242 CANADA 



porting valuable live-stock, grain, grass - seed, 

 useful implements, or whatever else might con- 

 duce to the improvement of agriculture, the 

 Government might grant £200 to assist, provided 

 the society raised £50. Under the operation of 

 this Act the formation of district societies spread 

 so far that in 184G there was organized a Pro- 

 vincial Board of Agriculture, whose function it 

 would be to hold provincial exhibitions, the 

 first of these being at Toronto in that same year. 

 Then the local agricultural societies, which began 

 to get more numerous, took to holding exhibi- 

 tions on their own account, and the growth of 

 the general movement led to the passing of the 

 Agricultural and Arts Act, which was to the 

 following effect : — 



The objects of District and Township Societies shall be 

 to encourage improvement in agriculture, horticulture, 

 manufactures, and the useful arts : 



(a) By importing and otherwise procuring seeds, plants, 

 and animals of new and valuable kinds ; 



(b) By offering prizes for essays on questions of scien- 

 tific inquiry relating to agriculture, horticulture, manu- 

 factures, and the useful arts ; 



(c) By awarding premiums for excellence in the raising 

 or introduction of stock, for the invention or improve- 

 ment of agricultural or horticultural implements and 

 machinery, for the production of grain and of all kinds of 

 vegetables, plants, flowers, and fruits, and generally for 



