THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



297 



— by no means powerful enough for working this 

 rather cumbrous reaper j consequently the work was 

 badly done, and in this trial this valuable machine could 

 not retain its well-acquired fame. Cartwright and 

 Lindsey had two machines. The one of one-horse- 

 power did its work fairly, but it was hard for the horse; 

 the other was a two-horse machine, both having a back- 

 dttlivery, and, of course, requiring to be cleared away 

 before the next bout could be taken : this took up many 

 h'lnds, and it was almost ridiculous to see the number 

 following and engaged. The machine is a very useful 

 one, but exhibiters should take care not to condemn it 

 themselves by such an unnecessary display of its require- 

 ments : we counted no less than fourteen persons engaged 

 on and about the machine. Dray and Co. exhibited 

 Ilussey's improved reaper, which, owing to the ex- 

 ceedingly wet state of the crop and the late hour it was 

 enabled to commence, did not succeed so well as usual ; 

 but we thought in this trial it must take second place. 

 T!ie first was on all hands given to Clayton and Co.'s 

 machine (Manning's patent), which, notwithstanding 

 every obstacle, made most excellent work, and finished 

 the three roods appointed for each in forty-five minutes, 

 laying the sheaves in convenient heaps for tying. Banks' 

 disc machine received injury, and the rain pouring down 

 in torrents, the judges quitted the field before it could 

 be got in readiness. The discs of this revolve horizontally, 

 and have tackle with which the corn is drawn through the 

 frame into a continuous line behind. This we thought 

 in most cases would be impracticable ; but as 

 we did not see it in operation, we 'cannot give 

 a decisive opinion. In our judgment, we have 

 as yet no better machine than Manny's patent 

 for reaping corn ; and we were given to understand that 

 the judges thought it very far ahead. We must allow 

 it was rather an imperfect trial j so much so, that they 

 could not award a commendation, as no other did com- 

 paratively good work. 



The yard exhibition was a very creditable one, well 

 supported as it was by both home and more distant 

 firms. The chief success was here, again, with Gray, of 

 Uddingston, who took the first prize for a very excellent 

 collection of implements. It is now ten or twelve years 

 since this Scotch house has entered at the Irish shows, 

 and its return was signalized by some very deserved 

 triumphs. 



THE DINNER, 

 Or " Grand Banquet" as it was termed, took place on the 

 Wednesday in the Pavilion — the Earl of Clancarty, the 

 new president of the society in the chair ; supported by his 

 Excellency the Lord Lieutenant, the Mayor of Derry, Lords 

 Berners, Erne, Dunlo, Leitrim, Lifford, Abercoru, and Talbot, 

 de Malahide, the Bishop of Derry, Sirs H. H. Bruce, F. W. 

 Heygate, Percy Nugent, E. Hayes, R. A. Ferguson, and R. 

 Batesou, General Gough, Colonel Daune, Admiral Hamilton, 

 Captains Cockerell and Croker, and nearly six hundred others, 

 consistiag chiefly of landed proprietors and citizens oT London- 

 derry. The toast list embraced an unusual number of sub- 

 jects, while the different addresses with which they were 

 associated were as remarkable for their length. 



la responding to the compliment paid him, Lord Eglington 



thus proceeded — I do not hesitate to say that these meetings 

 yield in importance to nothing else ; and that the impetus they 

 give to every branch of farming industry, and the self-reliance 

 they bring with them, arc of the utmost possible benefit to the 

 country. I believe that their utility docs not end here, but that 

 they bring together men of all classes and parties of politics, 

 in friendly aud praiseworthy competition, which must have 

 the most salutary and enduring effect in softening down social 

 and sectarian animosities. I must congratulate the Royal 

 Agricultural Society of Ireland on the success of the show to- 

 d*y, a success I think which must have come up to their most 

 sanguine expectations ; and, I think, I am justified in saying, 

 that though, in some respects the show may be, and, of 

 course, it must be, inferior in some respects to the show I saw 

 in Dublin — in other respects, it is not only equal, but I believe 

 it surpasses it. At all events, it is a show such as the North 

 of Ireland may well be proud of. When we consider the 

 enormous property which this society confers a benefit upon — 

 I mean the enormous rental of Ireland, which I know is esti- 

 mated at £13,000,000— it must be palpable that this society 

 is one which ought to be encouraged by every one who 

 has the welfare of the country at heart ; and I rejoice 

 to know that since I was last among you the progress the 

 society has made has been of a most gratifying nature. Since 

 I was last here the members of the society have been nearly 

 doubled : one-fourth has been added to the premiums offered 

 by the society ; and the smaller societies, which diffuse in their 

 several localities the greatest possible benefit on Ireland, have 

 also been enlarged one-fourth during the same period. There 

 is nothing which has given me greater gratification during the 

 course of my life than the improvement which I find in Ireland 

 since I was last here. The cloud that appeared at one time 

 to have settled permanently on Ireland has been dispelled. 

 Everything now shines on the Irish. Not only the practice, 

 but the science of agriculture is spreading over the country. 

 Your hills aud your rich pastures are teeming with sheep and 

 cattle. Your rents are for the most part, paid with a punctu- 

 ality not exceeded elsewhere. Your poor-houses are half 

 empty ; your labourers are employed ; crime has decreased ; 

 railways are spreading their useful influences over the coun- 

 try ; political strife, I may say, is almost in abeyance ; civil 

 aud religious liberty are established on so firm a bails that the 

 man who would advocate a return to bigotry would be set 

 down as insane. There is but one plague-spot left and that, 

 I trust, has almost ceased to fester. There is nothing but 

 sectarian animosities standing in the way of Ireland enjoying 

 a happiness and prosperity not surpassed by any nation on 

 the earth, and for which her great internal resources, her 

 fertility, and the genius of her people so eminently qualify her. 

 I may be accused by those who are not intimately acquainted 

 with the subject, of partiality, and of colouring the picture 

 too highly ; but, if yon will allow me, I will go into that 

 dry subject of figures, and prove that I am correct. I will 

 not go to any distant period, or to any exceptional case, to 

 take my comparison with the present time. I will only go 

 to the time when 1 was here first, in the year 1852, If I 

 were to go further back, no doubt the comparison might be 

 more striking, but it would not be so fair. I rejoice to say 

 that the improvement is not only progressive, but that it is 

 rapily on the increase. Of course, in such a company, but 

 in Ireland geuerallj' — for it is the main interest of Ireland 

 — I will begin with agriculture. There is no doubt that the 

 improvement that has taken place in that interval has been 

 arrived at by great effort, and by very great industrial suft'er- 

 ing. For the latter I am not responsible; for the former I 

 take no credit to myself or my colleagues. I merely rejoice in 



