180 THE ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY. 



patronage, and with the financial support, of the Dublin Society. The 

 Spring Show has gradually, but steadily developed, and can now claim to 

 be one of the largest, if not the largest. Show of breeding cattle in the 

 world. The Society administers a yearly Government grant of ^^5,000 for 

 the improvement of the Breed of Horses and Cattle. It has also carried out 

 some useful agricultural inquiries and experiments, especially in connection 

 with the prevention of the potato disease, and with example holdings. The 

 Society gives assistance to a number of Provincial Farming Societies, and 

 employs a Chemical Analyst and a consulting Entomologist and Botanist. 

 Other branches of the Society's work include the holding of Exhibitions of 

 Lace and Wood-carving, at which liberal prizes are offered. A survey of 

 the fishing grounds of the west and south-west coast of Ireland has been 

 conducted under the auspices of the Society, which defrayed half the 

 expenses, the rest being borne by the Government. 



The w^ork of the Society in Science is carried on at evening Meetings, at 

 which original communications are read and discussed. The papers are 

 subsequently published in the Scientific Transactions and Proceedings, and 

 the Economic Proceedings of the Society, and by a system of exchange 

 these publications are distributed amongst about 400 of the leading 

 Scientific Societies in all parts of the world. Systematic courses of Science 

 lectures for young people, and popular courses on subjects of scientific 

 interest are delivered each Session. Art is encouraged by Scholarships 

 and Prizes, and the Recitals of Classical Music, which are given during the 

 Session, are said to have had a marked influence on the development of 

 Music in Dubhn. The Members and Associates (numbering about four 

 thousand) have also at their disposal reading rooms and a library containing 

 over 20,000 volumes, which includes, along with works of general interest, 

 the most important collection in Ireland of the publications of Learned 

 Societies. 



