The Express.
London, England, 1851-09-24 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DI:ALIN, SEPT. 23.
Tho only notice yet received of last evening's
glorification of the Irish brigade at Cashel is that
contained in the following paragraph in the Free-
man of this morning, a full report being promised
for the next publication:
Last evening Messrs. Maher and Scully, the patriotic
members for Tipperary, were entertained by their con-
stituents at a splendid banquet in Cashel, at which over 200
freeholders of that county sat down. The chair was taken
by John Sadleir, Esq.: M.P. At hie right end left sat
N. Maher, Ebq., and }rancid Scully, Esq. • and among the
guests of the evening were John Reynolds, Esq., M.P.,
W. Keogh, Esq., M.P., O. 0. Higgins' Esq., M.P., Sir T.
O'Brien, Bart., M.l'., A. O'Flaherty, Esq., M.P., the Very
Ker. Dr. Burke, Clonmel ; Charles Biancoui, Esq., Long-
field; the Venerable Dean McDonnell, Cashel ; Archdeacon
Lalfan, Fethard, &c. The proceedings of the evening
passed off in the most harmonious and sutiefactory manner.
- -

Yesterday the citizens of Cork were on the tip-too
of expectation for the arrival of Mr. Abbot Lawrence,
the American Minister, from Killarney. The public
boards assembled and commenced preparations fur
his reception; and it was resolved that Mr. Law-
rence and party should be invited to a trip down
the river; to a thyruner on board the steamer, and to
a public entertainment in the evening in the city. It
was agreed that the packet station question should
be set aside altogether, and that Mr. Lawrence
should be entertained as the representative of the
American people.
The Cork Examiner of yesterday has bad accounts
of the potato crop. The heavy togs that prevailed
during the preceding week, are stated to have done
extensive damage; and according to some reports 23
per cent. of the crop would be lost; while others
carried their apprehensions even so far as to estimate
the probable loss at 51) per cent.
The movement among the poor law guardians in
the south and west to relieve themselves from the
pressure of the Consolidated Annuities is pushed
most vigorously, and seems almost exclusively to
occupy the attention of the local gentry. The peo-
ple, however, to a very large extent, seem to feel that
It is au exclusively landlord affair.
The statement which I noticed yesterday, that
Prince Albert was about to place himself at the head
of some project fur converting the Irish encumbered
estates to a source of public profit, has naturally at-
tracted a good deal of attention here ' although not
looked upon as very probable. The Erenlay Mail
takes credit to itself for having suggested something
of the kind a good while since, and says :
We are consiuent that a more effectual means of C01110ii•
dating the union between Ireland and Brest Britain could
nut be devised, than to give the Royal family a direct per-
sonal iaterest in the welfare of this country. The time is
gone by when uuy fears or jealousies of rival claimants to
dominion might be interposed to restrain is acquisitions
either of property or of influence within the woollen walls
of Old Eugland. Such apprehensions never had much
' foundation in the reality of things, but proceeded in a great
measure from an ignorant prejudice, suanthing akin
to that which confined the juvenile members of the
Islam race to the precincts of the harem. A. prince
of the blood at the head of largo estates in Ireland
would possess no more political power than he would
ander similar circumstances in the Isle of Wight ; whilst
if he were a wise and generous proprietor, his influence
would greatly increase the attachment of our people to his
royal house. Even the temporary residence of the Duke of
Cambridge in Dublin, although lie is in no wise conuected
with the soil, has tended much to endear the royal family to
our community. Ms deserved popularity has extended its
prestige to the other members of his illustrious race ; and
we are less surprised at the striking manitCstations of pi r-
: sonal attachment which ire incorporated with the senti-
ment of loyalty in England. Let them conic amongst us,
then, and identify themselves with our soil. They may
depend on't they will taut this is the true way to outbid the
lope. • •. • • * * We do must devoutly hope that
there may be a good foundation for this statement. 'Tito
energy with which the Prince carried out his great project
of the Exhibition is a guarantee that whatever he under-
takes shall not fail fur lack of strung purpose and earnest
sincerity.

REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF

PUBLIC WOUKS.

The following are extracts from the annual report
of the commissioners :
" In making this our annual report of the works in ope-
ration under the Landed l'roperty Improvement Act, we
have the pleasure to state that during the year ISA the act
has continued to work in the same satisfactory manner as
during the three previous years ; and, as will appear by thu
extracts from the reports of our several inspectors of drain-
age hereinafter quoted, the spirit of agricultural improve-
ment, which revived in some measurethrough the operation
of this act, has continued unabated throughuut the country,
the proprietors, as well as many of the tenant Enviers, be-
ing convinced by experience that deep thorough draining,
followed by subsoiling, effects such au increase in the pro-
ductive qualities of the soil as to enable it, when mode-
rately excited by manure, to produce returns sufficient to
repay the entire expenditure, in sonic cases iu one, and fre-
quently in two years.
But we must again repeat the caution expressed in
former reports, that if the operations under the Land Im-
provement Act be confined to thorough draining alone,
comparatively little advantage will be derived from the
expenditure, excepting perhaps in pasture lauds of superior
quality.
In our last report we suggested that improvements
might adnunageously be carried 011 jointly by the landlord
and tenant, the landlord to uudertake the cost of the
thorough draining, and the tenant the subsoiling; by this
arrangement both would be benefited, the land would his
more than doubled in value, at the average cost to the pro-
prietor of about 31. per acre, and thus his rent would be
amply secured, and the tenant, receiving a double return
would be transformed from a struggliug pauper to a thriv-
ing farmer.
" Several successful examples of this joint arrangement
have come under our notice during the last year, and we
have the pleasure to state that they arc on the ilicrease ; and
we feel assured that the extension of the principle, by cre-
ating a unity of :intereat stied action between the landlord
and tenant, will tend much to the agricultural improve-
ment of the country.
"At the present moment a feeling of hope has succeeded
to apathy, and a spirit of industry prevails from the highest
to the lowest. All agriculturist agree that dependence can
alone be placed on an improved system of husbandry.
"The cultivation of tlas, hitherto confined to a few of the
north-eastern counties, has now become more general. The
extent sown this year, exclusive of the northern district,
will more than double that of the last or any previous year,
and the quantity would have been euusiderably increased if
scotch mills had existed at convenient distances throughout
the southern and western districts. One ton of dried flax
straw is reduced to 5 cwt. by the process of scotching, and
it is to be observed that wherever a scotch mill has been
erected the proprietors and tenant farmers of the neigh-
bouring district have this year sown flax extensively.
"There can be no doubt that the mild and humid climate
of Ireland is peculiarly suited to the growth of flax, as well as of
root crop. of every description ; and as this country has been
at all times proverbial for its pastures, it becomes evident
that the attention of farmers should be directed, in addition
to the flax crop, more to the breeding and feeding of cattle,
sheep, and pigs. In fact, except in a very, few favourable loca-
lities, oats is the cereal crop which is best suited to the
insist climate of Ireland, and in the production of which
it can compete with any country. Barley and rye succeed
well, bat owing to a deficiency of heat at the season when
it is most required, samples of wheat are rarely produced
which will bear comparison with those grown in more fa-
voured climates.
" lf the foregoing view be assented to, deep draining and
subsoiling become doubly important, for unless the soil and
subsoil be dry, finely pulverised, and accessible to the influ-
ence of sun and air, the root crops, as well as flax, will be
deficient in quantity and quality.
" The only novelty which has occurred connected with our
land improvement operations during the lust year is the
authority given by the act 13 and it Vic., cap 31, to make
loans for the erection of farm-office buildings, iu addition
to the loans for thorough draining, fencing, fife., given by
the original,uet 10 Vic., cap. 32.
" This power was necessary to enable landed proprietors
who possessed large tracts of land at present unoccupied to
fit them for letting in extensive farms to superior agricul-
turists, by the erection of farts buildings suited to the modern
, system of improved husbandry.
" At the time of passing the act it was anticipated that a
considerable number of experienced tenant farmers, posses-
sung sufficient capital, would have taken large flame in the
country, but hitherto such has rarely been the case ; in muse-
. queue.) the applications for loans for the erection of eaten-
. eve ranges of farm buildings have been limited to a few.
" But perhaps under the circumstances of the country it
• is fortunate that such has been the case, as by this means
more time will be allowed for maturiug plans, and the pro-
portions and internal arrangements of those buildings in
process of erection will have been tested by experience as
well as criticised by farmers of the modern school.
" Up to the end of the year 1850, though many personal
inquiries were made, and much correspondence took lilacs
relative to farm buildings, still only thirteen regular ap-
plications for loans were received. The schedule gives the
names of the applicants and amounts applied fur, together
with the loans made or declined in each case, from which it
appears that up to December last only seven loans, amount-
ing in the aggregate to 5,0:41., were actually made. Seve-
ral of those are now in progress, and will be completed dur-
lag the present season.
" Up to the present time, April, 1851, the total number
of applications which have been received are thirty-three,
of which fourteen have been approved, amounting in the
whole to the sum of 76501. We have found much greater
difficulty in making final arrangements relative to the pro-
portions of the buildings connected with the small loans, va-
rying from 2001. to 4001., than for the a ones, but still
matters are progressing regularly and s and We feel
assured that on the completion of a feiv spares of farm-
offices in any district, that the number of applications will
increase in proportion as the benefit detived-hom
lbfrbaild-
inp becomes apparent to the neighbouring proprietors astl
principal tenant farmers.