LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
MR. T. W. RUSSELL AND THE RENT QUESTION IN ULSTER.
[TO THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR." ]
SIR,—Mr. Russell, in his letter to the Times, states that the -flax-crop here is a disastrous failure, and that cattle are un- saleable at any price. But if flax is only at from six shillings a stone, grass-seed has this year risen as high as nineteen ; there are still good prices to be obtained for fat cattle, and, I believe, for those who will take the trouble of rearing it, our national pig yet holds its ground.
With regard to the unfortunate fall in the price of flax, I may say that, for the first time, I this year sowed a small patch by way of experiment, and although a very average crop, we had a margin of profit after paying all expenses. If, without any experience, and with only paid labour, I was able to do this, surely farmers with working families and know- ledge of the cultivation required, cannot, even this year, have found the crop such a disastrous failure as their tendency to grumble and eye to further reduction of their rent would lead Mr. Russell to believe ?
If tenant-farmers were compelled by law to pay an over- plus rent in good years, there would be some justice in com- pelling landlords to reduce the rent in bad ones, but this has never been thought of. As a matter of fact, I believe it was an "Ulster Custom" for landlords to give back part of the rent in bad years, till the law stepped in and took the power out of their hands.—I am, Sir, &c., A COUNTY DOWN LAND STEWARD.
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