THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 



25l 



THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF IRELAND. 



MEETING AT CORK. 



This, now the third meeting of the national Society 

 at Cork, has not been altogether a great one. Whether 

 we interpret the phrase as one merely of numerical 

 strength, or as more of associated excellence there is 

 no doubt but that the Society has known better gather- 

 ings. Some of the sections were unusually weak, and, 

 at the same time, one or two more than commonly 

 strong. Never, for instance, has there been, on these 

 occasions, so good an exhibition of agricultural imple- 

 ments. Virtually offering no premiums whatever for 

 any superiority in the manufacture of machinery, the 

 Cork show gave another opening to those recusants who 

 eschew any such system of comparative examination. In 

 a word, the English makers accorded it their hearty 

 support ; and the well-known firms of Clayton and 

 Shuttleworth, Barrett, Exall, and Andrewes, the 

 Hornsbys, the Howards, and the Garretts had their 

 stands duly fitted with inventions for which they are 

 deservedly distinguished. Alongside of these were 

 Bentall, more directly recommended by a long list of 

 honours just taken in England ; Richmond and Chand- 

 ler ; the Turners of Ipswich ; the senior Crosskill 

 Firm; Boby of Bury; Burgess and Key; Smith and 

 Ashby ; Reeves ; Cambridge of Bristol ; Ruston and 

 Proctor of Lincoln ; Haywood of Derby ; Picksley and 

 Sims ; Wallis and Haslam ; Fry of Bristol ; and other 

 English houses — all as well represented ; while Gray 

 of Uddingston came from Scotland, and, of course, a 

 number of Irish manufacturers, dealers, and agents 

 made frequently yet larger displays. Prominent 

 amongst those were the Perrots of Cork, Sheckleton of 

 Dundalk, and Gray of Belfast, who with the other Gray 

 of Uddingston, entered for the Challenge Cup. The 

 conditions required in competing for this rest the award 

 in the best collection of agricultural machinery abso- 

 lutely manufactured by the exhibitor himself. The 

 policy of this is more than questionable : for instead of 

 encouraging a man to perfect such implements as he 

 may already have a repute for, the tendency is rather to 

 engage him in working up other articles he has little 

 experience or capability for constructing. As far as the 

 advantage of the agriculturist himself is concerned our 

 plan, of giving the premium for in reality the best col- 

 lection of implements, let them be made by whom they 

 will, is clearly the better one. The introduction of 

 superior manufactures is thus asked, instead of the 

 mere multiplication of much of an inferior description 

 insisted on. It is true this would put the cup more 

 within the range of the dealer than any one else, but the 

 society would so carry direct good with it, and the 

 neighbourhood be more and more prepared to appre- 

 ciate the best of everything. Local manufacturers 

 have, no doubt, their particular points of excellence, 

 but it is neither fair nor can it be wise to over-tax their 

 strength in this way. The greatest and the most 

 successful of our implement makers are those who have 

 devoted their attention to one or two inventions, now 

 to be 80 readily identified with their names and pro- 

 gress. 



Indeed, the Irish Gazette Cup does not "go " quite 

 happily under the regulations attached to the annual 

 contest, and it is at this very time in dispute. The 

 Scotch firm — Gray, of Uddingston — had won it both at 

 Dundalk last year and at Londonderry in the one pre- 

 vious, so that the third time was only needed to secure 



its permanent possession. At Cork, again, the award 

 was in favour of the same house, but certain objections 

 were at once entered, the further consideration of which 

 the Council have deferred to their next monthly meet- 

 ing. One of these demurrers, that the Cup was not 

 returned within a certain time of the meeting, would be 

 scarcely worth entertaining ; but another is of a graver 

 character, and rests more upon the actual conditions 

 determining the award. It is protested that Gray's col- 

 lection included implements that were not of his own 

 manufacture, although entered and labelled as such. 

 This, of course, if proved, will be followed by a disquali- 

 fication, and the challenge reopened. But the influence 

 of such an offer is not of the best, especially in a com- 

 paratively new country, where rising men should not be 

 asked to do more than they can do well. 



The English houses study the actual wants of the Irish 

 farmer, as he is, with far more purpose and method. In 

 this very admirable exhibition one feature was every- 

 where observable. The more costly essentials for im- 

 provement are brought to the least cost possible. The 

 Turners, of Ipswich, started the small engine, and now 

 the Garretts, and others also, turn it out with a direct 

 view to the Irish market. Clayton and Shuttleworth, 

 again, had in a prominent place on their stand a four- 

 horse power thrashing and winnowing machine, "con- 

 structed to meet the requirements of small occupiers ;" 

 and the Garretts have had a somewhat similar machine 

 for sometime in trial here. A man may buy a " new- 

 fashioned" plough of Howard, or Hornsby, without 

 much effort, as he may a Bentall's cultivator, an Ashby 

 horse-rake, a Crosskill cart, or a chaff-cutter of Rich- 

 mond and Chandler. But it is to greater things that 

 we must be gradually encouraged, and hence the ju- 

 dicious introduction of these small engines and thrashing 

 machines. The country, moreover, is rising fo the oc 

 casion, and the trade spoke generally to business being 

 good. The want of trials, however, to a people who 

 above all others should see the implements they are un- 

 accustomed to in work, will become more and more a 

 serious drawback to the real utility of the Society. 

 How are men's eyes to be opened to a better state 

 of things, while you more than hesitate to 

 give any practical proof of all you tell them ? 

 The only implements announced to be in work 

 at Cork were the steam-ploughs, and these were to be 

 seen five miles out at Blarney, on the last day only— 

 the Friday of the week. The Messrs. Howard had here 

 Smith's cultivator, in the hands of their own manager, 

 while M'Kenzie, of Cork, was in charge of Fowler's 

 plough. Mr. M'Kenzie's collection in the yard was 

 more what the Society should seek for — an admirably- 

 arranged stand of some of the best implements of the 

 best makers. These, too, are certain to remain in the 

 district, and as certainly with a good and lasting effect. 

 This must surely be preferable to inciting exhibitors to 

 claim the credit of what does not justly belong to them, 

 or to engage in almost unlimited operations to which 

 few, or, as experience assures us, scarcely any are equal. 

 The steam-plough trials excited a good deal of attention, 

 but they should have come on earlier and nearer. In a 

 convenient situation there is no reason, but rather every 

 good one, why they should have been at work on the 

 mornings of 'Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The 

 exhibitors themselves were anxious to begin ; but the 



