The Sun.
London, England, 1858-09-28 00:00:00

HAY MARKETS.

SmrntrlELD.—koadow hay, £3 Os. to £4 4s. ; clover
do., £3 10s. to £5 Os.; and straw, £1 ss. to £1 Bs. per load.
Both hay and straw sold slowly, at our quotations.
CUMBEIMAND.—Meadow hay, £3 Os. to £1 55.; clover
do., £3 12s. to £5 Os. ; and straw,£l Os. to £1 Bs. per
load Supply good, and trade heavy.
VIIITECHAPEL.—Meadow hay, £2 lOs to £4 45.; clover,
do., £3 lOs to £5 Os. ; and straw, £l.6s to £llos. per load.
A slow trade.

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF IRE-

LAND.

The returns of these statistics for the present
year, although containing some apparently unsatis-
factory details, are favourable upon the whole.
Thus the total extent of land under crops continues,
as in former years, to show an increase, the num•
hers being 5,882,492 acres for the present year
against 5,829,117 for 1857. The meadow and clover
land exhibits an increase of itself above that of the
entire land under crops, being 1,424,578 acres for
1858, against 1,369,892 for 1857. This gives a de-
crease for the total of acres devoted to esculent
crops, a decrease which has fallen upon the cereals.
The natural root of the country, now that the ex-
treme depression arising from the -disease has passed
away, continues steadily to progress. The acreage
under potatoes is this year 1,160,056 against
1,146,647 last year. This progress is, as we have
said, a steady one, the number of acres devoted to
potatoes being 981,301 in 1855, and 1,104,704 in
1856. The other items of increase in the present
year over the preceding are mangel-wurzel, carrots,
parsnips, and cabbage ; while pulse, turnips, and,
we are sorry to say, flax, have diminished.

The most curious consideration is the state of the
cereals, of which the acreage has diminished in the
present year for every artiele. The acreage of
wheat has fallen from 559,646- in 1856 to 551,386
in 1858 ; that of oats from 1,980,934 to 1,976,929
barley from 211,288 to 190,721; and rye from 21,371
to 16,489. Wheat, however, still shows a considera-
ble increase both over 1855 and 1856, the acreage in
those years being 445,775 and 529,050 respectively.
The other cereals show an acreage under that of
1855, barley especially, which in that year was cul-
tivated on 226,629 acres. The decrease is most con-
spicuous in the province of Leinster, where there is '
a falling off in every kind of cereal and even in po-
tatoes. Munster and Ulster show an increase on
wheat, Ulster on oats, and Connaught on barley.
With these exceptions, the decrease is regular
throughout every province.
It is, however, satisfactory to perceive reason for
believing that if quantity of acres under culti-
vation for the higher esculents has diminished, the
quality, of that cultivation itself is improved. It is
gratifying to find a considerable increase in the
number of horses, a proof everywhere of more
active cultivation, but more especially so in Ire-
land, where so large a portion of the land was once
cultivated by persons who could not afford horse-
labour. The number of horses has risen from
599,782 in 1857 to 610,717 in 1858, and this
progress has been regular since 1855, the numbers
for which year were 556,287, while for 1856 they
were 573,408. The increase is further to be found
in every province, and, with slight exceptions, in
every county, the diminution in these eight being
so trifling as to be clearly accidental. There
is not a more significant fact in the po-
sition of Irish agriculture than this, more especi-
ally as the principal increase falls upon horses de-
voted to agricultural purposes. These in Leinster
have risen from 121,044 to 122,582 ; in Munster
from 108,012 to 110,377; in Ulster from 147,095 to
148,392 ; and in Connaught from 75,015 to 77,497.
As these animals are principally required in the
cultivation of cereals, we can come to no other con-
clusion than that to which we have arrived when
comparing the increase in the number of hores with
the decrease in the cereal acreage.
The number of cattle shows a considerable in-
crease, especially as regards mulch cows—another
proof of thebetter mode of living prevalent amongst
the people. Ulster, for whatever reason, does not
share in the increase of cattle, which is largest in
Connaught, where, in fact, there was most room for
improvement. The number of sheep has increased
from 1,004,724 in 1857 to 1,035,875 in 1858. That
of pigs from 173,840 to 191,034. An increase is
likewise found over 1855 in every species of animal
except sheep—a proof of the regularity of the pro-
gress of the country in this particular.
We are therefore able to point to this return
with great satisfaction, seeing that the only falling
off of importance which is to be found in the acre-
age of cereals, may be fully explained by the more
improved and expensive modes of cultivation in-
troduced into the country. The impulse which has
been given to the agricultural property of Ireland is
manifestly producing fruits of which we may ex-
pect yet more striking evidence in future returns.
The Registrar-General bears testimony to the
cordial assistance which he has received from all
classes in the preparation of these statistics. It is
a pity that we have less confidence in the genero-
sity of English farmers, which has prevented simi-
lar returns being made out for our own country.
However, they are more necessary for Ireland, and
we see great reason for congratulation, both in the
facts shown by the documents themselves, and in,
the facilities and opportunities given for their accu-
rate preparation.