye already spoken very fully of the several species of trees, which are found in this county, and it is a happy reflection, that the attention of the gentry is much directed to the most profita- ble and agreeable pursuit of planting. The legislature have wisely held out encouragement to the tenantry to protect and encrease plantations, and it will be found no less the interest of the landed proprietor to join his strenuoqs efforts for the encrease pf this source of national wealth, and tenfold more so will be bis individual profit* Hedge-rows only are planted without success; screens and clumps are so expensive, that their security is a matter of such importance as to ensure their preservation; but hedge-rows are generally badly protected, and left to chance. Trees planted as quicks, at regular distances, and stuck in the breast of the ditch when the enclosure is making, and in every respect* treated in the after manage- ment as the thorn-quick, which should by all means be a;* STATISTICAL SURVEY be planted with it for an after protection, will be found a cheap and successful mode of rearing trees ; the whole should be protected by a fence of dead thorn, till the young quicks get up strong. A well established nursery, where sales are con- siderable, has been established near Armagh, and has furnished a great number of trees for the m;my demesnes in the neighbourhood. Young trees are also sent for from a great distance. Many quicks are brought from Dublin, and often are greatly da- maged, if not quite destroyed, in the care of slo- venly carriers, which makes them dear and expen- sive ; at present their prices are more than five times as high as they were a few years ago ; they now arc sold in Dublin at one guinea per thousand. Prices of timber in the county are, on an average, at, the following rates : Ash, - 3s. 6d. per foot, Deal, - 2s. 6d. , Oak, - 3s. 6d. to 5s. It is more usual to sell timber by the tree, which is. valued as to apparent contents, for different uses in husbandry. Some dealers in timber have it ready sawed for the purposes of various implements, for each of which there is a regular price. Timber OF THE COUNTY OF AKMAGH. *7> Timber for a car, about 20*. Qd. ■ for a plough, - 6s* Od. • for a barrow, - 4$. € J. • — Ma^fcr} «■ * «• «• -*■ A car will be made for three half-crowns, a plough for three shillings, and a barrow for two* shillings j a loom, -when finished, is rated as worth thirty shil- lings. On the whole, this county has a betterappear- ance oF wood than the* neighbouring counties, though perhaps pongasging less, forest timhet; but the number of small and neat enclosures, together with the nnmerdus orchards, famish, a view' ofl wood, which i* in t ere stin g and ornamental. If gentlemen, who were disposed to plant, would superintend the culture of their trees in their own nurseries,; they would soon become skilful planters, and as their knowledge of the science encreased, so would their fondness- for it. The expence of a nursery is small and gradual, compared with the bills of trees purchased from seedsmen ; besides, the success of those reared at home is more cer- tain, and, where there is a failure of a plant, it can be more conveniently replaced. Premiums J&O STATISTICAL SURVEY Premiums adjudged by the Dublin Society, for planting in the county of Armagh, since the year 1786, where security bos been given to pre- ' serve the same for ten years from the date of the grant* To whom. Richard Jackson, John Ogle, juo. Hugh M'Dowel. For what. Enclosing plan- tations, ditto, ditto. »o 10 1786 791 'q*79S Sects. 22, 23, & 24. Quantity of Bog ; possibi- lity and means of improving it; obstacles to it, and best means of removing them. My readers whp are acquainted with this county must well know, that the quantity of bog is insuffi- cient for the general supply of fuel, from the cir- cumstance of its being unequally distributed, and the immensity required for the numerous bleach- mills, In many parts of Armagh, turf hog is of a more certain revenue, than the best land could yield, OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. *M yield, by many times over. Our attention should rather be to encrease than to reduce its contents, until another source of fuel is resorted to for the linen manufacture. ' In the first chapter, and sixth section, under the head Bog and Moor, the process of converting worn or cut-out bog to grass is fully described ; and this can be effected to great profit, and with small ex- pence^ after it has yielded the supply of fuel. Of waste land, the small portions in Armagh are only to be seen in the mountains, which are gra- dually improving. Opening roads, building cot- tages, and furnishing lime at an easy rate, with a small rent proportionable to the value of improve- ments made by the tenant for a certain number of years, would soon bring these regions into civiliza- tion and profit. These districts have already the advantage of good markets within their reach j and, if only roads were opened, they would repay the proprietor amply, and ensure to him a revenue, where there is scarcely any thing now yielded. Many parcels of land, which by liming would be made equal to twenty or thirty shillings per acre in a few years, do not now yield three, or, in some places, even one shilling per acre. Long leases, at a fair rent, would here ensure valuable improve- ments. Sects. 4fe STATISTICAL SURVEY Sects. 25, 26. Habits of Industry, or want of Industry among the People. — The use of the English Language 9 whether general, or how far encreasing f The people of this county cannot be charged with want of industry. If they are ever out of work, it is certainly to be attributed to the want of employment No surer proof of industry is re- quired, when a man, who can at times earn five shillings a day at his trade from peculiar circum- stances, will work with the same diligence, when perhaps he cannot earn eighteen-pence a day. In- dustry, not idleness, is the characteristic of the peo- ple ; and, when trade is dull, they seek employment in the fields. The nature of the linen manufacture must always ensure an industrious race ; for so much work can be performed by children, that they are more early employed in this line, than it has hitherto been thought worth while in agricultural pursuits. The English tongue has long been the general language of the county, and is firmly established* Sect. OF THE COUNTY Off ARMAGH. *Sg Sect. 27. Account of Towers, Castles, MwiArte- ries, Ancient Buildings, or places retnarkable far any historical event. In the Baronial Surrey, thirteenth chapter, a par- ticular description of antiquities will be given, where they exist, whether of Pagan origin, whiek have not yet been noticed, or erected, since the som of Christianity, for military or ecclesiastical pur- poses, and also any rehiarkable traditions, which vfSk apply locally. The ancient religious bouses of the county will be treated of in the Appendix. 3ect. 28. Churches— Resident Clergy — Glebes, and Glebe Houses. These subjects are already reported in the third section of the first chapter, and may be again re- ferred to in the thirteenth. chapter occasionally. Sect. tU STATISTICAL SURVEY Sect. 29. Whether the County has been actually surveyed; when; and whether the Survey is] pub- lished f A partial sujvey of Armagh is shewn in the Down Survey, and so far has been found acccurate, and well laid down, A map of this county was pub- lished by J. Rocquc, in 1760, which was not con* sidered correct. In this map are plans of Armagh city, and the town; of Newry, Another map of the county, from actual surrey, was presented to the Grand jury in the year 1178, by Messrs. William and Conyngham M'Crea, which was the labour of three years. This map, and also Rocque's, hang in the Grand.jury-.room. . M'Crea'g survey was made by the joint and voluntary sub- scription of the gentlemen of the county, whose names, and the respective sums contributed, are mentioned in the map. As there is but so precarious a tenure as a single manuscript for the large sums subscribed by the gentlemen of the county, and as they are sensible of the merit of the work, it is surely their interest to get it engraved, that being the only means of preserving so valuable a record. The new roads, made since the survey was taken, should be OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. ** 5 be first laid down, and other improvements might also be adopted. Sects. SO, SI. Weights and Measures, liquid and dry; in what instances are Weights assigned /or Measures, or vice versa f — The Weight or Measure , by which Grain, Flour, Potatoes, Butter, He. are sold. • Liquors are all sold by wine measure, as are all liquids. The sealed Irish gallon contains 217.6 cubic inches. Oatmeal is sometimes sold by measure, in retail- ing small quantities in markets, as also are . pota- toes; but potatoes sometimes are sold by the sack in bulk, which must be against the purchaser, as doubt- less the seller knows the contents of his own sack. The corn-stone has 14 pounds avoirdupois. The wool-stone, 16 ditto. The feather-stone, 16 ditto. The flax-stone, - 14 ditto. The tallow-stone, 16 ditto. The barrel of corn varies in its number of stones in different parts of the county ; but, as the corn is always sold by the stone, it is of no account. The st6 STATISTICAL SURVEY The barrel of Barley contains generally 16 stones. Wheat, - 20 Potatoes, from 24 to - 32 Oats, kiln-dried, - 12 — f ™*# • 14 Malt, - - 12 Bran, + » - 6 Hides and butter are sold by the hundred of 112 pounds ; coals by the ton of eight barrels ; lime by the barrel of thirty-three gallons. Sect. 32. Of Mines within the County. The only mines within the county, yet dis- covered, are of lead, and are in the vicinity of Keady, a small town six miles west of Armagh. This mine is on the estate of the college of Dub- lin ; the lands are held by the Earl of Farnham ; the late Earl expended large sums in sinking and work- ing it, but made no profit of it. It is rather won- derful, and indeed proves the value of these mines, that he was not a considerable loser, as he had no active partner to superintend works under ground, which he himself never saw. Since his death, the present Earl has discontinued the works, which his father OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. **y father advised him to do, until he should have an active partner, or a good tenant. The vein is so rich • and abundant, it would be well worth the notice of the monied adventurer, and might prove of in- finite service to this part of the country. CHAP. z8» STATISTICAL SURVEY CHAP. XT- live STOCK. Sect. 1. Homed Cattle. MR.BROWNLOW, of Lurgan, has introduced' the polled breed of cows, and a bull ; but there has not hitherto been any emulation amongst the gentry in the breed of horned cattle. The horned cattle of this country are light, sel- dom exceeding three or four hundred weight, but the choice is made for milk, rather than for feeding ; and, as the greater quantum of the milk is intended for the use of the family, and not for sale for dairy purposes, it is their business to select that strain of cattle, which gives the greatest quantity, without re- gard to any extraordinary richness in the quality of the milk. It is doubtless well ascertained, that the Leices- tershire and other breeds of horned cattle will fatten to OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 289 to & greater size, and in less time, oq the same pas* ture, than our native breed. It is also asserted, that the quality of their milk is richer than that of our native breed, and it is noj disputed but the Irish cow yields more milk than the English. However, without venturing an opinion on this point* which is not generally admitted, it must 4 be allowed, that the milk of the Irish cow is rich enough for the food of man. In this county it is only the redundancy of dairy produce which goes to market; and though the quantum from each farm is small, yet in the aggregate it is very considerable. The milch cows of this county, on ah average, do not, yield in summer more than ten quarts per day, and about two in winter ; for eight weeks after calving rather more, and for some weeks before springing much less. The stock for feeding are chosen for bulk and bone, rather than for neatness, as feeders make most profit of the weightiest cattle. So little ground can be spared for pasture, that the cow cannot yield the sufficiency of milk sh^ might produce, if she was better fed. It is a com- mendable amusement for gentlemen to introduce a good breed of cattle ; but, in the present occupation of this county, it cannot turn out to their advantage for the use of the country, as they would not repay the high rate tbey should be purchased at. The ' u tardy *9o STATISTICAL SURVEY hardy race of native stock are better calculated for the scanty pastures; it is only in demesnes that a sufficient supply of food can be furnished for weighty cattle. This subject has also been con- sidered in the second and third sections of the eighth chapter. Sect. 2. Horses. Horses are but very seldom bred in this county. Indeed the high price of land militates against por- tioning any of it to so precarious a purpose as brood mares; they are frequently purchased, at three years old, from Connaught Or Fermanagh dealers. Those most in estimation are nimble and active, short-legged, and firmly put together; they are worked too early, oftentimes at two years old, knd, being purchased for spring work, are dearer their than at other seasons. When the sowing season is finished, they are considered rather an incumbrance, and will be well sold if they bring the original pur- chase-money, their work repaying' their maintenance. They are purchased, after the spring wo A, by dealers, who are residents iri the neighbourhood, and fatted for the fairs by an unwholesome bafty process, and badly broke for the saddle. I have, in another place, reported the barbarities practised on this OF THE COUWTT OF ARMAGH, ^t this noble animal, and the tricks which jockeys will impose on unwary buyers. There is not a greater proportion of horses to til- lage in Armagh, than one to every ten acres for the uses of tillage ; but a number of horses are kept for 'the saddle for the linen business, and many tnbrte in the speculation of a profit in their sale, -which is \ ^favourable trade with almost all descriptions of peb- p\e in this courfty. The hardiest breed of horsis -whicih 'they 'have is 'the Sdotch'poney, Which for every purpose Is' excel- lent, arid 16ty easily fed ; 'his cost, at fairs, from fiVe pounds to seven guineas. He appears clumsy, from 'ihe continual roughness of his cdat, and very long 'hairs; but, oh a minute examination, he is a well- Tormecl ahimal, with great strength 6f sin'cw ; and, when Ke 'has bfeen Well kept, ts, gcbfhaps, strongdr at foul' years <£ld' than J ariy dthdr hortfe of 'His *eigHt or age. $tis 'cbloifir is 'frequently* dark "ittth gftiy, With large reddish spbts, r blkck, TfedttleaaUn, *& 'few or none ' Hvith "White Hal W. *The gentry in 'AVntegh ate corfrertely 'wtell liibuiit&I ; but tW b&t'h&i^s arts tibt tiffed ih flfe county, and aHe botigHt in at ^fy1%h jirife&r. ■ iWifatlve Ittsh garttfn, WitVsWritfer bbhfe,' J aHd iWnarkablfe for speed arid 'HaVdih&s, are tear&Pfti ttie in&mtainoris districts. They aVe ittdstfy incite )*6ut Nfewry, and on -the "border* df Mdnaghan 'icoiinty. u 2 Sect. *9* STATISTICAL SURVEY Sect. 3. Sheep. 1 t)o not learn that this has ever been a sheep eounty ; indeed, from the earliest recollection, it has been in nearly the like occupation as at this day. The. sheep, which are natives, are very coarse and mis- shapen, and are both with and without horns ; they are of a light weight, and their wool b coarse, but, when brought down to richer ^pastures, the wool improves surprisingly. Sheep-feeding is not pursued by the small farmer. The wealthy bleacher and man of fortune stock their demesnes with a breed, which are reared in Con- jflaugbt, and yiejid a pretty tolerable supply for the -markets in the neighbouring towns, after their own consumption. Their mutton is generally killed at from three to four years ojd, and will average eighteen pounds per quarter; the small horned ; breed eleven ; those latter fat the soonest. The ,sra4J farmer often buys a few sheep before shearing time, and will as quickly as possible dispose of them, after tjbey have yielded the fleece. If he has a clover , crop, he Bods his account in it, and s^lfe the sheep to a great profit, besides having the fleece. Average , .weight of the fleece of Connaught sheep, kept over and OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 19S and shorn in this county, six pounds ; of native breed, five pounds. Sheep bought in for winter feeding, at 25/. per^ score, will sell out in spring on an average of a guinea profit per sheep. The profit will be greater, if the ewe and lamb are purchased in spring ; the lamb will be sold in the latter end of summer, fat, and the ewe is held over on aftergrass till spring, or sometimes sold out at Christmas. Sect. 4. Goats. The milk of this animal, whose food is never, taken into account, is equal to one fourth of the cow's milk, but richer, and is very wholesome. They are usually confined on the tops of ditches, where they browse, and in a curious manner : A line of jack-cord is stretched rather slack, for the given distance of about ten yards, and confined by a stake - or branch at either end, passing through a ring of iron of about an inch diameter, which is made fast to the goat's born by a cord, which passes through a 'hole drilled through the horn; by this means the goat cannot leave the top of the ditch, and has a pretty good extent to browse on. Goats are nu- merous, and quite at their liberty on the mountains. When ifi± STATISTICAL SURVEY When th©y rear the kid, she is alio wee) to stay with her dam during the day only. The morning's milk is for the family's use. Many of the poorest families are supplied with all the milk they consume by this most useful animal. Sect. 5. Bogs. The breed of this county is quite of the commop kind ; but Mr. Brownlow, of Lurgan, has introduced a breed of pigs from Berkshire, which will doubtless be of the greatest service to his tenantry, and the county at large. This breed will fatten to from three hundred to four hundred weight usually, and are easily reared. The native breed are narrow, long legged, with sharp snouts, and are long in the sides; indeed this last point is their only perfection. The Berk* shire boar will greatly correct their deformity. The Chinese breed is preferred by the gentry^ but they are least profitable ; though they are easily kept, and fatten very soon, yet they are never weighty. The Berkshire are as prolific, an,d many times more profitable for market. Young pigs now average half a guinea per head ; tbey were lately so high as £ guinea eaqh. Pork OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH, *$S Pork' varies from \l. to 3/. per hundred weight. New/y is the great market for the sale of pigs ; their price varies with, that of potatoes, which are their constant food. Sect. 6 f 'Rabbits. There is no established warren turned to profit in the county, that I have heard of. Stragglers are picked up in the ditches by poachers, and are hawked through the towns ; the fiesh is sold at from ten-pence to eighteen-pence per pair. Rabbit- burrows are sometimes protected by the gentry, but the stock soon become numerous and mis* chievous to an extreme, and are with difficulty banished. Sects. 7,8. Poultry, Pigeons, Where the cottages are so numerous, a great/ quantity of poultry must be reared. There is a good demand for fowl of all kinds, which are sold at a good price. Some poultry dealers ramble tlwrough the country with cribs, and purchase for- ward barn-door fowl for Dublin market, but the profit *$6 STATISTICAL SURVEY profit cannot be much, as the demand at home is so considerable. These speculators generally purchase tbeir stock after the poultry have had the range of the stubbles. Large flocks of geese are bred in the mountains, turkeys in the interior, which are always sold to the gentry when pouts ; average price, from three to four shillings per couple ; geese, two shillings and eight-pence per couple; barn-door fowl, twenty- pence per couple; chickens, from eight-pence ta sixteen-pence per couple. Eggs are scarce, there is so great a demand ; they seldom sell fpr less than nine-pence per dozen. The wild-fowl, which are found in this county, hfive already been mentioned in the first chapter and eighth section - x there are no regular prices for them, nor are they often exposed for sale. Pigeons are no article of profit in the county, but rather of mis- chief ; they furnish a supply for the gentleman's table, and are kept as pets only in farmers houses. Sj&ct. 9. Bees. Although the DubHn Society have offered pre- miums for the preservation of bees ip the winter* yet OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 297 yet in this county the premium has not been sought for, though there is a great emulation amongst the notable housewives in Keeping over stocks and feeding them. - The bees are suffocated about the month of Octo- ber, and about three stocks in ten are preserved through the winter ; a hive of honey will sell for from ten shillings to a guinea, or more, but mead is not as' much manufactured as formerly, indeed scarcely at all in any considerable quantity or for sale. The study and management of bees, which formerly engaged so much attention, is how quite neglected ; in the mountains they have the greatest number of stocks, and their hives are filled so ra- pidly from the sweet-scented herbage, which this district affords, that they frequently have two ri- sers or scaps under them, before the stock is taken ; these hives will sometimes weigh 40/4. or even 60lb. ; they never suffer more than the second swarm from the same stock, which they prevent by rising the hive. A hive of bees will sell for from fifteen to twenty shillings, and any quantity of them can be purchased about this rate. It has been recommended by the Dublin Society to remove the bees to a northern aspect in winter, to prevent their rambling in a gleam of sun-shine, ^fter which the cold so benumbs them, that they Can- not *9* STATISTICAL SURVEY not return borne and perish on the way. I have understood from a gentleman, who tried the expe- riment, that it proved fatal to the stock, and that those only, who bad the warmest aspect and best shelter, were the soonest to swarm. CHAP. OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 399 CHAP. XIL CENERAJL OB8MVATIOH8. THIS county raises provisions sufficient for her supply, and has a redundancy particularly of wheat and oats to spare. A sufficiency of flax is raised in the county for the manufacture, but no seed is saved, which it is idle to say is not practicable, as it is generally sup- posed that from such flax fine yarn cannot be spun ; but in FlandeVs, where the finest laces are made, we have the best authority, that the seed of all their flax is indiscriminately saved. The seed, which might be saved from an acre of flax, would average 10/. value ; how great then must be the loss to. the nation, that they import all they us^ ? There is not a sufficiency of turf fuel in the county for it* manufactures, and culinary purposes. * * This 3 oo STATISTICAL SURVEY This county has a capability of improvement to yield the farmer double produce by housing his stock, and converting his sorry pasture into green crop culture. A great saving of labour and horses 9 work might be made by altering the construction of ploughs and harrows, and by remedying their defects. The dangerous hills on the public roads might be cut off by changing the roads occasionally to the valleys, and in many parts, where the roads are composed of decayed argillite, they might be repaired with limestone, which would be lasting, and though more expensive for the present, on ac- count of the distance, would ultimately be cheaper as being so much the more durable material. The want of capital is less severely felt here than in any county of Ireland. The heavy discount be- tween bank notes and guineas is an oppressive tax on the linen trade. Landed proprietors make no profit of the specie, \n which their rents are paid ; their agents only are the gainers. Qn the whole, the morals and manners of the people are superior to those of the other provinces of Ireland, and, generally spfeaking, they enjoy more of the comforts of life, and exhibit a considerable share of public spirit and independence. V RT OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 301 PART. III. BARONIAL SURVEY INCLUDING THE ANTIQUITIES OF THE COUNTY. Preliminary Observations. HAVING generally detailed the several matters of enquiry, in which some regard has been paid to the natural history, as well as to the rural and political oeconomy of the county, I shall, in the following sections, consider each barony distinctly, in which the present state of the towns, and the ornamental improvements of demesnes, will be mentioned. Were this work now presented to the public com- pletely perfect, this matter might certainly have 'been better introduced under the several heads al- ready considered* which embrace almost every sub- ject of enquiry, but, as it is only offered as the groundwork jos STATISTICAL SURVfiV groundwork or plan whereon a perfect statistical survey may be founded, it cannot therefore be too minute ; under general reports it is very difficult to detect error ; but, where the detail is given locally, there every reader, who is acquainted with the vi- cinity described, can at once discover omissions, and rectify mistakes. It is therefore for the more particular reference to each barony, and the ac- commodation of his readers, that the author per- severes in that mode, which be has adopted in the several surveys be has already submitted to the public, and which plan has been approved of by die Dublin Society. Sect. i. Barony of Armagh. This barony is justly entitled to preeminence m the county, whether it be considered as to the su- perior quality of its soil, its greater population, or as being the seat of the metropolis of the county. The soil is limestone, and it abounds with nu- merous quarries of this valuable fossil ; the lands are in good heart, the enckttufltt in excellent otdfer, and the fields judiciously divided in pWfyortioki to the size of the fartas ; the hedges ate of wtttte thtfTQ, the country is thickly cropped, and 'the wbfeie sur- face OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 303 face displays a close neighbourhood of neat and comfortable cottages. Approaching the city of Armagh from the west- ward, or from the bouiids of Monaghan county, the prospect is enriched with a considerable quantity of plantation ; on the frontiers are the improvements of Glaskmgh demesne, with those of the Earl of Caledon, which extend into this county; from hence to the vicinity of KillyFedgh village, as far as the eye can reach, the surface is beautifully un- dulated, and the small conical hills Jiave their sum- mits crowned with clumps of forest trees, and ever- greens ; these new improvements are strikingly in- teresting to the traveller, as he approaches towards the interior, and convey a chearful happy appear- ance. This fine range of country, including the neat . demesne of Elm-park, is in the possession of Robert Maxwell, Esq. and joins a great extent of lands, the property of the Rev. Henry Maxwell, and John Maxwell, Esq. The residence of Elm-park is low, and beautifully surrounded with plantations, which are arranged with vefy judicious taste. The village of Kiilyleagh consists of but one long street, which is yery tedious, as it stands on , a very steep hill ; the houses are well buih of 4 lithe and. stone, with a clean and neat exterior. This village is not remarkable for any trade, but on the las^ 3 o4 STATISTICAL SURVEY last Friday in each month a fair is held, principally attended by dealers in horses. From hence, as we approach the city of Armagh* the soil, though still limestone, yet changes to a purple hue; from Monaghan bounds to this vicinity it is of a whitish colour, more easily becomes cal- cined, and is of a much more calcareous quality than the reddish lime-stone. If its value in this respect is diminished, it i£ however considerably advanced in another instance, as it now approaches to a species of marble, and, the nearer we approach Armagh, this fossil appears of a beautiful and excellent quality, pid has a greater variety of shade and colour; the prevail- ing hue is of a reddish brown, and not unlike Egyp- tian marble in the dispersion of its small blots and patches ; the cross lines and dendrites are of a lively shade, and are strongly marked. Another species of marble found here is of a yellow ground, and the dendrites are of a deep red ; a third kind is of a dusky brown, but takes the finest polish, and is faint- ly streaked with white veins, which are. generally circular ; and a fourth species has a ruddy hue, streaked and spotted with both yellow and white ; the several kinds of this fossil, which are found in this county, are ranked under that description, which mineralogists call plum-pudding marble, from its resemblance to it in its patches. Many of the chimney- OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 305 chimney-pieces in Armagh, and indeed for several miles atound, are of this native marble, but few of them display the hand of a masterly artist. On the Blackwater river, which is the boundary of this county from that of Tyrone, stand two towns, which are both in this barony, viz. Charle- mont, and Blackwater-town. They are remarka- ble as to the pleasantness of their situation, but have no respectable trade. The former town is connected by the bridge with the Moy, which has both a post and fair, but it is situate in the county of Tyrone. Until the act of Union, Charlemont was a borough town, in the patronage of the Earl of Charlemont, and returned two members to par- liament; it is governed by a portrieve, and has also a military governor on the staff, with a barrack for three companies of foot. From this town the family of Caulfield take the title of Earl. The Blackwater river forms a very beautiful and grand feature along the boundary, flowing between spacious and fertile banks, which are partially co- vered with plantation. This fine water first comes in view near the town of Caledon, as we approach from Monaghan borders, and from the handsome bridge, which here crosses the river ; the pros- pect is from either side very interesting, whether we look to the highly improved demesne of Lord Caledon, which extends to the bridge, or down the ;c river io6 STATISTICAL SURVEY friver towards Armagh, where the country is so fertile and ornamented with capital inclosures ; the whole line of road from Glaslough to Caledon is very pleasing, comprising the finest views of Glas- lough and Oaledon demesnes. In this point of view, Caledon-house stands to great advantage, on a very elevated site, and exhibits a model of beautiful and modern architecture. All this country, which I have described, yields the finest wheat crops. The only town or village west of Armagh, and at about six miles distance, is Ready, where there is little else to recommehd it, in its present state, than a very good church. Its natural situation is favour- able, having a fine stream, the river Callen, inter- secting the town. On this water are numerous bleach-greens and mills, from hence to Armagh; this appearance of wealth and commerce is very en- gaging, and the busy scenes on these banks are' en- livened with many ornamental improvements. The bleach-greens of Messrs. Holmes are the most con- siderable in the district. The river Callen flows be- tween lofty banks, contiguous to the village of Ready, or rather in a deep and narrow glen ; in these banks are indications of several minerals, as lead-ore, manganese, and ochres. The Earl of Farnham is proprietor of the very rich lead mines, which 4 the late Earl worked exten- sively, OF Tilt COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 507 *vely, ae*t Keadgr, Samples of this ote are in the Dublin Society's museum. The Country iq*hjs vicinity, towards Monagban, is wild ntd rude, but reclaiming fast* Land, within thctee fifteen years past, has nearly doubled in value, $*4 is flow set at the average rate of sixteen sbtt- lit>gs per acre, though without limestone; it had be<eo, within the memory of the present age, almost all tn heath jaftd absolute waste. The icity of Armagh stands on very high ground, u» the m&dst of a .finely improved and beautiful country. The river Callen flows at the foot of the hill, just Mow the towp, on its passage to the JMackwMer river, into which it is discharged near Cktrlemont. The cathedral, which is on die summit of die hill, has * .commanding site, aid is a conspicuous object at a considerable distance. This edifice commands pur attention, whether we .consider its antiquity, or it* preeminence, as being the metropolitan church of Ireland. This church is said to have been originally built of willows, or wattles, like most of the primitive churches before the use of stone ^od mortar build- ing mas Jwown ; -from thence k was named Drum- srteeh, or, the church built of *wiHows ; or Ard- sattochj the high place of willows : but Ware says this name refers to the vicinity of the town, which X2 was jol STATISTICAL SUEVEY was crowded with willows growing on the banks of the river Callen.* Such was the state in which it was, when St. Patrick here fixed hit see, Anno 445, and was the first bishop. This hill, or rising ground, being granted to him by Daire, a chief of the adjacent tountty, he changed the name of die place to Ard- inagh, or the high place or plain. St. Patrick f founded the abbey for the regular order of Angus- tinian canons, Anno 457, which he dedicated to the apostles St. Peter and St. Paul, and which, for se- veral centuries, was the most celebrated school for theology in Christendom, and, during the mtddlfe ages, was not only much resorted to by the natires, but also by the Anglo-Saxons from Britain. There existed another good reason for this place having been chosen by Sf. Patrick for the founding of bis ifcetropolitan see ; as a royal residence is recorded to have stood in this neighbourhood, and also a famous * This part of the river was noted for being the spot, where King Nial was drowned, who was succeeded by Ma- iachi the first. f See Wart's account of the bishops of the see ; and see Jecelyo, the Lancashire monk, in his Life of Sc Pfetrick, chap. 165. " He placed his archbishop's see in the same M city, designing it for the primacy, metropolis, and mis- " tress of all Ireland." And chap. 166; " He built the * -" metropolitan church of Ardmagh for the good of souls, u and for the good of that city and the whole kingdom." OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 309 famous city, the capital of Ulster, which was called -Eamhaim, or Eamania, derived from tenth huim-ue, which signifies, the potent or noble city. h was said to have been founded by * Scotch prince, abore two centuries before Christ, and was sacked and burned by C&bre Liffochav, ^ chief of Con* naught, in the fourth century.* St. Patrick, after having remained for ten years in the primacy, resigned it to S*. Benignus, and lived, in private, to see it descend to three succes- sors, all of whom he nominated. He died on the I7tb of March, 492, and was buried in the county of Down* The reader who is curious to trace, bis successors* the bishops of Ardmagb, wilj find them recorded in Ware, with some curious historical annals, down to 1673, when Michael Boyle was in that year trans* lated tp ApcRggh ; and another list of the archbishops. of this see will be found in Beateon's Political Index* to the enthronement of Doctor Richard Robinson in 1765, who was afterwards Lord Rokeby, and, whose munificence to the see and town of Armagh will record his memory to the latest posterity. His . lordship's successor . was Doctor William, New* come, who was succeeded by hi* Qrace the present Primate, * Colgan says the nuns of this city were standing in hi* rime; Mr. O'Connor plates its balding 353 yean before Chritf* k 510 6TATIJTEAL MJltlflET Primate, the Honorable and Reverend Ikxrter WH. Kan Stuart, who numbered die hmdead arid Mb biriwp of Armagh. A monastery was built her* by SI. CAmrffe, Anno 610, which, with the town, was marly ogr- wuhed by fire, in the y*us 670 and *§7, and was frequently plundered by the Dane*, the inhabitants wasactfed, arid die books, teeonte, and treasure* carried off by those! freebooters, which has been an irreparable loss to the cml and eoeksiaatital tommy and antiquities of Ireland* In the year 1013, the bodSea *f King Brian Boromh, and his son Murchaid, with the heads of hia liapbew Conolng, add of Prifice fcfothtan Ma ally, who were slain at the battle of Ctontarf, neat Dtib, tin, were removed to the cathedral of Armagh froo* the monastery of 8words, where thay bad beta baried for five years. As thk mariajteh a*d hi* ft- Hiilv had been liberal benefactors to thii flee, tb*jr were interred with great pomp. The king htaaelf was buried in a stone coffin oh the riorth side of the church; and Mnrchaid, ftnd the heads of Conoiog, and Prince Mothlart, ori the south side. The archbishoprick of Armagh was not coratn tuted .till the year 1 1 43, wbeb at the same tfuae wtfe the 6thers of Dublin, Cashel, and Tuam, by Car- (Una! Papirio, wh<> w$$ seat tp Ireland by Pope OF THE. COUNTY QF ARMAGR 311 bjshopfl, abbots, and states of the kingdom, to re* fyrm the abuses, which had crept into the church discipline. This cathedral was often burned from intestine co,ipmoubns, and, on being rebuilt, was always en* larged, particularly by Patrick Scanlan, Anno 1262, who was then bishop. His successor, Nicholas Molessa, added several valuable gifts, bestowed his ♦manor qf Dromiskin to the see, and charged bis manor of Tlomonfeckin with twenty marks annually towards the enlargement of the edifice. The sqp of Armagh was valued in the king's, books, in an extent taken in the 30th of Henry VIII* at 183^ 17*. 5* % d. Irish money; but, by an extent returned in the 15th of James I,, it is valued at 400/. per a?num, and pays so much first fruits. It i& rated to be at present worth 8000/. per annum. The dignitaries are the Dean, Chanter, Chancek lor, Treasurer, and Archdeacon. Of the vicars, clyotal are two priests, one of whom was added by Primate Marsh, Anno 170^. In 1780, Primate Lindsay procured a charter to encrease the vicars choral to eight, and expended 4000/. in the pur-* ofrase of property to encrease the estate of the choir. There is also an organist attending on the cathedral service. The choir is reputed to be superior to any in Ireland, and its discipline is most particularly at- tMded to, The 311 STATISTICAL SURVEY The cathedral, in its present shape, represents tbt figure of a cross ; Atom the point of intersection a square tower is raised, from which branch off, at right angles, the four compartments of the catbe* dral. The elevation of the tower is well propor- tioned to the height of the roof,* and would be complete if a steeple was raised on it, which was intended, when the general repair was given to the cathedral by Primate Robinson; but, by the ob- stinacy of the architect, in opposition to the opinion of Lord Rokeby, the walls of the old tower were built on, which were afterwards found not equal to the support of a steeple, having failed in several places, which occasioned the finishing of the tower in its present form. Within the aisles of the cathedral are some monu- ments ; amongst the best executed is that of Doctor Drelincourt, who was dean of this see. An exten- sive burial-ground surrounds the oathedral, which is, enclosed with a very strong, though not a lofty wall} and through it is made a very neat gravel walk, approaching the cathedral from the several en- trances. The * This remark may appear erroneous, if this edifice is only viewed from the market-place en pattant % as it stands on a. very abrupt and bold hill, and, consequently) but a small part comes in view from the street, at its base, but front without the town i% is seen to great adfantage. OP THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. $13 The city of Armagh is indebted to the spirited and munificent liberality of Primate Robinson, who was the founder, or rather the donor, of all the ele- gant public buildings, which it is so justly celebrated for, and of the rebuilding and planning the very ca- pital streets, which adorn it, and make it very supe- rior to all the inland towns in Ireland ; and, by the care of Lord Rokeby, the permanency of his en- dowments was secured by several acts of Parlia* ment obtained for that purpose. From his Grace's example, encouragement, and assistance, and very much indeed at his private expence, this most an* cient city has been renovated into its present style of modern beauty, and its police is managed by wise and strict regulations. After having given a general repair, with some additions of ornament, to the cathedral, Lord Rokeby's love of literature was displayed in found* ing a library, which is a very handsome public building, and well designed for the purpose, which he filled with the most scarce and valuable store of books, of ancient and modern literature ; having be- stowed on it a property, as a perpetual ftmd, for the encrease of the books, the repairs of the house, and the salary of a librarian, for whom are assigned a suite of very elegant apartments within the building. The revenue for this establishment is now a perpe- tuity, and yields 300/. per annum. The 3?f STATISTICAL SURVEY . The observatory, which stands jqst without the town, is another edifice, of very elegant appearance, which owes its existf nee to his Grace's munificence. This he also endowed witfy a perpetual fund, which, with the lands annexed to it, is worth 400/. per annum to tlje resident astronomer, who has fine apartments, and a very elegant demesne. The ob» aervatovy stands on an elevated site, and is well for- nished with the most valuable and costly instru- ipeuts, which tbi* npb^e patron pf the sciences fur* qished at no less expence than 3000/. Immediately opposite this beautifuj building, and at the base of a hill, on which it stands, his Grace erected a, spacious and regular edifice for the en- dowed school of Armagh, which was laid down on, BO large a scale, as to acquire the distinguishing ap- pellation of the College of Armagh, which it has since retained. It may be proper to remark in this place, that even these extensive concerns were only a small part of what bis Lordship intended them to be ; his great design was, to erect a university in this city, which sboujd have been on the most extensive scale ; aad all his improvements and plans were in* tended as tributary to this grand scheme. It was a favourite object with this good primate, to enoou-* rage literature and the sciences, which this vast pro* ject would so amply provide for j but it was neces- sary to have the assistance of government in this respeot, OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. gij t aspect, tbeugh he iitteodbd, had they seconded his laedable view*, to have dedicated Ua owe ample fbrttfM towards hi auoean. Wbateve* were the ob- jettfofts of government to this great national benefit, / they did not immediately unite with Lerd Rokeby, gttbeogh they gave reason to expect, that the tine **ff flot retodte when they night support it. After * long interval, Lord Rokeby at last despaired of being able- to see his fevourhe dbject aooompHabed; bat, in order towards setting It afloat, he bequeathed by his will 5000/. for that purpose, provided ifce ftfan was adopted, and the first stone laid within fit* years after his decease. He conceived that, ft* bfe N left the matter to be adopted by the wisdom of thfe legislature, which he could not have the direction of When in their hands, it would be a national concern, ami wouW require but sma|l individual aid, which occasioned his limiting his bequest to 56001. Had bis project heeo adopted when be first proposed it to government, he would doubtless have bestowed oa }t the principal part of his fortune, as he was often heart! to declare. The benefit of this valuable le- gacy has not been embraced, and the limited time has elapsed, without any step having been taken ; t>f course it has reverted to the conditions of the Will; nor is there any probability that his Lordship* Ylews, for iht founding of this seminary, will ever fee adopted. The rjooney he expended cm the College 316 STATISTICAL SURVEY College of Armagh amounted to fall 400C&* whk which sum, aud the funds for that establishment, th$ present elegant building was raised ; and the late Rev. Doctor Grueber, who had long ably discharged the duties of principal, at this time, at an advanced age, resigned on a liberal compensation ; and, by the desire of Lord Rokeby, the Rev. Doctor Car- pendale, who had with great credit presided at the endowed school of Carrickmacross, was removed to this preceptorsfrip, nor could his Grace have made choice of a master more eminently qualified for the discbarge of this important trust, as the unanimous testimony of the gentletpen fully evince, who have been so fprtuuate as to receive their education under his careful superintendence. The origin of this establishment will be found ip the extracts from Harris's Hibernica, which are sub- joined in the appendix to this work ; but the school was not actually endowed till the reign of Charles I. 9 as appears from, the statutes. From the earliest accounts ,pf literature in Ireland it appears, that the city of Armagh was famous for learning; and church discipline was studied here with great exactness. It is said, so eminent was the College of Armagh for learned divines, that, in a synod, held in the abbey of Clane, in the county of Kildare, Anno 1162, which consisted of the arch- bishop of Armagh, twenty-six bishops, aqd pumerou* abbots, OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 317 abbots, it was decreed, under' a solemn act, that no student should be admitted a professor of theology in the national church, who had not a certificate of -his having duly graduated in the College of Armagh. And, in the Monasticon Hibernicum, it is copied from the Annals of Innisfallen, that " Hoderic " O'Conchobhair, king of Con naught, Anno 1169, " to advance learning in this university, granted to " the head master an additional annual pension of " ten oxen, and bound his successors to fulfil the " said grant, on condition that a public school " should be there kept open for all scholars from " every part of Ireland and Scotland." In Sir James Ware's Antiquities of Ireland, he quotes, ou the statement of Florence M'Carthy, that the num« x ber of students at one time exceeded seven thousand. The instances, which I have mentioned, of Lord Rokeby's regard for the prosperity of Ar- * magb were gratefully felt by the inhabitants, and •called forth their public spirit in an eminent degree. New streets were built, and all the offensive obsta- cles to improvement, for which this city had been ^almost proverbially notorious, were removed; a strict observance of the police, and laws of the cor- poration, was enforced ; the streets paved and •flagged ; lamps were erected, and the best houses •were adorned with iron railing in front. An elegant tsessions-house was built at this time ; and also a very handsome 5 il ffTATIfnCAL 8URVBT handsome edifice for public assemblies, the profit of which vrenc to be applied to eharitabld purposes. U this latter building die faU-rooat h mmty feet by thirty, with card aad supper room* on a large seaJe, and die kitchens and servants' apartments are fetfc. ably bid out. TUs buildiog is not yet completed; I understand it has remained these some yaar* part; m its present state. Lord Rokeby's purse was always ready to contri- bute to these laudable improvements, which were carried on under his sole direction, and provfed Us correct taste and jadgattnt for all public works. A very complete shambles, which ace weH en- closed, and elegantly constructed, were erected by hw>, and at bis sole ex pence ; and ha set on foot the important work of supplying the town with pipe-water, which was not completed tUl after his death. Lord Viscount Cremome, who has a very fine property in thia vicinity, handed over to the corpo- ration the sum of 1000/. for the forwarding <rf this public work, which was by subscription lately completed. Pumps, at proper distances, aae erected through the streets for public use. The barracks are of modern date, and are a very handsome buildiog, well designed, covering an ex- tensive area, which is well eaehsod, and stands on a OF THE COUNTY' OP ARMAGH, y*j fine open eminence, fully commanding tW cotintj gaol, which is contiguous." The gaol is also a Stoderft and complete building, standing on a plain, with every advantage of good air, and proper aooomtnodatiou3 for the prisoners ; it is adnlrably planned, as to strength ahd security. I mu*- here remark that, in every Approach to this capital town, the grand appearance of public buildings, and the numerous improved demesnes in the environs, convey to the stranger the most res- pectable ideas of this district, which are by no means lessened as he enters the City, the streets being principally rebuilt on a regular elevation, and the houses neatly slated, almost all of them having mar- ble window stools, door cases, and parapets or eve courses. Indeed, fn point of convenience of build- ing materials, Armagh is very, happily circumstanc- ed, and is remarkably well situated, contiguous to the ports of Newry and Dundalk, for such neces- saries of supply, 1 which we cannot command at home. The market place is triangular, and is on the declivity of the hill, on which the cathedral stands; at the base, are the ruins of a market house, which was bqgun by Primate Bolton, but I do not learn that it was ever completely finished. The best front faced the cathedral, and between these two build- ings JIO STATISTICAL SURVEY tees is the antique mutilated market-crott, of which an engraving i* annexed* OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. $%i . It appears that the top of the cross has been da- maged ; the symbolic subject is Christ's crucifixion between the thieves in old basso-rilievo ; the others are so much obliterated, that I leave their solution to more expert antiquarians ; they appear rather a , kind of rude ornamental fret-work, than any distinct characters. The trade of Armagh is principally engaged in the linen manufacture, the market for which is held on Tuesdays, and it is averaged that 7000/. are weekly expended for webs in this market. In so extensive and wejl appointed a town, it is unnecessary to mention that every necesftary and useful branch of manufacture, the woollen trade only excepted, is more or less engaged in, suffici- ent for the supply of its inhabitants and the coun- try around ; but though severally respectable, they are not of any particular note, nor have extensive capitals engaged in them. The present primate intends to present the town with an elegant market-house at his own expence, and as, in point of situation, the county court-house is deemed very inconvenient, and an estimate of a new and grand edifice, to the amount of 60Q0L for this purpose, is now before the grand jury, his Grace intends the site of the present building for that of the market-house, which is certainly the y beft 322 STATISTICAL SURVEY best place it could be erected on, from its centraT situation and contiguity to the market-place ; th$ ruins of the present market-house are indeed a dis- grace to the town, and ill correspond with any of its public buildings. His Grace also intends to promote, as much as possible, the sale of wheat in this market, which it is strangely deficient in, as the principal part of this grain, which is raised in the vicinity, is sold in Portadown market; A very fine mall, or terrace, has been lately enclosed with a dwarf wall, dyke, and iron gates, within* which is a neat gravel walk, encompassing & lawn, for the enclosing of which Lord Roke- by procured an act of parliament, and it is but lately finished. This work was completed by sub- scription, which will be returned, as the rent pro- duced from the lawn in some years will repay both principal and interest, after which the property of the land is vested in the sovereign and corpora- tion of Armagh, by which the town is governed; it is but justice to this body to remark, that by their attention the police of this city is well re- gulated, nor is the eye disgusted, nor the passen- ger annoyed with any of those nuisances, which too frequently disgrace many of die most respectable towns in Ireland. Having faintly traced the princely munificence, the splendid liberality, and elegant taste of Lord Rokebv OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 32 3 Itokeby in the city, we see in the adjoining de- mesne of the primate a most magnificent palace, which he built for the residence of the archbishops of this see, and on this site he erected a very grand chapel for the use of the primate's family, suitable to so princely a residence* His Lordship also ornamented and planted the demesne in the highest modern style, which the present primate has now occupied with the most improved systems of husbandry ; indeed his Grace's farm-yard implements of husbandry, and mode of culture, afford a bright example to the gentry, of what their valuable demesnes could yield under judicious management. In the primate's demesne a very elegant obelisk was erected by Lord Rokeby, in compliment to the late Duke of Northumberland, his Lordship's friend and patron, on which is engraved a suitable inscrip- tion : this pillar is very ornamental, and cost above 1000/. In the unlimited extension of Lord Rokeby's views, which were suitable to his generosity, his Grace had contemplated the pulling down the pre- sent cathedral*, and erecting a very fine one at his y 2 own * His Grace the present primate intends to build a chapel of ease to the cathedral in the vicinity of Armagh, contiguous 3H STATISTICAL SURVEY own expence, when the old work of the towef proved too decayed to support a steeple and belfry, and, had he lived, he would doubtless have accom- plished it. If any public work had not a fund suffi- cient for its completion, after a subscription had been taken, to which his Lordship was always a liberal donor, he lent the remainder of the required sum, fof which he would never receive any interest. There is scarcely a precedent' of such a magni- ficent fortune having been expended, during the life of the proprietor, on the improvement of his own estate for the benefit of his fceirs ; how emi- nently luminous then was the generous spirit of Lord Itokeby, who bestowed all these advantages and solid gifts to the public, fiotn which his family could never derive any revenue? I do not pre- sume to say, that a life of celibacy should be one of the necessary qualifications for a public employment of great emolument ; for without a liberal spirit it will avail but little ; but happy it is for the nation, when such trusts are honored in the care of so res- plendent a generosity and correct taste, as the late Lord Itokeby possessed, and it is fortunate for the public, that those eminent virtues were not restrained in contiguous to the barracks and school, which is very requi- site, as the cathedral is quite too small for the large and e increasing congregation of this city. OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. p$ in his Lordship by a matrimonial connection*. Had bis Grace a wife or children, such a distribution of bis fortune would have heen an unjust and unwar- rantable sacrifice. The virtues of this great man $re too well re- corded to require panegyric. My readers will doubtless expect to learn, that a kind acknow- ledgment of his eminent qualifications and liberality has been paid in the erection of a splendid naonu- ment to his memor}*, and in these pages to ses popied an epitaph suitable to his love of litera- ture, displaying the grateful feelings of a natiou for the general good they derive frqm bis liberality ; pf the opulent city of Armagh for the local benefits she enjoys from his bounty ; or of his Lordship's sue* pessors, to whom he bequeathed such an ample forr tune ; but sorry I am to say, that no such affection ate memorial is in existence. Although Lord Rokeby's virtues will aot be for- gotten, when the frail monuments of human inge- nuity have mouldered into dust, yet so long as this dutiful tribute, this just debt is unpaid, the Strong contrast of his Grace's liberality will add sbanxe <lThat his Grace was not an advocate for a life of cell- kacy is certain, but a disappointment in an attachment ha4 in eady life fixed his resolution of remaining tingle. iii STATISTICAL SURVEV shame to the reproach, and confirm this disgrace either in a particular or in a general view. Respecting this ancient see of Armagh, it is in- deed a matter of surprize there are no public re-^ cords. A few books or papers were purchased or procured from his friends by Lord Rokeby, which he bequeathed in such a manner, that they are not easily accessible, being left to the governors of the library in trust, the archbishop for the time being having power to take away any of them, provided he gives a receipt binding upon him and his exe- cutors: and in his will he adds these remarkable words : ** fifj/ intention is, that the librarian, and x< the governors of the library, shall be excluded from u the examination of these vianuscripts, and that xi the trust shall extend no further than to the means " of their preservation" The antiquarian must therefore arrest his curio- sity ; it would be highly improper, if not imperti- nent, lo wish to make public their contents, when a man oF such superior understanding had reason to confide them to but one person in existence, and which doubtless he had every right to dispose of as he thought proper, they having having been his private property. As the cause of this extraordi- nary concealment cannot be explained, it would be unjust, and ungenerous in the extreme to the memory of his Grace, were we to impute it to any illiberal OV THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH, jt? Illiberal motive, as to so base a principle his whole conduct through life was a direct contradiction. The city of Armagh sent two members to par- liament before the union, it now returns but one; the primate has the patronage of the borough. The county infirmary is within tlia town, and is rery punctually attended to ; besides the regular county charge, it is maintained by very liberal sub- scriptions and some annual bequests. A • charter school was founded in Armagh anno 175$, to which the primate and corporation of Armagh gave twenty acres of land for ever, rent free, for the site and accommodation of the house. The first endowment of this charity was a gilt of 40/. per annum, being a rent charge from Mrs. Dtelincourt, widow of the dean of the see; it is now a noblo institution, and the most eatenaive of any of the kind in Ireland. In the vicinity of Armagh are the neat demesnes of New Holland, the seat of Mr. Holmes; Anne* •vifle, of Mr. David Bleakly; Rosebrook, of Mr. M<Cartney ; TuUamare, of Mr. John Hickey ; Nap- pa, of Mr. Johnston; and Elm-Park # where the Kev. Mr. Close resides, the rector of the parish of Kcady. Mr. Joshua M'Gougb, Mr. Sgott, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Graham, and Mr. William Hardy, have also small demesnes in this neighbourhood. Ssqt. 328 STATISTICAL SURVEY Sect. 2. Barony of Turetwy. This barony is but a narrow oblong strip, on the western quarter, which has very little to recom- mend it to particular notice; the culture is that already described common to the county, the soil is rich, and the farms are tolerably well divided. The southern extremity of this barony is mountain- ous and wild ; from Armagh towards Tynan, a small town in this barony, there is a good limestone soil. This town, which is situated on an eminence, is - inconsiderable as to the number or neatness of its houses, but it has an excellent church with a hand* some steeple ; without the churchyard is a relick < of antiquity, an oblong stone of about eighteen inches square and four feet long, set up on a large block stone, and capped with another, which is . square, having its faces concaved, and this crowned with a smaller stone, •I copld not discover any characters on this re- lick ; the oblong stone is divided into square com- v partments, and had the vestige of some sculpture, ' probably a cross had formerly crowned it ; it is how- ever certain, that it h*s been mutilated. The OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 3*9 The ruins of an antique castle are situate about one mile from this town. In this vicinity, are the neat improvements of Bally nametagh, the seat of Mr. Burgess; of Fairview, Captain Waring; of Mount Irvine, Mr. Irvine ; and also the very elegant demesne of the Rev. Mr. Quia, the rector of the pa- rish of Tynan. The country from Tynan to Keady is now great- ly improved, though but a few years ago the' greater part of it near Keady was an actual heath. 'In the vicinity of Tynan in this direction, for three miles, the farms are divided and well fenced, and the farm-houses comfortable with numerous orchards ; but, approaching into the Fews, it is bleak and worse cultivated ; the lands are however in a progressive state of amendment ; liming has been steadily gain- ing repute, and revigorates the soil surprisingly; this valuable manure is not to be found immediately in this part of the district. On the road from Tynan to Keady, is the neat church of Madden, and the elegant parsonage of the rector, Mr. Staples. . Th£ village of Middleton is much larger than Tynan, though of but a wretched appearance. The property in this town and thirteen town-lands were bequeathed by bishop Sterne, who had been tran- slated from the see of Dromore to that of Clogher, and the income was appropriated for charitable pur* poses, • 05* .: STATISTICAL SURVEY poses, of which the Lord Primate, the bishop of Ciogber, aqd the rector of Tynan, are governors all for the time being.* In this populous village is but one slated house ; but just beyond the lake, which flows up to the village, a neat church, and 9. molt excellent parsonage* have been lately built, where the Rev. Mr. Mee resides. This district is well supplied with turf fuel, and the chain of lakes, which bound the couuty here, flow into Glaslough lake, in the county of Monaghan. In this neighbourhood, are some plantations made by Mr. Cross, and Mr. Evans, on their farms. The lands on one side of Middlcton are low, flat, and marshy ; those on the other are hilly, and to- -lerably good, I suppose the whole district from , Tynan to Keadyand thence to Middleton, with a pretty extensive tract of country towards the Fews .mountains, thence to Glaslough borders, would ave- rage about 16 J. the statute acre, but this district, excepting the absolute mountains, is the least va- luable part of the county of Armagh. Sect, * The author could not learn the particulars of the cha- *tffy as the act of pat 1 iament, under which it was established, . *M a private act, and was never printed j it may perhaps V obtained against the next edition of this work. OF TBS COUNTY OP ARMAGH. sit Sect. 3. Baronies of Upper and Lower Fews. This district lies immediately south of the city of Armagh, and is approached from thence through the village of HamUtonVbawn, the road to which is hilly and gradually ascending ; about micUway is the small hike or bason, from which the town of Armagh is supplied with pipe-water* and, though apparently low in point of situation, yet it actually franges with the top of the tower of the cathedral. Near this lake, a search was made some yem ago for minerals by a gentleman, who was very sanguine in his hopes of success ; Some lead one waft found, and presently after the miners came eh a coal smut, a good deal of which they raised, bat no vein of coals was discovered; ibis stuff now lies near the road side, and would be excellent for repairing the road, which here so materially require* it; this gentleman expended a considerable sum of money in his speculations, but has not yet reaped any success. Hamilton Vbawn is a good sized and well btiik village, about three miles from Armagh ; on the hill above the town are the ruins of a castle, which ap- pear of great antiquity, and to the eye of an ob- serve* jjs STATISTICAL SURVEY server it must seem almost incredible, that this mu- tilated and decayed building was, but a few years ago, an established and regularly garrisoned bar- rack, i From hence to Market-hill the road is also very bad, and the country, though entirely cultivated and populous, is yet very inferior to the lands north of Armagh, which have a fine lime-stone, hut in this direction there is not a particle of it. Market-hill is a thriving town, the property of JLord Viscount Gosford ; a neat sessions4iouse and several other good houses have been lately built; this town is the principal stage between Armagh mod Newry, and here is a good inn. Lord Gosford's family mapsion of Gasford-casde just adjoins the town ; the improvements are rather i iv tie ok) style, but the demesne is in good order, cntloted with a strong wall, and a full grown screen, in which is some very fine timber. Near this towo is DraperVhill, which Dean Swift gave name to and celebrated in his writings; he also mentions. HamiltonVbawn in his letters. From Market-hill to Newjy, by Portnorris, the country is good, but very bleak ; the turnpike road i? a disgrace to the county, and, approaching towards "Newry, the soil becomes poor and barren. The county roads in the vicinity of Sir Walter Synnott'sj and Mr. Reed's, of Ballympier, are in good OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 33$ good repair, and these gentlemen's improvements have quite altered the face of this country. In this vicinity the soil is good, and very im- proveable with lime ; the large haggards shew more extensive farming, and, of course, there is less of manufacture. The principal grain raised is oats ; more cattle are grazed here, than in other parts of the county ; however the main pursuit is tillage ra- ther than pasturage. Of the soil and nature of the Fews mountains I have already spoken in the sixth section of the first chapter, under the head of mountains, and the principal management here is the rearing of young cattle. In this district Newtown-Hamilton is situ- ated, between the towns of Newry and Castleblaney, and is a wretched stage. There yet exist, about three or four miles from this village, the ruins of a barrack at a sorry village called JohnstonVfews, which was erected to awe the bands of robbers, who infested this country above a century past ; and at this place, there is a tradition, that a famous battle was fought between one of the chieftains of Louth, and O'Neil, a chief of Ulster, who was slain here with many of his people ; some antiquarians have mentioned, that this chieftain was also called Black- beard, and some liberties were taken with him, at a feast given on this spot, by the Louth chieftain, who attempted to $inge his beard, which was the grounds 354 STATISTICAL SURVEY grounds of the quarrel that was immediately decided with the loss of so many lives. Near to this place are yet to be teen the lines of circumvallation of an encampment, above a mile and a half in circumference, where it is said the Irish army had hemmed in a large detachment of Cromwell's forces, and besieged them during an entire winter. This noted place is called Clogb-^- meather. The ruins of Black-bank castle are now standing about two miles from Newtown-Hamilton. A cluirter-school was established in the parish of Creggan in this barony ; for particulars of which) see chapter 1, section 4, ecclesiastical division, Creggan. The mean village of Balcek lies about mid-way between Newtown-Hamilton and Newry, and near to it is some indication of a slate quarry* The whole line from Newry to Castleblaney is a great thoroughfare, on which is brought the whole trade of Cavan and Monaghan counties for the Newry market, but it is always iu the most wretched state ; the distance between these towns is but se- venteen miles, and, though so short is the distance, it is jet a good journey to accomplish it in one day ; the traveller must not only risque the failure of the best ap|x>imed chaise and horses, but must also run no small danger of having his bones broken in the attempt. The OF THE COUNTY OP ARMAGH. 335 The demesnes in these baronies, which have not been before mentioned, are, Hockley, the seat of Mr. Shields ; Cullaville, of Mr. O'Callaghau ; Cross- maglin, of Mr. Ball ; Carritt, of Mr. M'Can ; Eliza- hill, of Mr. John Grier ; Derrycheehan, of Mr* Andrew Trew ; and Coronare, of Mr. Robert Ha- milton. The small village of Mohan is on the northern bounds of this barony ; those of Cullaville and Crossmaglin on the southern bounds, near Car- rickmacross ; near the latter of these two villages is a smaU lake of the same name. Sect. 4. Baronies of East and West (XNciland. The extent of this district includes almost the entire of the northern part of the county, and ap- proaches to within a very small distance of the city of Armagh. The more distant part has little or no limestone, but the nearer has a fine soil of this quality. There can scarcely be said to be any indifferent land in the whole district, and the greater part is a fine country, which cannot be ex- celled in Ireland for the purposes either of pasturage or tillage. The soil of the northern division is rich, deep, and loamy ; though not limestone, yet it is not ' » wholly S3« STATISTICAL SURVEY wholly without this fossil, as on the manor of Brown- low-derry, the estate of William Bro^nlow, Esq. there is a limestone quarry, which however no advantage is derived from, on account of its situ- ation in low ground, which is generally overflowed, and has a very great bearing of bank to be re- moved on the surface, before the quarry can be touched. The surface here is more inclined to be flat than hilly, and is rather, in this instance, a com- plete contrast to all other parts of Ulster, which I have seen ; it is watered by several streams, which fall into Lough-Neagh. A review of the manor of Brownlow-derry will give a pretty clear idea of their management in this division. This manor, which is the estate of William Brown-* low, Esq. is all leased in so small divisions, as to average less than five acres, and a great number so low as three ; all the farms are leased for three lives; excepting in the town of Lurgan, there is not a perpetuity on the whole. The fields are well proportioned in size to the small plot of each farmer, and are neatly inclosed with quickset white-thorn fences. Lime is the principal manure, and tins process is well performed, though expensive, as the carri- age is distant and tedious; grass land is always broken up with a potatoe crop, and generally the surface is limed two years before ploughing ; fiax and OF THE COUNTY QF ARMAGH. 3^7 aud oats in succession ; barley is taken after a potatoe fallow, with a light sprinkling of manure;; the land is then left in pasture, in the furrows left by the plough. ThesoiMs^jJ^roughout this^ divi- sion favourable to wheat, and the culture of this grain is very much encouraged, but they never fal- low for wheat here, though within a mile or two of this district, in the counties of Down and An- trim, I have seen wheat fallows, but I understand it is rarely done so; great crops of this grain are raised through all this country mostly after po- tatoes, and the seed is trenched in. The propor- tion of tillage to pasture is full as four to five; little else but bottom meadow; they prepare the soil for wheat crops with great attention, and pickle their seed with lime, salt, and chamber-lie ; they generally expect to reap one cwt. of wheat, for every fourteen lbs. which they sow ; a liberal manuring of lime revigorates this soil in so much, that they reap six or seven corn crops without any intermission ; indeed it only requires to be seen, to convince any farmer that it can be depended on for any purpose in husbandry. I bav.e, been well informed, that it is not unusual for an English acre to yield 350 cwt. of potatoes or 30 of oats, after being well limed. No oxen are employed here in draught. Horses plough with collars, and for the purposes of husbandry there are not more than five horses to z every Jj8 STATISTICAL SURVTEY every sixty of seventy acre* ; the stock father sought here afe milch cows ; nofarrtet is without one, and several have two or three siitee the culture of cldver 4>as been more in use. The young cattle are sent tb mountain farms to be reared, and are sold afterwards, principally of late years, to jobbers who purchase for Scotch markets ; this trade is carried on tb a great degree, and is certainly no small encouragement for the rearing of stock, as it has assuredly been the prin- cipal cause of the immense rise on black cattle; so great have been the profits of the jobbers in this trade, that they now speculate in ail kinds of live stock, and export sheep, young horses, pig*, and even poultry. « - This soil being so favourable to dairy husbandry, and the farmers fond of appropriating all the land they can spare to this ptirsuit, there is, of course, a considerable quantity of butter produced, which there is a good demand fot in Lurgan, and a great Quantity is purchased for Belfast market and sent there by Lough Nfeagh. The houses in this dis- 'trict ate comfortable and neat, the walls kept white- *aA^ed, and the gardens adjoining prettily dressed ; the barn and cow-house are in general annexed to tech dwelling, and an orchard affords shelter and ornament to the whole. The fuel here is turf, which is more abundant than in most other parts of OF THE CQXJtttt OF ARMAGH. 539 of the county ; yet it is not cheap, but yields large sums to the occupying proprietors. I have already noticed one tenant on Mr. Brownlow's estate, who realizes above 1000/* per annum on turf bog only. The parts of bog, which are cut out, lie extremely well for draining, and. could easily be converted to fine meadow land; on the whole, th6 lands are in good heart, the population is. immense, the houses neat and comfortable, fuel convenient) markets excel- lent, corn-mills well supplied with water, and the roads in general here, and in Armagh barony, the best in the county. The town of Lurgan, which has also been called Little England, though I could not learn the reason, or discover the analogy, except its being remarkable for cleanliness, is composed of one principal very long and wide street, which is in one place, near the church, greatly disfigured with a number of very old miserable houses, which are strangely built in its centre, and quite spoil the effect it would otherwise have. Here is an excellent house, which if any, is the only building that should be suffered in the centre of a street; the entrances to this build- ing have been ornamented with iron gates, and in the apartment overhead the sessions have hitherto been held, but a very neat court-house and bride- well have been newly built, and are now nearly finished. ' z 2 Many J4P STATISTICAL SURVEY Many of the houses in this town are covered with shingles, and it is surprising to see this mode adopt- ed, even in some handsome modern houses. The church is very spacious and well built, and ornamented with a very elegant spire, and an ex- cellent organ. A poor school is supported by an annual charity sermon and liberal subscription, in which seldom less than 200 children are educated. This town is situate in the parish of Shankhill; Hie Rev. Mr. Waring, the rector, resides on his ^estate in the adjoining county of Down ; this gen- tleman receives his tithes by a modus of lOrf. per acre, for which he agreed with his parishioners; the tax is chearfully paid, and so it should, being extremely moderate. - The trade of Lurgan consists wholly in articles of the linen and muslin manufacture, principally eanobricks, lawns, diapers, and diaper damasks, in which it will average from 2,500/. to 3000/. weekly .sales. Spinners for these fine articles draw their yarn to twenty or thirty dozen, of which lawns and cambricks are made, and these webs sell brown at from twelve to fourteen shillings per yarcT; fine diapers for table linen are also manufactured in this vicinity; but in this kind, the yarn is always the property of the merchant, who gives it out to the weaver on task work ; this man will earn nearly double wages with any other description of weaver, Tbrrc OF THE CQWTY QF ARMAGH. $41 There is some decrease of the linen trade to be attributed to the weavers having lately become fondet of working cottons in the muslin branch, as they have better wages, but perhaps the truer cause of. the decline from any other period is the flimsiness of the materials, which are by no means equal to theui former quality. The merchants have ineffectually strove to counteract this falling off, through a want of unanimity, and they must now be content, if the^ warp alone is of good yarn, which is not .always the case; we may also justly attribute, in sptpo degree, this decline to the bad character, which our manufacture acquired by the many packages, .whicU were returned from America, in consequeqee of the late distructive alteration in the bleaching pro- cess; and it must be also remarked,, that the ex- traordinary rise on labour, since the years of scar- city, have tended in no small degree to depreciate the trade, and must have the like effect probably for a great while to come. . . I have chosen this section for the remarks on, and causes of, the decline of the manufacture, because it is in this part of the county that the injury has been most material, and that fine goods com* pose the principal stock ; in places, which are more engaged in the coarse manufacture, the effects have been less severe, and the stagnation but tempo- rary. Mr. 54* sTati$ti6ai, survey Mr. Brownlow is endeavouring to establish a Wheat market in Lurgan, which bids fair for sac- cess, from his encouragement of allowing it toD- ftee, and the great quantities of this grain which are raised in the vicinity; it nrrost only require buyer* tb establish a market. Throughout the environs of Lnrgan labour is high, even in the winter season ; in stammer they pay «r- teen pence per day, and sometimes so high as two shillings and two pence ; but, on the average of the 3>ear, nearly double profits accrue from the loom, on which account almost every labourer has a know- ledge of weaving ; vt*ry few labourers are employed by the year in the field, except in Mr. BrownJow's demesne, where those, who hate constant employ- ment, receive ten pence in winter, and thirteen pence in summer. In this division there ts no timber for sale; ex- cepting for implements of husbandry, foreign tim- ber is more generally used, tfid is brought down the lake from Belfast ; this navigation is of the first Importance to this town. Banfoot-ferry is just at the mouth of the river filackwater, where it is discharged into the lake ; the country in this direction is low, fiat, and marshy; the distance between the mouths of the Ban and Blackwater rivers is-but trifling, they are both com- prised in one view from the lake. ^Mr. OF THE COUNTY OP ARMAGH. **$ Mr. BrownfowV demesne, which consists of 300 acres, adjoins the town of Lurgan, afifi is very well improved, and inclosed with a capital stone nail ; tlie mansion is a very antique castle, and has received many additions since the original watts were built, as meotwned in the Appetidifc. The demesne, though very beautiful, yet cofteftpond* with die antiquity of the castle, im, the many inclosaras into which it is divided, and is highly ornamented with a fine sheet of water, which is covered wkh •wans, eape-geeae, wild ducks, and a beautiful v*+ riety of water-fowl ; asouad this lake i& a pfoasapt aftd neat gravel walk, decorated with elegant plan- tations, and always open for the recreation of the townsfolk. The parks are well stocked with d^er, and nutmbas ..hares sport through every part of the demesne. Mr. Brownlow has set % very loadable example, ia introducing the improve ad aysteqi of husbandry. Fhafve not aten a finer field of turnips than has been sows hore in dritffe aod they were eatmmty well hold, Mr* Bwwnlow ia also provided with a Scotch plough, drill Jbfurrow^ harrows, and several approved implements ; bis im- ported breed of Berkshire pigs are tmcomnKaJy fine, and will be a real* service to the county ; a Leices- tershire rain and some elegant ewes have been lately added to his stock, and also a hull and some hei- fers frond Scotland, wr a great etfpence. I must }4f STATISTICAL SURVBY . I must hero acknowledge this gentleman's very polite acquiescence in contributing to furnish the Dublin Society's museum with a valuable assort- ment of the natural curiosities . of Lough Neagh, which be bad collected. The neighbourhood of Lurgan is well supplied with corn mills, and near Angha)ee church, which is at four miles distance, a flour mill has been erected. - The country from hence to Portadown is in high population and improvement ; . the entrance into this town from Lurgan gives a respectable idea of its wealth and the value of its local situation. The Ban navigation to Lough-Neagb rtosses the road ; the ware-bouses on die banks of this riuer, and the numerous barges, display a considerable trade,* with which the large brick houses and well assorted shops fully correspond. This town is on the estate of — Obens, Esq. ; a corn trade is very well en- couraged here, and Mr. Phelps is the proprietor of an extensive porter brewery. From hence to Rich-hill the county is no less po- pulous, and the lands are in great improvement ; die people shew every appearance of ease and wealth ; an instance may be observed of tbeir superior en- joyment of the necessaries, if not the comforts, of life in the numerous grocers shops in this whole district; within every mile on all the roads in this country we meet with two Qr three of them ; per, baps OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 345 baps no county in Ireland is better supplied with market towns than Armagh, and yet in'every neigh- bourhood are those depots of the small luxuries of the people ; a sure proof of the superior wealth, and, let me add, of the civilisation of the inhabitants. The features of the. country, in this district near Rich-hill, now change to an undulating surface, and the open champaign view is quite obscured. The town of Rich-bill, which is on the estate of William Richardson, Esq. is not extensive; its importance consists in its linen market, whose weekly sales will average 1500/. and here is a very excellent market* house. The appearance of the town is interesting, which is considerably eocreased by the elegant de- mesne of Mr. Richardson, whose residence is in full view from the street. This castle is also an- tique, and seems to have been built about the same time as that of l^urgan ; indeed the mansions of the principal gentry of Armagh appear to be all of the same date. This demesne is well enclosed, and the soil is really excellent, with a good stock of full grown timber, and some very fine young plantations. The town of Rich-bill is situated on high ground, and is four miles N. E. of Armagh. From hence, a closely improved country mostly in demesne, and charmingly wooded, is now within our view ; the church of KUmore stands to great advantage, and has 546 STATISTICAL BUKVZr has a fine and striking: dfcct, near to winch is the seat of Mr. Joseph Atkinson. The demesne of Castle-Dillon, the seat of Sir Capel Molyneux, Bart, is within one mile of Rtch- bill ; the lands are very fine, a*d the improvements modernised with much taste. The boose is skaated low, and very old fashioned, but the oftees are modern, agi well built* The demesne, which is walled in, is highly orne- sncnted with forest trees, and has a handsome sheet of water overflowing a low marsh, which is exten- sive, skirting die base of a hill cohered wkfch young plantation, and on the opposite side of the approach is contrasted with a wood of fuW- grovn oak or ash. . The approaches are extremely well planned, and all persons are permitted to pass through the de- mesne, which shortens the road fistt one mile and a half. The late Sir Capel Molyneux erected an obelisk, just adjoining the demesne, to commemorate the services of the volunteers of Ireland ; being situated on very elevated ground, it is now a noted land- mark. This pillar is sixty feet high, and the base twelve feet square. On a black slab in front is the following inscription : " This Obelisk was erected by the Right Hen. c « Sir Capel Molyneux, of Castle Dillon, Bart, in « tbc OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 547 " the year 1782, to coaaipemorate the glorious " revolution, trbich took place in favour of the con- " stftution of the kingdom, under the auspices of " the volunteers of Ireland." This *a«oe gentleman, whose patriotism was so well known, erected another obelisk, to commemo- rate the establishment of the order of the Knights of St. Patrick in Irelaad. The roads are very excellent, the enclosures ekK gaat, «ad the country in the highest state of fer- tilisation from hence to Loughgall village, in which a fine new church has been lately built. The in- cumbent, the Rev. Mr. Bissett, resides in an elegant parsonage ju#t adjoining. The higher part of this village is the most modern, and is very superior to the low ground. The demesne of Dmmmilly , the seat of Colonel Cope, overlooks LoughgaU ; and the antique long avenues, of fine timber, extend to the lake, which skirts the village. The mansion of Drammilly consists of three lofty square towers, connected by two retiring faces in a right line, and has a claiBsy and antique appearance. The modern improvements are at the rere of the demesne, and the bog is shut out by an extensile belt of plantation, which will form a very fine fcreen, and have a grand effect, after a short time. A very active and attentive spirit of improvement is visible 34 8 STATISTICAL SURVEY risible in this demesne, which enjoys no snail capa- bilities. The other demesnes in this division are, Wawkin- shaw's Grove, the seat of Mr. M'Craigbt ; Churcb- hill, of Mr. Verner ; Harrybrook, of Mr. Harden ; Clantelew, of Mr. ObrS; Summer island, of Mr, O'Donnel; Drummast, of Mr. James Hardy; Mahon, of Miss Workman ; Fairlawn, of Mr. Law- sea; Cirrick, of the Rev. Dean Blacker; Knocka- muckl v, of Mr. Jobn Fivey ; Lilo, of Mr* Robinson ; Silver- wood, of Colonel Cuppaidge; Springfield, of Mr. Waddell ; and Waringstown, of Mr. Ma- gennis. In several of these demesnes a very rapid progress is getting forward in improvements, particularly in plantation. In this respect there appears a spirited emulation amongst the gentry. From Lougbgall to the city of Armagh, the coun- try is in the highest state of improvement ; the soil is a rich limestone, and this district abounds with numerous quarries of this valuable fossil. I should hare mentioned the village of Maghery, in the nor- thern division, situate near Lougb-Neagh ; it is only remarkable for a good fair of horses and young cat- tle ; the most noted is held on the 24th of June. Sect. OF THE COUNTY, OF ARMAGH. 349 Sect. 5. Baronies of Upper and Lower Orior; including some curious and interesting particulars of the Lordship of Newry. In* this extensive district, which comprizes nearly a third of the county, the surface is hilly and moun- tainous, intersected with numerous streams, which principally are discharged from small lakes into the Newry river, and whose waters are constant supplies for several bleach and corn mills. The soil of this district is rather light, and not limestone, yet brisk and tilly, yielding excellent crops from the application of lime. The town-parks in the vicinity of Newry, which have been reclaimed from being some of the worst land in the county, will now frequently produce five tons of hay from a plantation acre, a proof of the capability of the soil, if judiciously cultivated. The natural stone of the county is grit and free- stone, and is found of different qualities, of the ex- tremes of hard and soft stone, both in rocks, partial quarries, and loose boulders ; and this approaches at length to a complete granite in the highest grounds. The patches of bog are numerous, and are capable of being levelled and drained, as the falls are very good. $50 STATISTICAL SURVEY good. The mountains, which cover a considerable tract towards the southward, are capable of improve- ment by liming ; yet this manure is at a great di* stance, which seem* to be a material obstacle to their reclamation. Notwithstanding this disadvantage, Jjllage gradually creeps up their sides ; and there are few places that are not accessible to young cattle, and yield a wholesome, though coarse herbage. On a general average, perhaps three-fourths of the culture of grain are in favour of oats ; the re- maining quarter is occupied with barley and wheat crops ; of the former grain ten parts to one in ex- tent of acres, and, indeed, generally in quality also. Limestone is carried from eight or ten miles di- stance, at the cost of four shillings per ton. This mode, though more expensive, is preferred to that of purchasing it in a caustic state, as it drains less ready money, owing to their own labour, and that of their horses; and their fuel, which is consider- able, is never taken into account. Though the wheat crops are prolific, yet the grain is very inferior to that produced in the wheat coun- ties of Ireland, which I attribute to its being always raised here in a potatoe fallow. But flax is a fa- vourite crop ; and only as much potatoe ground, as they do not reserve for this culture, is occupied in corn crops. Their OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 3 jt Their partiality for the business of the linea ma- nufacture encreases, as the additional number of looms will prove ; but they are much less engaged in weaving in the southern parts of this quarter, than in most other parts of the county ; their redun- dancy of flax is carried to the interior fairs and markets, where there is a steady demand for it, as its quality is sound and good. The principal town connected with these baronies is Newry, the smaller part of which, with some of the lands of that lordship, are within our limits ; the river being the line of division between this county and that of Down, where the remaining part of this extensive lordship and great commercial town is situated ; but I shall reserve my remarks on this subject for the conclusion of this section ; and I come now to speak of the most considerable town within the district of Orior, which is Tanderagee. This town is 'about eight miles east of Armagh, possessing some very capital advantages, whether we consider its natural situation, or other matters of material moment. As to the former, it can scarcely be excelled; standing in a fine, rich, and beauti- fully imprpved country, and in the vicinity of the most charming parts of the county of Down. Its contiguity to the Newry canal is no less favourable, which flows within a mile of the environs, and af- fords it all the advantages of trade with that coth- mercial 35 z STATISTICAL SURVEY mercial town, and also with Belfast ; and the lands of this vicinity have, by the same conveyance, the benefit of procuring abundance of limestone, on easy terms, which so powerfully fertilizes this soil. The country around is thickly inhabited by wealthy bleachers ; aqd the small farmers, who are very comfortable, are all engaged in the linen manu- facture, so that it became no difficult matter to have a market established in Tanderagee, which was soon numerously resorted to ; insomuch that, at sbme times, the weekly sales of linens have amounted to the enormous sum of 7000/. The trade is very con- siderably in fine linens, and some lawns and cam- bricks are offered here for sale. This flattering prospect of such a respectable market was not of long duration, and that short period of its importance was occasioned by an unusual demand in the trade. The average sales are now, from the concurring authority of the most respectable merchants who frequent this market, about 2000/. weekly. In the winter sea?on there is a considerable quantity of beef brought to this market, the hides and tallow of which will often amount to 500L weekly. This town is on the estate of Colonel Sparrow, whose demesne fronts the principal street, and imme- diately adjoins it. The approach to Tanderagee from the county of Down is really charming ; the neat OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 3^ neat appearance of the town^ its gradual elevation from a valley, through which a beautiful stream winds between lofty and undulating banks, which are thickly wooded on the one extremity, and the demesne which on the other crowns the summit of the hill, afford a pleasing prepossession to the tra- veller ; nor are his expectations balked in viewing the town and its vicinity ; every place corresponds with this engaging picture. The demesne of Tanderagee had an immense quantity of full-grown timber, whjch has lately been greatly diminished ; but a sufficiency remains to de- corate the bold and abrupt eminences, which it has been justly celebrated for. Nature still triumphs in her display of wild and irregular charms, which are of that description that, we should suppose, would rather be injured than improved by modern; inno- vations. The present proprietor has added some planta- tions, to supply the timber he has felled, with an in- fant nursery in good management, and he has al- ready nearly completed a very capital and extensive garden. In the hot-houses I observed a mode of procuring shoots from plants, which seems wortay of particular attention. A tin vessel, which resembles a porrin- ger, and will hold about three pints, is constructed so as to open with a hinge in the side, being divided a a into 314 STATISTICAL SURVEY into two distinct parts, as we may conceive could be done by cutting a porringer through both sides and bottom, and separating it into two equal pieces, which might be connected again with a hinge in the side; in the centre of the bottom, through which the cut has been made, is a circular hole, large enough to admit the branch of the fruit-tree, from which roots are to be forced. This vessel, or can- nister, as it is called, being unhinged, is made to embrace the branch, and, the sides of it being se- cured by a clasp, it is filled with a compost, of which I could not learn the proportions, but the materials consist of cow-dung, virgin earth, and turf- mould ; this being attentively watered, the branch is exposed to the glass, so as to have all the power of the sun, which, together with the artificial beat of the hot-house, will soon hare the effect of forcing out roots and filaments ; these fibres can be easily examined by opening the cannister, and, when suf- ficiently strong, the branch is cut off just below the vessel, having now a complete root shot out, and it is placed in a pot with its original compost about the root. This plant, after due nursing, is trained against the glass, or the wall of the hot-house, in the usual manner ; the effect being exactly similar to that of striking roots from layers of branches. The plant, which is thus acquired, is termed a water-set, and, whilst in the process of striking out its OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH- . 35$ its roots, is still drawing sustenance from the parent stock ; this is an easy and ingenious mode of propa- gating scarce and valuable pfcmts. Near Colonel Sparrow's demesne, is the elegant glebe and par- sonage, which, for above forty-five years, was the residence of the late Reverend Doctor Lester, and which, by this gentleman's great taste and liberality, has arrived to its present degree of im- provement. The farms on this estate are very small, and the population immense. The average size of forms is under four acres, and the proportion of inhabitants nearly seven to a house; they hold their tenures under one life only. Limestone is distant about six miles from the nearest quarry by land carriage, but they can be supplied on better terms by the Newry canal. Lime is their principal manure ; they fre- quently spread the lime on lea ground, as I have remarked in other parts of this work, and they suf- fer it to remain op the surface, perhaps three years before it is ploughed in, or as long as they find this top-dressing serviceable to the grass, calculating, that by its effects on the soil it is now matured for cropping with grain ; and experience has convinced tbem, that in this idea they are not mistaken; a liming is however seldom repeated above once in ten years, so that, we may judge how little land is ap- propriated to grass; their tillage consists in the a a 2 culture 356 STATISTICAL SURVEY culture of potatoes, flax, and oats principally, and they have a resource in the low-lands and bottom meadows for hay ; the_ meadow is taken by the acre, and the hay is carried off by the purchaser after being three weeks made, or is forfeited, that the after-grass may be preserved. Average price of good meadow six guineas per acre ; of an inferior sort, from 3/. to 4/. The rent of flax and potatoe ground, for a crop of each, two seasons, five guineas per acre, and a rich dunging; the proprietor of the ground taking possession as soon as the flax crop is off. The following very liberal premiums have beGn offered by Colonel Sparrow to his tenantry, and each house on the estate was served with a printed copy of them, stipulating the conditions, &c. 1. Three guineas for the largest and best crop of clover or vetches, in proportion to the size of the farm, to be ploughed in after the second cutting. 2. Two guineas for the second best ditto. 3. Three guineas for the largest and best crop of turnips, in proportion to the size of the farm. 4. Two guineas for the second best ditto. 5. Three guineas for the largest quantity of pota- toes, which shall be altogether planted, moulded, and turned-out with the plough. 6. Two guineas for the second best ditto. 7. Three OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. #7 - 7. Three guineas for the neatest and cleanest farm-hbuse, offices, and yard, in proportion to the ability of the tertant. 8. Two guineas for the second best ditto. 9. Three guineas for the farm, which shall appear to be best cultivated, fenced, and cleanest of weeds, in proportion to its size, and the ability of the tenant. 10. Two guineas for the second best ditto. 11. Two guineas, and eight-pence per pound, for the best cheese made upon the estates. 12. One guinea, and six-pence per pound, for the second best ditto. 13. An oak loom, to the journeyman weaver, who shall have wove the greatest number of pieces of yard-wide lihen, of, or above, the set of a twelve hundred, within the last twelve months ; to be cer- tified by his employers. 14. An oak loom, to the weaver's apprentice, who shall have wove the greatest number t>f the above ; to be certified by his master. 15. Twenty guineas to the person, who shall plant the largest and best orchard. One half to be paid when the trees are two years plahted, and tbt remainder when in bearing. 16. Fifteen guineas for the second best ditto. 17. Ten guineas for the third best ditto. 18. Three guineas to the tenant, who shall most industriously and beneficially employ his children during Ss8 STATISTICAL SURVEY during the year; boys under fifteen years, girls under fourteen. 19. Two guineas to the second most deserving ditto. The river Ban joins the Newry navigation within two miles of Tanderagee, and from thence, with the Cushier river, flows into Lough Neagh, making in this course about eight miles. The great advantage of this canal is the constant supply of sea-coal brought from Newry, at 4s. 8rf. per ton freight. The numerous bleach-mills in this vicinity could not be supplied with turf, this fuel is so scarce in this district. From Tanderagee to Guilford there is the closest neighbourhood of opu- lent linen merchants; and, for a great extent in- deed, almost the whole of the country is a continu- ation of demesnes and beautiful improvements; many of these are held ' by the respectable society of Quakers, and their establishments in the lirien trade are the most considerable in this country. A ma- nufactory has been erected here for vitriol, which is indispensable in the bleaching process, and is the joint property -of several merchants, who have a large capital sunk in this concern, from which a suf- ficiency of vitriol is made, equal to their demand. This beautiful country lies low, and is greatly inconvenienced by the precarious inundations from Lough \ OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 359 Lough Neagh, which have sometimes extended so far as eight miles from the usual shore, branching into the direction of the county of Down. In this \ range, whether towards Lurgan, Moira, or Newry, the lands lie low, and present an uncommonly fine plain ; and, in some lines of this view, culture is brought to higher perfection than I have ever witnessed ; particularly that part, which lies in the county of Down, in the vicinity of Guilford, Hairs- mill, and Waringstown, is truly charming. The delightful improvements in this view, and the ver- dure of the lands, are finely contrasted with the white webs, which cover so extensive an area, this whole country being occupied by wealthy bleachers. On the western borders of Orior, tracing towarcU Newry, stands th6 old village of Clare, where an excellent fair is held on the l?th of May. This village is on the estate of Colonel Dawson, whose demesne of Clare-castle adjoins ; the mansion is one of the most ancient in the county, and is now in the occupation of Mr. Leigh. In this direction is also the village of Portnojrris ; from hence towards the southward, the country par- takes more of the features of the Fews district, whose mountains extend into this barony, and jqin the Doobrin mountains, which are only here distin* guished by that name, and pre a part of the same range. tfo STATISTICAL SURVEY range. In this line is the small village of Camlough, if it deserves even the rank of a village, so named from the celebrated lake of Camlough, •which is worthy of particular notice, on account of the rapid stream, that flows from this small sheet of water, and performs more actual work in a line not quite two miles, than can perhaps be equalled in any part of Ireland ; and the numerous works on its banks furnish an eminent instance of the superior spirit and industry of the people in this pro- vince, who so eagerly seize every natural advantage for furthering and encreasing their trade. This stream first supplies the corn-mill of Cam- lough, which is extensive in comparison with this description of mills in this country, from whence it courses to Mr. John DuflPs very capital bleach- ing concerns, which are capable, of completing 14,000 pieces in thfe year. Mr. William Pollock's works, where 18,000 webs can be finished, are next amply supplied by this stream ; a short dis- tance hence, on their banks are erected the most capital boulting-mills in the county, equal to ma- nufacture 10,000 barrels of wheat, which are the property of Messrs. Jackson and Co. ; on the next fall a good flax-mill is erected ; and, a* a short distance from it, another corn-mill ; from thence this same stream flows to Mr. Joseph Campbell's bleach- mill, capable of finishing 18,000 webs$ the next works OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 361 -works on tip banks of this busy water are, the flour-mills of Messrs. Christopher Reed and Co., but I haye not learned their capability ; near to these concerns is another fall, which is intended for some extensive manufactory, I understand in the pottery or fbundery process ; below this are two other falls, the property of Messrs. Atkinson and Co., on one of which they have erected a bleach-mill, and are about occupying the other in the same process; here it joins the demesne of Derrymore, the seat of the Right Hon. Isaac Corry. The very fine im- provements of Derrymore shew the correct and elegant taste of Mr. Southerland, who planned them, and superintended their execution; this demesne, when Mr. Corry undertook its improvement, had great natural capabilities in respect of beauty, and he has persevered in reclaiming a region, which was a bleak and almost barren waste. The young plantations already display a fine appearance of wood ; the approaches are extremely well planned, and the cottage, which is as yet the only residence, is, without exception, the most elegant summer lodge I have ever seen. The grounds here lie high, and their improvements will have a fine effect from Newry as the plantations get up. Tracing a continuation of the borders of Orior, we must now extend. more to the westward, where we meet with little worth our particular notice, till we S6t STATISTICAL SURVEY we arrive at Fork-hill, where a good barrack is erected and constantly garrisoned. This village and manor was the estate of the late Richard Jackson, Esq. whose seat adjoins, and I must remark, that this gentleman bequeathed this very considerable property for charitable purposes after a most extra- ordinary manner. I cannot convey the sense of this uncommon be- quest better than by transcribing the will, which is given in the annexed note * j and by it there ap- pears, * In the name of God, amen* I Richard Jackson, of Fork-hill Lodge, in the county of Armagh, Esq. being of sound and disposing mind, memory, and understanding, do make and publish this, my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former and other wills by me hereto- fore made. I give and bequeath to my dearly beloved wife, to be by her will disposed of as she shall think proper, all my estate in the county of Cavan, subject to the sum of 20,000/. sterling, out of which sum of 20,000/. sterling, good and lawful money of Great Britain, I order my debts and legacies to be paid, and the remainder, if any, of the said sum of 20,000/. I leave to my executors upon trust. I give and devise to my sister, Susannah Barton, widow* and her daughter after her decease, all that remains my property in the city of Dublin, not subject to any debt «t the time of my decease, and to their heirs for ever. I give OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 363 pears, that a considerable interest in his estate of Forkhill was left undisposed of, and, of course, de- scended to his heir at law ; the rental of the estate was at the time of his decease, in the year 1787, about 2550/. per apnum. This I give and devise to the Most Rev. the Lord Primate of all Ireland, the Right Rev. the Lords Bishops of Down, Connor, and Dromore, the rectors of the parishes of Fork-hill, Killevy, Loughguilly, Creggan, and Dundalk, N and their successors, all my estate of Fork-hill upon trust and as trustees, for the uses herein after named, viz. : 1st* that, upon my decease, the interest of the 20,000/. charged upon my Cavan estates shall be regularly paid out of my Armagh estate, during the life of my ever dear wife; the remainder to be divided, after my wife has taken as much as she thinks proper for her ample accommodation, both of houses, demesnes, and rent, into two equal parts; I mean the rents to be equally divided, one half to be enjoyed by my sister and her daughter, and after their decease to the propagating the gospel; the other half to be expended in clothing and educating as many, as the fund wiU allow, children of the church of Ireland, and in giving, at the age of twenty five years, to each five pounds and a loom, and a small holding in preference to other tenants, who may offer. I would wish, that such tenants should not get leases for lives, that they may not he debauched by the thirst or , power of gold, I appoint my wife, sister, niece, the Rev. Thomas 1*4 STATISTICAL SURVEY This naturally threatened much litigation, but the parties wisely compromised and adjusted mat- ters, which they got conGrmed by an act of parlia- ment; Thomas Woolsey, Jackson Wray, jun. Esq. Thomas Reed, of Dundalk, Esq. and Daniel M'Dougall, executors of this my last will and testament; my will is, that after my wife's, sister's, and her daughter's decease, that half of Fork-bill estate shall he employed m propagating the religion of tmr blessed Saviour, particularly in the eatt % by adding to the number of Danish and other protestant missionaries, as my said trustees, or any three of them, a bishop being one, shall think proper. I give to the infirmary of Dundalk tool. ; and I give to the rector of Fork-bill, for the time being, tl?rce guineas yearly f to be by him, or my executors, in bis name, paid to said infirmary annually ; the like sum of three guineas annually, to Armagh infirmary, I leave to him or my executors, to be paid in bis name 9 or in the name of the curate f if the rector should reside elsewhere, as my intention is, that the resident clergyman should be a governor of each hospital, Jor the good of my poor fcllovxrcaturcs, who are destroyed by the advice tf quack doctors. I leave to Jackson Wray, jun. Esq. ioo/. ; the like to Daniel M'Dougall, my faithful steward; a year's wages to each of my servants ; ten pounds yearly to Richard Gracey, and ten pounds more to Thomas, his father, for bis maia- ttftance. OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 3*5 ment ; in which it was agreed, that a portion of the rents from the estate of Fork-hill, immediately from I give to Mrs. Ann Boyd, of Wexford, 200/. and after her decease to her nephew, my godson. I desire my * executors may, with the advice of my trustees, apply the - remainder of the ac^ooo/. towards the defraying the ex- pence of any suits at law, that may be commenced on ac- count of this will, without sale of my manor of Fork-hill, and in mating a decent provision for honest old decayed trades- men or farmers* I leave 100/. to buy looms, to be given to the poorest of my tenants in my two manors, whose sons have served an apprenticeship of three years ; and I leave 1 00 great coats to 100 of the oldest of them at the time of my decease. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this 20th day of July, 1776. RICHARD JACKSON. Signed, sealed, published, and declared' by the testator, as, and for his last will and testament, in the presence of us, who in his presence, and the presence of each other, have hereunto subscribed, our names as witnesses hereto, SAMUEL BUTLER, THOMAS BUNBURY, JOHN M'MULLEN. $66 STATISTICAL SURVEY from the time of the testator's decease, was to be applied to the uses of the poor children of his te- nants, as directed in the will, and to continue for ever, which lands at that time yielded 375/. annu- ally ; and the residue of the bet income, after the deduction of 200/. per annum, for agencies, quit- rent, &c. was to be vested in his wife, sister, and niece during their lives, and, after their decease, that the one half of the net income of said estate of Fork- hill was to be applied, from thence for ever, to the propagation of the christian religion in the east; the remainder of the issues of the estate was for ever to become the property of the heirs and as- signs of his sister, as heir at law, as is more par- ticularly set forth in the act of parliament. This digression was necessary to the fully ex- plaining the nature of the charitable purposes, for which the bequest was made, and which so mate- rially concerned the district under consideration. I shall now resume the review of this division. The southern bounds are the wildest parts of tfie county, which are already described in the early part of this work ; in this district is the small vil- lage of Fleury-bridge, situated about four miles from Newry, on the Dublin. road, where there is a daily post, and which adjoins the village of Jones- borough. These two villages are now considered as one only, under the. denomination, of Jones- borough, OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 367 borough, and adjoin the county of Louth, at the demesne of Rayensdale-park. The eastern bounds of this barony, which also make the line of division between this county and Down, are strongly marked by the Newry canal, and the Newry river. I return to the point of junction of the river Ban with the canal, and shall trace it from thence up the stream to Newry town. This river flows in a valley, which extends from Lough-Neagh to the sea, and was a strong line of defence in this country, which was so long the scene of warfare, in contest between the English troops and the natives, and a natural barrier of at least twenty-five miles in length, on which were but four passes, affording a dangerous and formida- ble communication between the counties of Down and Armagh, through bogs, woods, and morasses; tbese remarkable places were Scarva, TuscanVpass, PoyntzVpass, and Newry, all of which may be as properly said to be in Armagh as in Down county, as they stand on the borders of both, and it was in these places that the English armies first assem- bled in the year 1688. The first of these, on the line from Lough- Neagh, is Scarva-pass, which is defended by a large bog, through which it runs, and was anciently called dan-Flush j some works were built on this pass by s <» . STATISTICAL SURVEY by Colonel Monk, afterwards Duke of Albemarle; but not of durable materials, as there do^ not re- main any vestiges of them ; near this pass is a small village wkh a salt- work, and also a small lake called Lough-shark from the abundauce of pike it is famous for ; a lesser lake, which is contiguous, is called Lough-dian. Approaching towards Newry from hence, the road runs parallel to the canal, and just adjoining it, and the country on either side is very interesting, and in great cultivation. In this line we approach the neat town of Acton, which, with the adjoining mansion, demesne, and manor of the same name, was some years since purchased by the late Mr. Henna, a very eminent merchant of Newry, from the then proprietor, Mr. Stewart, a lineal descendant of the original family, by whom that extensive manor for ages past had been enjoyed. The village of Acton, which adjoins the Newry canal, is extremely neat, the houses are new and well built with hewn stone, window stools, and the roofs are very capitally slated and ranged in due and neat proportion. The main street is intersected at right angles, and already nearly one half of the original plan is completely built. Mr. Hanna paid much attention to the improvement of the town during the short time it was under his controul, and built a capital malt-house and stores on the banks OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 369 banks of the Newry canal, which passes dose to the village. The situation of Acton is extremely favourable for trade, and naturally is very beautiful ; an excellent inn is already established here, and this is now a -well frequented stage, which the new line of road from hence to Newry so particularly is favourable to. From hence to Drumbanagher, the seat of Moore, Esq. the country is very fine. In this ca- pital demesne the soil is rich, and the plantations in great vigour, surrounding a very excellent man- sion-house. This part of the country is extremely well for- tified by nature, lying high and commanding a great extent, and is celebrated as having been the principal strong hold of the Earl of Tyrone, during his long contested wars with the English govern- ment. , The vestiges of his entrenchments, where he was encamped, are yet seen, and since his time to the present have been called Tyrone's ditches. This position was also chosen by this general, as being the most central between Lougb-Neagh and the sea, and his troops covered the entire line. From hence, the country is beautifully wooded, particularly on the county of Down side; and on the new line of road to Newry, where the brow Bb of 37o STATISTICAL SURVEY ctf the hill has been levelled and cleared of the rock, the views are interesting and picturesque. I should have noted the pass between Acton and Drumbanagher, which was originally called Fen- wick's, but now Poyntz's-pass, from the circum- stance of this important position having been forced, after a desperate action, by Lieutenant Poyntz of the English army, with a few troops, against an immense body of Tyrone's soldiers ; for this extra- ordinary gallantry, he was rewarded with a grant of 200 acres* in this barony, which his descen- dants have since enjoyed. A castle formerly com- manded the pass, some ,vestiges of which can yet be traced. On the line from Drumbanagher to Newry, is the last of these formidable passes ; the position is very strong on this side of the water, and the ground, commanding it, is called Tuscan's, or Lamb's-pass ; in Irish it is named Turrishane. I have not learned the origin of its name ; a castle was also built here to protect this pass, which can yet been traced. The particulars of the present establishment of the Newry canal, which I have frequently bad oc- casion to mention in this division, wiU be found in the sixth section of the first chapter, under the heads, Waters, Newry canal. I should . # See the extracts from Harris's Hibernica, in the Appendix to this work, OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 371 I should however remark the wonderful change of the constitution, if I may call it, of this county at the present day, from what it possessed when this navigation was first made at the expence of the na- tion ; the intention having been, as is particularly expressed, for the benefit of agriculture, and to convey coals from the Tyrone collieries tp Newry, from whence they might be shipped for the diffe- rent ports of Ireland. The reverse is now actually the purpose, for which this canal is at all employed, and proves how little it is occupied in assisting agriculture, and how entirely it has been devoted to the furtherance of manufacture. This is exem- plified in the privilege the public enjoyed, of con- veying manure, lime, or limestone on this naviga- tion toll-free ; and it will serve as a strong proof of the decrease of trade on this line, as well as of the ignorance of the neighbouring farmers of their privileges, when I inform my readers, that at' this time they draw their lime in cars on the road, which runs close to the canal, and parallel to it for several miles distance, both for the pur- poses of manure and of building, at ten times more expence than they might convey it by wa- ter; and so far from this line being employed in the conveyance of coals from the Tyrone collieries to Newry, perhaps a greater quantity of sea-coal is sent from Newiry on this navigation to the nu- b b 2 merous 37* STATISTICAL SURVEY merous bleach-greens in the interior, as well as the great abundance, which is consumed in this po- pulous district for culinary purposes. The demesnes not before mentioned in this di- vision are, Mullavilly, the seat of Mr. M'Conwell ; Poyntz's-pass, of Mr. Bell; Fork-hill lodge, of Mrs. Barton ; Fork-hill, of Mrs. Jackson ; Heath- hall, of Mr. Seaver ; Southwark, of Mr. Courtney ; Jonesborough, of Mr. M'Neale ; and Turner's- hill, of Mr. Turner, Some of these are already finished demesnes, in high culture, and ornamental improvement, and a particular attention is paid to plantation. The general report of the soil of this extensive division is deep, tilly, and rich, highly fertilized with lime manure, and it yields very fine crops, par- ticularly of barley, ^he average value of these lands is fully equal to thirty shillings per plantation acre, annual rent. The country from henoe to Newry, by the na- vigation, is very pleasing and well cultivated, but, departing from the canal line, a worse road cannot be conceived, than from the junction of the new road with the old turnpike road between Newry and Armagh ; the miserable state of the bleak lands, at either side, fully corresponds with the evident and disgraceful neglect of this part of the country, and deserves great reprehension; on so noted a thoroughfare, OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. $7 j thoroughfare, surely the tolls ought to be adequate to the repairs. I shall now conclude this chapter with some ac- count of the town of Newry, and the interesting particulars of that antient lordship. Lordship of Newry. Of this extensive territory, by far the greater part is in Down county, and is constituted there a half barony; the smaller division, whi.ch is situate in this county, lies in the barony of Orior. ThU property deserves a particular attention, on account of the extraordinary privileges and immunities, both civil and ecclesiastical, which the proprietor has enjoyed for many ages. The great expanse, whiph inclines the lordship of Newry, w^is originally abbey lands. The abbey for Cistercians was founded anno 1153, by Maurice M'Loghlin *, monarch of all Ireland, with the con- sent of the kings and peers of Ulster, and ErrigaJ, and * From the several bishops, who were witnesses to this charter, it appears to have been granted between the years 1 148 and 1173. See Harm's Collect, , 74 STATISTICAL SURVEY. and became a celebrated place, which was the ori- gin of the town of Newry. This building was named Nevorocense Monosie- riurriy or -the abbey of Newrie*, and it k named in the charter, Jbar Cyn tracta, which is trans- lated, the flourishing head of a yew tree; the tra- dition being, that, at the time of the founding of the abbey, there was here a celebrated grove of this timber, which was a suitable place for monkish confinement and recluse studies. It is further said, that two remarkable yew trees shaded the abbey gates ; hence the place was called in the plural number, the Neurits, or the Yews; in the Jatin of that age it is translated, Monasterium de vrridi lignoy from the Irish Na J&r. We are tdd that in the burial ground, which adjoins the abbey, some stumps of trees were found anno 1688, on the south- east side, by soldiers who were digging a grave; that these stumps, or roots, had a beautiful red co- lour, and took a fine polish, and were converted into utensils for various purposes; it is probable they were the remains of the ancient yews, for which this place was celebrated. The abbey being founded,- a library was annexed to it, and this religious house was placed under the invocation * Newry hat beea also called, Jubber*himn, Trmgh. See Monasucon Hibenucum. OF THS COUNTY OP ARMAGH. 37$ invocation of St. Patrick and St. Mary; but it is recorded, that, in 1162, the abbey was burnt and the library, and a yew tree, which was planted by St, Patrick, shared the same fate ; about eighty yean after the {bunding, the several endowments were confirmed to it by Hugh de Lacey, Earl of Ulster. From thence until the reign of Henry V1IL this abbey flourished, and bad amassed considera- ble treasures, but this monarch changed its consti- tution to a collegiate church for secular priests, anno 1543. This college consisted of a warden and vicars choral ; a confirmation of all those posses- sions ww granted on the 28th of June, in the 30th of Henry VIII. reserving only to the crown the yearly rent of four marcs; but a few years after, when this prince shook off his subjugation to the papal see, it shared the fate of the otber reli- gious houses; and was dissolved; but in the sue* ceeding reign of Edward VI. this lordship was granted to Sir Nicholas Bagnall, who was marshal of Ireland, with all the immunities and privileges, which it enjoyed as an ecclesiastical establishment, and be was permitted to use in his court the an- cient seal of the charter, on which is represented a mitred abbot in his alhe sitting in a chair t sup- ported by two yew trees ; the motto, Sigitiam ex- empt* jwrisdictionit de Viridi ligna, *Ka$ Newy etMoumc, The 37« STATISTICAL SURVEY The marshal now resided on bis territory, con- verted the abbey into bis palace, re-edified and strengthened the town, and built some castles and strong works, the vestiges of which yet remain, nor is it above fifty years since the ruins of the ancient chapel were standing. He also buik the church, anno 1578, and is interred within its walk. This church, which is situated on very high ground, almost inaccessible to carriages, is a vicarage in the diocese of Dromore ; it was almost destroyed by the insurgents in 1641, and remained a ruin till after the Restoration, when it was repaired and roofed ; but soon after the roof was taken off, and the walls were raised, to admit of a gallery. In 1689, the Duke of Berwick burned the town of Newry, to secure his retreat to Dundalk from the English forces under the command of the Duke of Schombergb. This lordship, and all its ancient privileges, were enjoyed by the descendants of Sir Nicholas BagnaH, and at length bfecame the joint property of two ladies, on whose marriages the estate was divided, and is now vested in the Earl of Uxbridge and Mr. Needham; the former proprietor enjoying the Mourne manor, and the latter the lordship of Newry. The line of division takes place at Crown-bridge, in the county of Down, about a mile from Newry, marked by a celebrated rath, with a large platform on OP THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 377 on its summit, which, tradition says, was erected for the place of single combat, fought by two princes, who were competitors for a royal territory ; hence this place was called Crown-rath, from which the bridge is also named. The ruins of an old chapel stand northward of the rath, on a rising ground, contiguous to a small lake. In the original grant to Sir Nicholas Bagnall, there is a reservation of certain tenements in the town of Newry, and the town -land of Cornyhoughs, which is in the vicinity, over which the lord was to have no privilege, it having been a prior grant made to one Colin Crilly. Mr. Needham now enjoys all the ancient privi- leges and immunities under the old monkish seal, which are very considerable. He is ex officio rector of the parish, and has the power of granting mar- riage licences and probates of wills ; he reoeives the tithes with his rents, and appoints a clergyman his vicar, to whom he pays a salary ; it is contended that this gentleman is only accountable to him for his conduct, and not to the bishop, which, however, is a point disputed, and yet to be determined. The presentation to the living is claimed by the bishop, which is also to be decided ; but, should the eccle- siastical court be successful in this claim, it will tend to no advantage, for the tithes are the property of the rector, and the salary he pays his vicar is quite at 37* STATISTICAL SURVEY at his option ; and it is even a matter of doubt, whether the bishop could oppose his officiating m person, although not in orders, so fully are bis rights expressed. His power in granting marriage licences is also very full, as by his authority the marriage is good, if there be no legal objection to the parties intermarrying ; but no legal omission, or errors in the proceedings, or in the licence, would annul the marriage, which was not generally the law of the land prior to the passing of the marriage-act, and before that time this proprietor enjoyed the pri- vilege. Exclusively of his ecclesiastical privileges, his civil authority is very great, as he holds courts baron and leet, and can command the sheriff not to carry his rod through his territories, even before the judges ; and, to preserve this authority, that magis- trate's rod has been broken in their presence. He has also the power, by his receipt, of discharging all recognizances to the crown, which have been forfeited within his jurisdiction, if the offender has resided therein six weeks prior to the forfeiture! which it is mandatory in the sheriff to obey, and which sum the lord of the manor can order into his treasury, and keep from the king's exchequer. This right has also been preserved by the institution of a suit against the sheriff, for having paid 3Q0L into the exchequer, of fines levied within this manor, which OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 37^ -which sum, with costs, was recovered from him bj the award of the court ; nor can a judge of assize, in the towns of Armagh or Downpatrick, effectually punish an offender, within these territories, for not appearing to the sheriff's summons, as it is in the power of the lord of this manor to remit the fine at his pleasure, or to enforce the forfeiture, and order tlie sheriff to pay it into bis own treasury.* The tithes and the rents of the lands of Mr. Needham'g proportion exceed 10,000/. per annum, but the tenth part of these lands are not in this county. This gentleman's character, as a landlord, cannot be excelled in indulgence and generosity to his tenants. Lord Uxbridge's manor of Mourne, though con- siderably more extensive, is not so lucrative as the lordship of Newry ; it covers the vast area of the JVJourne mountains, and a large district, the greater parts of which are wild, uncultivated, and uninha- bited wastes. His Lordship and Mr. Needham pre- sent in rotation to the united parishes of Mourne, Kilcoo, and Kilfegan, which are estimated at 1000/. per annum, all situate in the county of Down. In that part of the town of Newry, which u within this county, very fine warehouses are erected, and * I understand that Mr. Needham remits this privilege to the crown, but does not concede it altogether) only during his pleasure. 380 STATISTICAL SURVEY • and a considerable wholesale trade is carried on here. From hence runs the canal, nearly parallel with the Ban, in its course to Lough Neagh, and at fourteen miles distance it joins that river. The line of this navigation, from Newry towards the sea, ter- minates at Fathom, where it joins the tide-water. A canal has been in contemplation, to be cut from this town to Armagh, and an iron road is also talked of, but there has been no decision in either cases. Newry is celebrated for its extensive butter trade, which, it is said, amounts to above 300,000/. an- nually. This market is so well known, that some- times they send butter here even from the county of Sligo; the price is certainly encouraging, and has the last season averaged 5l. 12s. per hundred weight. This trade will doubtless be injured, when a canal or iron road from Castleblaney to Dundalk is com- pleted, which is determined on. All the butter of Cavan and Monaghan counties, which is regularly sent to Newry through Castleblaney, will stop here, and go to Dundalk, by which means a great ex- pence, and seventeen miles distance of die worst road in Ireland, will be saved. A considerable trade is also carried on in Newxy, in supplying pork and beef for the navy orders. The linens exported from Newry, from January 1802 to 1803, amount to 200,000/,, and might average 2$. 2d. per*yard. The OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 381 The flax-seed imported for the last ten years, uom i7i)2 to 1801, both inclusive, averaged 12,321 casks annually; the greatest number was 18,160 casks in the year 1799, and the smallest number was 7,064 casks in 1795. The linen market is the second in the province, and averages 4,500/. weekly sales. This is held in the most inconvenient and disagreeable part of the town, which place is also chosen for the cattle-stand on fair days, and is extremely inconvenient. The linen market is here considerably decreased, since the new market of Kilkeel, in the county of Down, and of Carlingford, in the county of Louth, were established, which are both near to Newry. The linen trade of Belfast has also rivalled this town ; its linen-hall is well established ; but the splendid edifice, which the merchants of Newry built for this purpose at an immense expence, is now entirely abandoned from its original use, and has lately been purchased by government, and con- verted into a barrack. The old barracks are to be appropriated to a custom-house, which will be a great convenience to the merchants, as the present custom-house lies far from their business. These new barracks are unquestionably the best accommodated for the purpose in Ireland, or per- haps in his Majesty's dominions, though built for a purpose so extremely different as a linen-hall. The linen- x jGa STATISTICAL SURVEY linen-merchants bare been obliged to sell these con- Gems to such a disadvantage, that the dividend of each proprietor was but thirty pounds for every ori- ginal hundred subscribed, as it was buih by sub- scription, and debentures were issued accordingly. In this town a very capital distillery and malt- houses were lately erected ; and some good breweries, with a windmill for bolting flour on a large scale, bare also been built. A new coffee-house has lately been finished, and this town has long been celebrated for its handsome theatre. A capital foundery is now in forwardness, and there is already an extensive manufactory for ail •orts of hammered iron, particularly for spades, shovels, and scythes. A spirited trader has also set up several looms for weaving damask, which have every prospect of All the subordinate branches of manufacture, equal to the demand of so populous a neighbourhood, are carried on in this town, and the shops are well sup- plied with not only the necessaries, but all the ele- gancies required in so opulent a vicinity. I must not omit, that Newry is a pot- walloping borough, and returns one member to the Imperial parliament. It would be unpardonable to conclude this sec- tion, without noticing the celebrated Pagan reliquei of OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 3 8j of Cairn, or Tlachgdgha Ban. There are two places of this name in this division, both situ- ated near Newry. One of them is a conical heap of stones, one hundred and eighty yards in circumference, and ten yards in height ; the other a Pagan temple. This remarkable place, which is about two miles north of Newry, on the banks of the canal, is one of the earliest vestiges of antiquity which remain in Ireland ; it is doubtless* of Pagan origin, and must have been a Crom-Leach* of the Druids, # The following critical explanation of this word, from General Vallancey's Vindication of the Ancient History of Ireland, may be acceptable to my readers. " Crom-Leach. — No words in the Pagan religion of the Western world have been less understood, than these, by all writers. It is the name usually given to two monuments of a distinct nature ; one consists of a large flat stone in a ho- rizontal position (or near it) supported by other upright •tones, fixed in the ground, on purpose to bear the weight of that stone, which rests upon them ; its elevation is six or eight feet from the ground. This was properly named the Curr-am-kacb, the stone cast about ; in some places it still retains the name of Carrlg Curra (a), or the rock to be cast at. These are generally placed on elevated grounds, some- times standing on the plain natural soil, and at other times on the tops of Cams or artificial mounts ; and at others it is placed in the middle of a circle of stones erect ; it was then named Cir-am-leacb, or, the circle about the stone (b). The third (a) As at Carig Curra, county of Waterford. (b) At Carig sfkwka % in county of Cork, 3*4- STATISTICAL SURVEY Druids, as it bears every resemblance to their ait* cicnt temples in its interior disposition, though it differs third species of these monuments, is the large stone of a rude pyramid ical form placed on three others, which is also named a Crom-Icacb ; these huge irregular rocks required three up- rights at least , to support their incumbent weight ; there is no mystery, as some have idly imagined, in the number of the supporters, because, as Dr. Borlase righdy obsenres, they found it much easier to place and fix securely any incumbent weight on three supporters, than on two, (bur, or more; hence we find, when the weight was too great to be raised, the stone rested on the natural ground, as at M£n in Corn- wall, or they cut away the rocks, if any below it, to give it the appearance of having been placed there by art, as the C/oci-mariet-sione at Skrcen, county Sligo, and the Tollmen* stone in Cornwall. The first kind of Cromleach, being a flat stone, resting lometiraes on two pillars, but oftener on three, called Curr- mn4each t or Carrlg-Curra (the stone or rock to be cast at), is undoubtedly the enrrrvn BUb He Ram of the Canaanites, mentioned Jos. 13. and 27. The name declares it to have been a temple dedicated to their God, the Heavens, under the attribute of the Projector , or mover of things projected. We have notable remains of the worship of this famous God in this nation (says Hutchinson), (c). The Chaldeans named tin's temple Bith D'^lp Kolis, by which it is supposed they meant Mercury, whose name in Irish is Coll or Tali. These monuments the Chaldeans named D'Vpin Merkolis, which Buxtorf explains " Statua Mercurial is, Idolum Mercurii cui cultus certus fiebat — dispositi fuerunt duo lapides magni, unus bine, alter illinc, quibus tertius impositus, media sui parte, utrumque tegens.— Veteres etiam appellarant Bith Kolis, Domuro, (c) Moses principia, p. 2. p. 315* OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. &$ differs from the most of those antiquities \vhich I have seen, as having a deep sloping bank far with- c c outside Domura Kolts, de quo apod Talmudicos.— -Ad dictos tres lapides projuubantur alii lapides certo ritu, Sc cultu, Sanh. C. 7. f. 60.— Qui projecit lapidem ad Merkofis, (si com* mittit idolatriam) qui hie est cultus cju8. ,v Sundry authors construe Prov. 26. and 8. ojh ragam, to throw stones, sicut qui mittit lapidem in acervum Merc.urii. See Selden, Maimonides, Vossius, &c. Hence Borlase observes, some of the Cromlehs of Corn- wall were quite inclosed and buried, as it were, in the Carn. As we find another name of Mercury in the CboUreznd Arabic was Katab> i. e. the Writer; and in the former language Kata signifies an upright rock or stone, L.at. eauUsy Gall, rochet escarpees, Saxon Cott y Cyte, Rupes, Spelunca; I am of opinion the Chaldee or Phoenician y gp 'arfl Katab-Kata, has been corrupted to Kfc&otty, as the Irish Clocb-markit is of Cioch Mor-Kata (d) ; > whence Kitts Cotty Howe, the vulgar English name of the famous Ci/rr- am-kacb or Cramhacb in 'Kent, which, according to Camden and others, was erected over the. burial-place of Catigern, brother of Vortiraer king of the Britons $ but it is more probable that, finding this Cromieach at hand, they buried him under it : for it is remarkable, that the nearest quarry to this monument is six miles distant. Would it not have been easier to have conformed to the general mode of sepulchres, and have raised a cam of earth over him, rather than have been at the vast trouble and expence of drawing such immense stones, some of which weigh more than eight tons, the distance of six miles, to cover the corpse of the brother of a king \ — Dr. Borlase is certainly right in placing this monument as a Cromieach. The* (d) Twenty- three feet in girth. j86 STATISTICAL SURVEY out&ide the mount, enclosed with upright stones, and which is about two hundred yards in circumference; the These monuments were so named (ram the Ch. urn Rem, j*cer€ f projicere. — The Jews had sacrifices appointed to be brought to the temple of God, called by this name, rendered the Heauc-offtnngs of tbiir hand. The Laplanders have a custom of throwing stones in the Worship of the God Jumala. (Schefer, p. 23.) Sale, in the preface of the Koran, observes the same of the Arabians. Filts, in his account of the religion and manners of the Mo- hammedans, p. 135, 3d Ed. describes the same practice; whence 1 conclude it was one of the general modes of Pagan .worship, established before the dispersion, as ablution, lus- tration, &c. most certainly were, from their general use among all nations. Now the word non rama, to project, when applied to the actions of the mind (with which this God had no business) signifies to deceive; and the projected stones, rising at length in heaps* called by the Irish Lochia* and Chrom, the Chaldean word WW Gharema, signifying a heap, «mw, came at length to signify the worship of this projecting cere- mony; and the oriental word being pronounced Kbartma, Hharma f or Gharema, the Greeks formed their idea of . Hermes % the prince of frauds, tricks, and cunniag ; and from die same word is derived our Irish Crorn, and Corn, a heap, a pile. — Ex Harma, vel Garma, fit Lat. Grumus, Gali Grumeau, Sax. Cramman, Anglice Cram; farcire, saginare ; posset et hinc esse Horreum ubi acervantur frumenu. (Thomassin.) Hinc & T3p/*»fe, fraudura, & astutiarum prin- ceps Mercurius, unde 5c Mercurii nomen. (id.) The large rude monument of this kind, in a pyramidkal form, is certainly a symbol of their great, invisible, and un- known OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 387 the entire area which it covers may be about a rood of ground, and is rather on a gentle eminence in a c c 2 large known God ; the nib Din Charam Louach, i. e. the devoted or consecrated stone ; the Irish Crom Cruacb, or Aesar, the Creator j the nv iashar, of the Chaldees and Phoenicians, from the word implying the Creator , and the Achar or Atiar of the Brahnaans. These emblems of the Deity, as the creator of the heavens and the mover of the bodies projected, must have been established before the dispersion. Hence arises Dr. Borlase's observation; " What nation, sect, or religion, this kind of monument may be said properly to belong to, or had its rise from, is a point not easily to be adjusted, says he, seeing we find them in Denmark, France, Germany, and the isles of the Mediterranean Sea adjacent to the coasts of Spain and France, in Jersey, Ireland, Britain, and the BrU tish Isles ; and perhaps in many other countries they will oc- cur, especially the northern kingdoms, by which they should seem to hate been Celtic monuments, and with that numerous people carried into all their settlements. This ingenious author had not consulted all the writers on the pagan worship of the Eastern nations ; his ideas were confined to the Northern alone. — Kircher would have pointed out to him. the Cromleach of the Egyptians ; Castel- lus would have shewn him, the Orientals had forty-eight ways of writing the name of the attribute ascribed to this Deity, all of which terminated in the Greek *£p^, in which word they comprehended the motion of all things, even the atoms of vegetables, under this attribute, adding at length wings to this image, to shew they supposed it had wings and power to fly upward, descend, or any way ; and, as an attribute of wha% |88 STATISTICAL SURVEY large plain, enclosed by lofty hills at some distance, forming a spacious amphitheatre ; the stones are of a hard what they took for a God, could communicate that power to, and make other things fly. — Thus, from the ignorance of the later heathens and the prevarication of the Jews, they formed their Baal*%cbub t a God of the air, a flying God ; but in these remote countries, the original attribute continued to Christianity. There are several places in Canaan, and parts adjacent, named from this attribute Rema ; so in Ireland we have se- veral : Cnoc Ramhar> or the hiH of Rema, on which these Cromleachs have been placed ; and I am much mistaken, if many of our lands denominated Curra's do not originate from the same kind of worship. The Fan-hac was the Chaldee name for the 6rom-!eacb> signifying the stone of adoration, from run phane, coluit, adoravit. Ne "ODD tephanu, ad idola,. Levit. xix. 4. The word also signifies, respexit, adspexit ; hence Gen. xxxii. Et vocavit Jacob nomen istius loci VtT'JS Phani-el> quia vidi Beum, phanim al phanim, facie ad faciem ; hence*in Chaldee tD'itib »jd phani lephanim, the Sanctum sanctorum. (Bux- torf ex Talmud.) Fan therefore became a general word for every place of public worship, as Fan Lobws, the church of Su Lotus is co. of Corke, &c; hence the Latin fanum. Mia s signifies an altar. ./Ethiopice Mysway> Arabice Mi%4eh ; hence Sliatb Afiax, now called SJiabh Mis, or the Mountain of the Altar, in co. of Kerry. A certain number of these altars and temples were in every . Falrce or episcopal see of Ireland, and each Faircc had itt peculiar priests; hence Fairce, a diocese, plural Fairigby pamhefj -the word h Chaldee, pD fiari, finis, terminus, pars, separare. We OF THE fcOUNTY OF ARMAGH. 3K9 hard grit, resembling granite, but not so perfect in t|ie grain. Within this glacis or slope, the base of the temple gradually rises towards the mound, -whose circumference is one hundred and sixty yards, and is completely girthed or enclosed with long and ponderous stones, set upright, and closely joined together. At the nortb-we*tern aspect the principal entrance is formed by a simple bank of easy ascent; and at the opposite extreme there is another open, which appears to be rather accidental, than of original design ; it is much narrower than the other, and is contiguous to the altar, which lies in this point. The We must not here omit another name for an altar, which approaches so near to the Hebrew, it seemt to point out the real derivation* of it, and to have been borrowed from us by the Jews ; it is Arala or Ural*. The Hebrew Vnna Ariel (Ezelc. xliii. 16.) the altar which was twelve cubits long and twelve cubits broad, is the same word, letter for letter] the interpretation of the Rabbins is Leo Dei ; the Irish Arala* the height or mount of worship, is surely a more rational explanation. — Colkctam tk reim fli$crnk"> voKiv. f- 479* et se<j. 3J6 STATISTICAL SURVEY ;?•'!& jit; til The horizontal slab, which is very ponderous, rests on three upright stones, each about ten feet long, though they do not appear to be so much as half OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 3*t half their height above the surface, until we examine the close hollow spot in which they stand, below the level of the ground. Nine smaller stones, set up in like manner, form the paling of the altar, but the slab does not rest upon any of them ; they only serve to wedge in and support the three principal bearing stones. The slab is almost of a triangular shape, whose sides measure twenty feet ; but it appears to have had originally far greater dimensions, from the circum- stance of the ground, which joins this altar, being sunk in like manner for many feet distance, and also is enclosed with upright stones, set up in the same position, and on a level with those which sup- port the slab ; it is the more probable that this slab was of greater size, as, in any of those temples now existing, there is no stone paling but what imme- diately encloses the altar, and on which the hori- zontal flag rests. If, then, this altar was crowned with so massy a slab as would cover so extensive a paling, it is won- derful how such an immense weight, and unwieldy body, could be elevated to such a height on the bearing stones without the powers of mechanism, to which so rude a people must have been strangers. I have heard it accounted for, as being probable, that, after the upright stopes had been set up, a large stage $gt STATISTICAL SURVEY stage 6f trees, extending to a considerable distance around them, might have been heaped across each other, and the spaces within filled up with sods and stones ; that this stage of gradual ascent, being raised jo high as the tops of the bearing stones, was then firmly covered over with earth ; that the joint labour of men, oxen, and horses might then be united, to drag the slab up the ascent, until it was rested on the stones, after which the stage could be removed, or set fire to, the slab remaining in its desired po- sition. This ancient relique was about five years ago in perfect preservation m every respect, excepting the slab ; and I am concerned to state, that the present occupier of the lands, an opulent brewer in Newry> has almost entirely dismantled the outer paling, and "appropriated the stones to building in the town. This devastation has already reached the interior works ; but it is hoped that here the sacrilege wiH rest, and that the altar will be spared, to mark one of the most ancient reliques which exist in this county. The annexed drawing represents its figure, as it stood about five years ago. I must observe, in finishing this sketch of these baronies, that there is no limestone in this district, hor is there any appearance of this fossil nearer than Catlingford, ten miles distant from Newry. It is rather of the covmrr of Armagh. 39$ rather a singular circumstance, that on the opposite shore, in the county of Down, there are large rocks of it close to the water's edge, and it is not found within ten yards from the beach, nor in any other part of that country. CHAP. S9+ STATISTICAL 8UKVSY CHAP. XIV. CONCLUSION, I have already explained, in the preface to this work, that I cannot flatter myself that these Reports can be considered free from error. The nature and die variety of the enquiries must preclude the possibility of such a work being perfected by an individual ; and, indeed, the author extremely regrets that, from fortuitous circumstances, and his very ill state of health at the several times he visited this county, he was precluded the satisfaction he should have re- ceived, and, of course, the more correct informa- tion, from the gentlemen of \the county, so few of whom he had an opportunity of consulting. Should they have the goodness to correct any errors they may discover, or supply any omissions, and favour the author with their observations, under cover to the Dublin Society, he will pay every at- tention to their opinions in the next edition, which will be published as soon as the necessary materials are collected. la OF THE COUNTY OF ARMAGH. 395 In making my acknowledgments to the very few gentlemen, who favoured me with any assistance, I have, in a particular manner, to return my sincere tbanlps to James Dawson, Esq., chairman of the county. I feel that I have trespassed on his polite attention ; but my readers will allow I could not possibly have drawn my information from a more intelligent source, or rested it upon surer authority. CHARLES COOTE, APPENDIX. APPENDIX. Extracts from Harris's Hibernica, and Captain Pt/nnar's Survey of Ulster, in which are given the Names qf the original Patentees of the forfeited lands of this County, and their Deno- minations, with preliminary Observations. HAVING already given the present state of property in this county, in the second chapter and fourth section, I shall now shew how the estates were arranged, after this county became escheated to the crown, as taken from Harris's Hibernica, and shall state, of the project for the plantation of Ulster, so much as may be necessary relative to our narration* It is proper first to refer to the state % APPENDIX. state of property preceding the confiscation, and we find it was centered in the families of the O'NeiTs, the M'Cane's, and O'Hanlon's. In the commencement of the seventeenth century it was principally vested in the families of M c Henry, Acheson, O'Neil, Brownlow, and O'Hanlon, exclu- sive of the great territories settled on Moharty , which the M'Canes forfeited in rebellion ; aAd also a great tract of country, called Oirther*, was escheated to the crown, which a branch of the O'Hanlon's had lost in rebellion. I shall proceed now to speak of that allotment of lands, which was made in 1610 by James I. as reported by Pynnar in his survey of the es- cheated * Qtrthcr was a district in the south of this county; the hereditary chiefs were the O'Hanlons* some of this family enjoyed their ancient patrimony within these two centuries. The O'Car roll's had also a wing of this coun- ty, called Orgiel, which territory, comprehended Oriel and Uriels derived from Otr Cat!, or the Eastern Cdel ; this was an ancient arid entensive district, which included part of this county ; and the whole of Louth and Monaghan was governed by its proper king, subject in some respects to the supreme monarch. The sovereignty of this ter- ritory was invested in the family of the O'Carroll's, he- reditary chieftains of Hy Cairol. Collectanea de rebus Hibernicis, Vol, III. page 402. APPENDIX. S% cheated counties of Ulster, but it will be proper to give the general outline of the project, with an extract from it, for the division and plantation of this province, so far as relates to this county. In the project there were four general points observed in every county, viz. : 1st. That the proportions of land, to be distri- buted to undertakers, should be of three different quantities : the first and least, to consist of so many parcels of land, as would make 1000 English acres, or thereabouts; the second or middle proportion, of so many parcels as would make 1500 English acres; and the third and greatest, of so many parcels as would make 2000 English acres, or there- abouts. 2d. That all the lands, escheated in every county, should be divided into four parts, whereof two parts should be divided into proportions, consisting of 1000 acres a piece ; a third part into proportions of 1500 acres; and the fourth, into proportions of 2000 acres. 3d. That every proportion should be made a pe- rish, and a parish church should be erected thereon, and the incumbents should be endowed with glebes of several quantities, viz. An incumbent of a parish of one thousand acres should have sixty acres ; an incumbent of a parish of fifteen hundred acres should have ninety acres; and an incumbent of a parish >4 APPENDIX, parish of two thousand Hcres should have one hun- dred send twenty acres ; and that the %bole tithes and duties of every parish should be allotted' to every incumbent, besides the glebes aforesaid. 4th. That die undertakers of these lands should be of several sorts ; 1st. English and Scottish, who Were to plant their proportions with English and Scottish tenants j 3d. Servitors in IretaAd, who might take English or Irish tenants at their choice ; 3d. Natives of those coUntieb, who were to be free- holders* Th£ general outline of the project being under- stood, it states that, " the county of Ardmagh is * c divided by ballyboes, but because the ballyboes t€ are not found to be of equal quantity or num- " ber of acres, the distribution of this county is u to r be made by acres. u The whole county doth contain 77,300 acres*, ** which will make sixty-one proportions, viz. of € * the least thirty-eight, of the middle sort thirteen, u and of the greatest proportion ten> and thirty acres *' ovet to be. ^added to some parish. In every of " which proportions there is to be a parish and #e wcurobent with glebe, and by this ut supra" for * Arable and pasture only. APPENDIX* . For the Church. " 1st. Out of these are to be deducted first, " primate's share, which do contain 2400 acres* " 2d. For the incumbent's glebes, 4650 acres. " 3d. For monastery lands already granted, 430 " acres. " 4th. The lands of the Fughes already possessed " by Sir Tirlaugh M'Henry, containing 9,900 acres. " 5 th. The lands granted to Sir Henry Oge, con- " taining 4,900 acres. Tfte : tidertakers portion. " So as after these deductions made, there re* " main for undertakers 55,620 acres, which make " in all forty-tw,o proportions, viz.: of the least " twenty-seven ; of the middle sort, nine ; and of " the greatest, six, which may be thus distributed, " viz. : " To the English and Scottish undertakers twenty- €i eight, viz. : of the least, eighteen ; of the mid- 49 die sort, six ; and of the greatest, four. " To servitors six, viz. : of the least, four ; of " the middle sort, one ; and of the greatest, one. Dd " To 5 AtPfiNDiX. " To the natives eight, viz.: five of the least J " two of the middle sort ; and one of the greatest. " The odd acres remaining are in number 31 20, " which may be thus divided, viz, : " Twelve hundred acres to four corporate towns " oi* boroughs, which are to have like liberties, " and hold their lands as is before' expressed, viz. : " to Ardmagh 300 acres, to Mount-Norris 300 acres, " to Charlemont 300 acres, and to a corporate 44 town to be erected at Tanrygee, in O'Hanlon's 14 country, 300 acres. Of the rest 1200 may be " granted to the college of Dublin, and the residue, u being 720, to be allptted to the maintenance of ** a free school to be erected at Ardmagh. * " Touching the natives who shall not be free- " holders, they are to be placed or removed bf ■*' order of the commissioners as in Tyrone *. " The * The following extract from the project relative to Tyrone will btst explain this, viz. Harris, page 55. ** Touching the disposing of the natives, some may be "planted upon the 2323 acres of land (which were two 41 of the small proportions), and the glebes of the parsons; " others upon the lands of Sir Art. O'Neal's sons, and " Sir Henry Oge ON'eil'-s sons, and of such other Irish, as " shall be thought fit to have any freeholds there ; some " others may be placed upon the portions of such servitors . APPENDIX. 7 " The escheated lands in every of the said coun- " ties being thus divided and distributed, the seve- " ral undertakers are to have such estates, and to " yield such rents and services, and to observe such <c other articles as are lately published in print by " his Majesty's command*. " Lastly for the encouragement and advancement " of the scholars of the college of Dublin, and tp tc furnish the churches of Ulster with sufficient in- " cumben ts, we think it convenient, if so it please " his Majesty, that there be six advowsons in every u county given to the college, three of the best, " and three of the second value." d d 2 Observations " as are not able to inhabit these lands with English or Scot* " tish tenants, especially of such as best know how to rule *' and order the Irish. " But the swordsmen are to be transplanted into such 44 other pans of the kingdom, as, by reason of the wastes " therein, are fittest to receive them, namely into Connaught* " and some parts of Monster, where they are to be dispersed, " and not planted together in one placer and such swords* 44 men as have not followers, nor cattle of their own, to 44 be disposed of in his Majesty's service." * These are printed at large, in Harris's Hibernica, with orders and conditions for the plantation, from page 63 to 7*. AfPENDIX. Observations on the Project. This project is . ascribed to be the work of tht privy council of Ireland, drawn up for the consi- deration of the King and English government, as a guide for the plantation, and was in several res- pects differed from in what relates to this county ; for in the project it is stated, that Tirlagh M'Henry O'Neil had been granted, by patent, the precinct of the Fughes, containing 9,900 acres; and by Pynnar's survey, which follows, it appears that 5,500 acres of that precinct were granted to Scottish un- dertakers. m The grant of lands for the free-school of Armagh did not take place till the reign of Charles tbe First. The transplantation of Irish swordsmen or sol- diers into Connaught, or Munster, was not observed in this or other counties ; and, though m the pro- ject provision was made for erecting several cor- porate towns, many of them were omitted through the escheated counties. Having appendix; 9 Haying explained the heads of the project, and referred the reader for ample information to Harris's Hibernica,