The Osceola times., 1881-07-16
IRISH FARMS AND FARMERS.
Agricultural Condition of Ireland-Deolise
OF Boycotting.

few words as to the agricultural prospects
of these districts may not be unaccept-
able. The spring has been late one.
Cold harsh weather prevailed until
about three weeks ago, and kept back
the sowing OF the seed, and in some
places also the preparation of the ground
for there seems to be an idea prevalent
among many of the small farmers in the
west of Ireland that as long as the
weather is harsh and the nights are
frosty, and as long therefore, as il
would be injudicIous to plant 1t is pre-
mature to prepare for planting. The re-
suit viii be that when the genial spring
weather does come, and when vegetation,
If there was anything in the ground 10
vegetate, would proceed apace, the adj
vantage will be to some extent lost.
This, however, only applies to small
number, and, perhaps it is in many
cases unavoidable, because OF the alb
sence of all implements or machinery
save the spade, resulting in a tedious
and laborious preparation of the ground
for seed. As have indicated, the prep
aration Of the ground was generally well
forward and IN advance of the season,
and the delay in sowing oats and plant
ing potatoes was probably wise
delay, the seed being better out of the
ground than in it during such harsh
weather as prevailed in the early spring.
the genial weather, alternate sunshine
and showers, of the past fortnight or
three weeks has been followed by rapid
vegetation. Cereals in the extreme
in the extreme west and in the bleakest
and coolest districts are well above
ground, and show strong, healthy, and
even vegetation. Potatoes are Just be-
ginning 10 show in the earlier districts,
but a continuance of the present wealth
er can not fail to bring them on rapidly.
The action of the Land League is Gauss
ing uncertainty and unrest, and the ac-
ton OF the landlords in evicting does
not appear 10 have any material effect
In retardlng spring work or to have
caused any land to pass olt of cultiya-
ton. Alike on the plains of Meath and
Westmeath and in the wild recesses Of
Connemara every patch that has up to
the present been cultivated has been put
under crop this year. There is undoubt-
ly a spreading feeling of distrust of the
Land league. | was informed in the
course of my tour through Connemara
that the people there are saying that
they won't subscribe any more to the
organization. "What good" they ask,
has it done us?' Even NV car-driver.
on the road from Westport TO Leenane,
who was severe on the lazy habits Of his
cOuntrymen, said they were much better
off when they paid their rents. The
scene at Claremorris, in the heart Of
Mayo, on Sunday last was Il most signi.
iicant one. Hitherto all the Land league
meetings have been orderly, especially
the meetings of Mayo and Galway, bot
on Sunday there was disorder division,
AMI a marked lack of enthusiasm. Even
in numbers as compared with former
meetings. was a failure. A notable illus
tration of the declining power of the
Land league is furnished by the turn of
affairs at Moyard, near Ballinakill, the
residence of Rev. Canon Fleming. 1t
will be remembered that Canon Flem-
ing. finding it impossible early in March
to get laborers to work his farm, was the
object of relief expedition organized by
the Emergency committee. About a
dozen laborers were sent TO his relief
from Dublin, The result was magical.
Not onl y was Canon Jennings farm put
into order, and his crops got in month
sooner than any of his neighbors, but
the local laborers saw the northerners at
work, and the only result of their bycott-
ing was to deprive themselves OF the
good wages which fortnight before he
had offered them, namely twelve shil
lings a week, while the wages given by
the other employers was only nine shil-
lings. On approaching Canon Jennings
farm ! was surprised to find a consider
able number Of laborers at work on the
land. Canon Fleming, on whom |
called, explained to me the state Of af-
fairs as indicated. He added the Pro-
testants had never refused TO work for
Kim; that the Roman Catholics whom he
had asked to work for him before the
relief expedition came answered in nine
cases out of ten that they would be glad
TO do so, but that they were afraid. In a
few cases the answer was that they had,
sufficient work Of their own. This I'M
wholesome fear has now disappeared,
and Canon Fleming has no diff.
fculty in procuring as many laborers as
he requires. His turf is now all cut, and
the laborers on his farm are engaged IN
putting the second molding on his pota'
toes. In fact, he says he is in better
position than most of his neighbors.
dis is but n typical case so far as boy
cotting is concerned.
Boycotting, in fact, IN no longer the
weapon it was; it is now street-boy's
word, which only provokes laughter.
The cases III which it is resorted to are
now extremely rare, for the good reason
that it has lost its power. There is every
prospect that the second weapon Of the
Land League-the forcing the collection
of the rent at the point OF the bayonet--
promises soon 10 become equally futile.
The number Of these sales, like the nun.
Der of cases of boycotting, is decreasing,
while the payment Of rent is becoming
more general. The tendency is against
the realization of John DillOn's dream
Of the day when all rents shall have to
DE levied in this fashion. The waning
influence Of the Land League may be
further inferred from the way n which
speakers of Land League platforms adj
jure the people to stick to the Land
League" to stand by the Land League"
10 "be true TO the organization which
has done so much for them" Much Of
the enthusiasm which was formerly ex-
hibited at land meetings was undoub,el-
ly due TO the heartiness with which the
laborers supported the movement. This
support seems now to have been with
irawn TO very large extent, and the
land meetings are smaller. are less en-.
thusiastlc, and by no means unanimous.
Meanwhile, and without the aid Of the
Government, emigration goes on apace;
almost every train from the West, even
on sundays, bears its freight of intend
ing emlgranis. There was a large fair at
RIlla on Monday morning and inst at