THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF IRELAND. 175 



XXII. THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF 

 IRELAND. 



The Royal Irish Agricultural Society, for the general improve 

 ment of agriculture in Ireland, is of more recent origin than the 

 English Royal Agricultural Society, and is established upon the 

 same general plan. It already embraces a large array of num 

 bers, combining men of the highest rank and wealth with others 

 in more humble condition. It is intended to hold its annual 

 shows in different parts of the country ; and it bestows large 

 sums in premiums, thirty sovereigns, or one hundred and fifty 

 dollars, being the prize, for example, in the class of bulls, arid 

 other prizes of proportionate value for other objects. It has 

 adopted one very wise provision : in the high prizes for the best 

 live stock, it opens the competition to the whole kingdom, with 

 out restriction, so that specimens are brought from England and 

 Scotland, of cattle, sheep, and swine ; and thus the Irish are 

 enabled to see, and compare with them, what has been done by 

 others, and in what respects they exceed or fall short of them. 

 This presents the most powerful stimulus to excel ; whereas, if 

 the competition were confined wholly to themselves, not know 

 ing what has been done by others, they might be satisfied with 

 inferior attainments. At the agricultural show at Dublin, which 

 I had the pleasure to attend, a good many animals were exhibited 

 from Scotland and England, which were of a superior character, 

 and which gave the Irish farmers a favorable opportunity, not 

 only of seeing the favorite kinds in the sister kingdoms, but the 

 degree of perfection, to which, by careful breeding and keeping, 

 they had been carried. 



When I have recommended, as I have repeatedly done, the 

 adoption of the same liberal practice among the county societies 

 of Massachusetts, and with other societies in New York, I have 

 always been met with the argument, that this would be sending 

 the money paid in premiums out of the county, or out of the state, 

 which is an objection unworthy of consideration ; for of what 

 consequence is the money, if we can get the improvement? 

 The object of a society, in all its measures and premiums, should 

 be the improvement of agriculture and husbandry. The distri- 



