47S 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



per-centage returns of farming are small. I have shown that 

 trade though leas pleasurable, is more proQtable. I have 

 shown that, in agriculture, profit within the last three or four 

 years lias varied greatly upon poor clay lands, and good stock 

 and barley farms. I have recommended that until just security 

 is given, whereby a largely increased amount of capital can be 

 invested in improvsd culture upon a given area, that agricul- 

 turists and tradesmen generally should mutually pause before 

 they determine to import their sons largely into a business, not 

 only low in its per centage returns, but in which competition is 

 already extreme, and investment is artificially restricted. I have 

 shown that the social relationship of landlord and tenaut may 

 be improved, to the mutual advantage of eachparty, by giving 

 security of tenure, or security to outlay, by liberal covenants, 

 by protection from game where liable to serious damage ; by 

 fairly meeting the building and other requirements of the farm, 

 and considering it solely as a meat and coru producing manu- 



factory. I have shown that the political position of agricul- 

 ture may be improved by conceding the repeal of the malt tax; 

 and I have insisted that though the existence of such a tax is 

 unfair in principle and unjust and injurious in its action, its 

 removal must depend upon our exertion. I have alluded to 

 the hop duty, but I have passed over other subjects of agricul- 

 tural politics, considering we need to concentrate our labours 

 upon securiag the entire abolition of the malt tax. I have 

 shown that our practical position may be improved by improved 

 pasture farming, by keeping a larger number of sheep, by consum- 

 ing more straw, by partially giving up the exploded system of 

 expensive manure making, by unpaying fattening, by pursuing 

 and practising the most paying course regardless of system, by 

 growiug more clover seeds, and seeds generally, whilst other 

 subjects I have been compelled to pass over for the want of time. 

 A short discussion followed, and the proceedings terminated 

 with a vote of thanks to Mr. Bond. 



ROYAL AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY OF IRELAND- 



The half-yearly meeting of the members of the above society 

 was held on Thursday, May 19, at the Farmers' Club, Upper 

 Sftckville-street. His Grace the Dake of Leinster in the 

 chair. 



The Secretary read the half-yearly report aa follows : — 



" Your council beg to submit their half-yearly report, end- 

 ing 19th May, 1859, together with the usual abstract sheet, 

 duly audited, showing the receipts and disbursements of the 

 society for the year 1858. The balance appearing against the 

 society is, no doubt, large ; but it will be observed that it is 

 not attributable to any falling off in the annual income, but is 

 mainly owing to the unusual heavy amount paid under the 

 head of premiums, being iu excess over the payments made 

 under the same head in 1857 of £458. Tlie expenditure under 

 the heal of incidentals shows some extraordinary payments, 

 viz , a donation of £100 to the Royal Dublin Society towards 

 the erection of their Agricultural Hall, and a payment to Pro- 

 fessor Siraonds of £89, being the proportion payable by the 

 society in conjunction with the Royal Agricultural Society of 

 England and Highland Society of the expenses incurred by 

 that gentleman in] investigating and reporting on the cattle 

 plague in the early part of last year. From the satisfactory 

 manner in which the subscriptions for the current year are be- 

 ing paid, your council have been enabled to clear off this ba- 

 lance, and after a careful examiuation into the probable re- 

 ceipts and diabursemeuts up to the 31 st December next, they 

 anticipate that there will still be ample funds to meet all de- 

 mauds. The prize sheet for the society's annual cattle show, 

 to be held this year in Uundalk, has been carefully revised. 

 The most important alteration to which your council beg to 

 draw attention haa beeu the withdrawal of prizes for imple- 

 ments. ' The Farmcr''s Gasetle Challenge Cup' is still offered 

 for competition, but it is optional for the implement exhibitors 

 to euter for this prize. This step your council considers a 

 prudent one, and will uot affect the eutries in the implement 

 department at Dundalk. The period for holding the show has 

 been changed from the middle of August, the time when your 

 meetings were usually held, to the last week in July. This 



alteration will enable the practical farmer, unshackled by 

 harvest operations, to attend, and also much assist your 

 council in obtaining judges. Your council have much pleasure 

 in reporting that the arrangemeuts for the society's show are 

 progressing most favourably ; and, from the energy displayed 

 by the local committee, a most successful meeting may be 

 anticipated. The prize sheet for local farming societies haa 

 been revived, and some useful and practical amendments 

 made. The society's gold medals offered by your council 

 for labourers' cottages' were competed for by two in Ulster, 

 four in Leinster, and one in Connaught. There was no com- 

 petitor for Munster. Experienced judges were appointed to 

 inspect and adjudicate, and their several awards, together 

 with very ample and interesting reports, embodying the plans, 

 specifications, &c., of the prize cottages, have been published 

 in the annual report. Your council have renewed the prize 

 for the current year, and have also offered the society'i gold 

 medal for competition, in each province of Ireland, for the im- 

 provement of previously existing cottages ; and they earnestly 

 trust that the efforts of the society to raise the condition of the 

 agricultural labourer will be heartily responded to, and that 

 each county will send a competitor. In accordance with the 

 resolution passed at the special general meeting, in February 

 last, the rules ^for the governance of the society are submitted 

 for adoption, the several amendments passed at the last two 

 general meetings of the society have beeu unanimously agreed 

 to, the following addition to the nineteenth rule being the only 

 new motion inserted : ' Provided also, that when any such new 

 rule is intended to be proposed at a general meeting, a month's 

 notice of such new rule be given to the secretary, who shall 

 publish the same by advertisement in the newspapers. Pro- 

 vided, further, that no new rule be adopted at a general meet- 

 ing, unless twenty members of the society shall vote for it.' 

 Iu conclusion, your council feel justified in congratulating the 

 society at large upon its continued progress, and upon the in- 

 creased favour with which its operations are viewed by the 

 public— By order, " J. M. Royse, Secretary." 



The report was agreed to unanimously. 



