airy-farms the best commercial cows are
all bred between the rough native cattle and shorthorns, or between
Devon and Ayrshire, the latter cross being specially liked by Mr.
Hegarty, of Mill Street, county Cork, referred to in a previous
letter, and by many other good judges. This fact, however, by no means
detracts from the value of such a magnificent herd as that of Mr.
Crosbie. On the contrary it is held by many experts that first-class
shorthorn bulls are a necessity for preventing the cross-bred animals
from reverting to the original local type.

The improvement in cattle in Kerry, owing to the importation of
shorthorns by Mr. Crosbie, and in a smaller degree by other
proprietors, is very marked; but despite this the thoroughbred Kerry
still remains and is likely to remain lord of the mountain until
mayhap he be displaced by the smaller Scotch cattle, as he has already
been in some localities by the black-faced sheep, who leads an equally
hardy and independent life until wanted for "finishing."

From Derrynane the road passes along the coast, and through Sneem to
Derryquin, the estate of that typical landlord, Mr. F.C. Bland, beyond
whose lands lie those of Mr. Mahony, of Dromore, the apostle of
concrete and author of a pamphlet which has made a great noise in
Ireland, and is accepted by "improving" landlords as stating their
case perfectly. Mr. Bland, whose domain lies on the north side of the
embouchure of the Kenmare River, owns about thirty-eight square miles
of territory, and is one of the most popular men in Kerry.
Extraordinary stories are told of him. "Know 'um, begorra," answered a
native to my query, "Don't I know 'um; and it is he that's the good
man, your honour, and every man and baste will do anything for 'um,
and he has got tame lobsthers that sit up to be fed, and a tame salmon
that follows 'um about like a dog."

This, to say the least, appeared an ample statement; but I confess the
temptation to see the man who owned contented tenants and tame fish
was too strong to be overcome, and I therefore procured an
introduction to Mr. Bland, who with great modesty promised to show me
his improvements on condition that I would also look over those of
that arch improver his neighbour, Mr. Mahony. To appraise the real
value of the work done by these two gentlemen at Derryquin and
Dromore--a region of some eighty-five square miles altogether--it must
be understood that forty years ago this part of Kerry was