APPOINTED TO INQUIRE INTO THE OCCUPATION OP LAND IN IRELAND.
113
Appendix, No.
32.
a***, No.
32.
Paper on Estate Management.
By IV.
H.
H.
Becher, esq.;
referred to in Minutes of Paper oiTState
Evidence, No.
723, 0.
4.
Management.
By
5 ^
W.
H.
H.
Becher, Iu or about the year 1840, having turned my attention more to the interests and comforts of the es1-tenantry of those portions of my estate under my control, I determined to adopt the allotment system, and apportioned to each tenant a lot of ground, hounded within a ring fence, of which he should be the sole possessor, and on which I made it imperative on him to reside.
The prevailing custom among the tenantry of this country has been, not only to build their houses together in some portion of each farm without reference to advantageous locality or central position, hut to permit their labourers, and often a class termed squatters or freeholders (who have no interest whatever in the premises), to add their miserable, and seldom better than mud hovels, to the unsightly cluster of _
cabins referred to above.
The ineAdtable consequence has been, interminable petty" sessions litigation, the result of disputes arising out of trespasses unavoidably committed by men, -women, children, cattle, and fowl, on the gardens and lauds surrounding the houses unprotected hy insuffi¬ cient fences.
Another evil, and not less to be deprecated, occasioned hy this description of contiguous residence, is, that manure pits, deeply excavated, up even to the foundations of the cabins, and to the very doors, generate malaria, filth, and every appearance of squalid misery, wliich, at the same time, as well as being injurious to the health of the inhabitants, presented a spectacle of abject wretchedness.
Independently of these very objectionable considerations, I perceived that the portions of the farms, distant from the tenants' residences, were neglected and poor.
I ascertained also that sub¬ divisions of the land were as numerous as they were complicated; *o much so, that in several instances one field, containing not more than between two or three acres, Avas divided into as many as five or six different holdings, Avithout other hounds, than a few stakes placed at intervals, or a narrow rib of land, about one foot wide, to divide the several possessions, which were alternately producing different kinds of crops.
In this state of tenure, it could not be expected that agricultural improvement of any kind would be made; and such Avas the case.
It is with shame to myself, I confess, I found my estate in the lamentably neglected state I have described; and while permitted so to remain, neither could the moral or physical condition of my tenantry be improved.
One-half at least, I may say two-thirds, of their time Avas unprofitably spent; no agricultural engagement, further than seed-sowing and saving their crops, seemed to occupy their spare hours.
If any new modes of cultivation were suggested, or improvements pointed out, their necessity aud practicability were readily admitted, hut never acted on.
I am decidedly of opinion that this system is not confined to my estate and those immediately adjoining; 1 believe it is more general in the Avestern portion of this county (Cork), with which I am acquainted.
This state of things, with the prospect of a.
reduction in agricultural produce by the then pro¬ jected tariff, impelled me to rouse from my lethargy, and to adopt the change which I noAV highly appreciate, not only for its merits, but for the reciprocal confidence established between my tenantry ancl myself.
The daily and extensive improvements progressing on every farm, so allotted, are not less a source of gratification, than the occupation and amusement I enjoy in the inspection and management of them ; where, by close attention and perseverance, I have succeeded in accomplishing a work, at the same time highly advantageous to the estate, as well as to its inhabitants.
Having so far stated the cause and result of this new plan, I will take leave to add how I effected it.
In or about November, 1841, without either legal notice, process, or ejectment, or further intima¬ tion, than by a note to my bailiff or land-steward, '' directing him to go to the tenants to get posses¬ sion for the purpose of dividing the farms into lots," I got about 200 surrenders without one refusal.
My next step was to appoint three intelligent, experienced farmers, to make lots of suitable extent and A'alue to meet the circumstances of the several tenants on the different townlands; in every in¬ stance I revised thc lots myself; and owing to the dense population on the premises, I had in most cases to make the lots much, smaller than Avas desirable either for the tenants' or my own interests; however, 1 preferred this mode to an extensive extermination.
I had, though reluctantly, to deprive some of their holdings ; to those parties I gave such remuneration as satisfied them, in the nature of the "tenant right," practised in the north, yet with this difference, that I did not allow a transfer or assignment to any person but myself.
Having had a census of their families, and an inventory of stock, cattle, &c, &c, taken, I accurately ascertained the capability and means of each tenant to work on and improve the land.
I selected a suitable lot accordingly, and the terms of tenure, rent, &c, &c.,
being agreed upon, the tenants were restored into possession.
With the tenants of mountainous and less improved farms, I stipulated to remit one-fourth of the rents struck by the valuators, on condition tliey made such improvements as I directed; all of which haATe been complied Avith.
The first work commenced was the construction of new and level lines of road; practical and experienced overseers being chosen, the tenants of each farm were employed to make the roads in their respective lands; I allowed the full rate of wages (Sd.
per day) of the country, as if em¬ ployed on public works.
In a very short time many miles were opened, where previously hardly a bridle road existed ; carts and butts were purchased, manure and sea sand (a description of manure abundant in this country, and very good for neAvly reclaimed mountain land) were brought to the premises in comparative abundance; for which in most instances I have made allowances in the rents.
The spirit of improvement and reclamation became general in proportion as the allotment system adAranced.
.
.
, With some difficulty at first, owing as much to ignorance as to previous habits of idleness and reluctance to change from former usages, I induced the tenants to make drains, to erase old crooked, ancl to form new fences—to enlarge tiieir fields, and reclaim waste and boggy land.
_ For all these works I allowed them freely.
The good effected soon became so self-evident that the former reluctance to adopt these innovations (as at first supposed to be) was succeeded not only by a ready compliance, but by an anxious desire to learn the best mode of draining, &c, &c.
\\ ith sincere gratification T find that, by having imperceptibly removed their foolish prejudices, they now
