ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 191 



Prospectus of the Leopardstown Agricultural College. 



'* Under the patronag^e of the Royal Dublin Society, and of the Royal 

 Agricultural Improvement Society of Ireland ; and under the management 

 of a Committee consisting of the following gentlemen : — Robert Archibold, 

 Esq., JNI.P., Davidstown, Co. Kildare ; Charles Doyne, Esq., Newtown Park, 

 Co. Dublin ; Christopher Fitzsimon, Esq., J. P., GlencuUen House, Co. Dublin ; 

 L. E. Foot, Esq., Fitzwilliam-street, Dublin ; John Hawkins, Esq., Henrietta- 

 street, Dublin; A. J. Hawkins, Esq., Leopardstown, Co, Dublin; William 

 • Sherrard, Esq., Kilbogget, Co. Dublin; D. H. Sherrard, Esq., Thorndale, 

 Co. Dublin; John W. Stubbs, J. P., Esq., Rollistown, Co. Dublin; Edmund 

 Murphy, Secretary. 



" Leopardstown — the property of John Hawkins, Esq., and formerly the 

 residence of Lord Castlecoote — is situated one mile from Stillorgan, two miles 

 from the Railway Station, Black Rock, three from Kingstown, and five from 

 the Post Office, Dublin. The Demesne (which is surrounded by a wall twelve 

 feet high) contains 327 Statute Acres of Arable and Pasture Land, of various 

 qualities ; a first-class Mansion, peculiarly suited to a Public Institution ; 

 excellent Garden, with Hot-houses ; and Plantations containing nearly every 

 kind of Tree and Shrub which will bear this climate ; and, at the distance of half 

 a mile from the Mansion, and central with respect to the Arable Land, an 

 excellent Farm-house and suitable Steading. 



"The Farm-house is well suited for affording accommodation to Masters ; 

 and a School-room, Dining-room, and Dormitory have been fitted up for the 

 immediate reception of Fifty Pupils. An extension of accommodation is 

 contemplated. This branch of the Establishment will be opened on the first of 

 January, 1845, for the reception of Pupils; 



" No Pupil will be received under the age of fifteen years, and who cannot 

 read and write ; nor without a written engagement signed by parent or 

 guardian that he will be amenable to the Rules and Regulations of the Estab- 

 lishment. 



"Terms, p^i6 per annum, payable by quarterly payments of ^4 each ; for 

 which the Pupils will be found in Diet, Lodging, and Washing ; be instructed 

 in the Practice and Theory of Improved Agriculture, and receive a good 

 English Education, together with instruction in Practical Land-surveying and 

 Mapping, Levelling, Road-making, Book-keeping, &c. 



"The Pupils will be employed during the half of each day in Manual Labour 

 and the Ordinary Operations of the Farm and Garden, under the superinten- 

 dence of the Head Agriculturist. The other half of each day will be devoted 

 to the acquisition of Literary Knowledge in the School-room. The F'arm will 

 be arranged so as to afford examples ot the various Rotations (one of which 

 will include the Cultivation of Flax). A sufficient extent will be devoted to 

 Experimental Farming, of the operations of which the Pupils will be required 

 to keep journals. 



•'Thorough-draining, Deepening Land, Irrigation, House-feeding, and the 

 Management of Manure, solid and liquid, will engage most particular atten- 

 tion ; and a few of each of the approved breeds of Cattle and Sheep will be 

 kept for the purpose of familiarizing rhe Pupils with the peculiar habits ot the 

 breeds. A Chemical Laboratory and a collection of rocks and earths will be 

 provided. In a word, every effort will be made to inculcate, along with habits 

 of industry, order and attention, a sound practical knowledge of the best 

 system of Husbandry, so as to enable them in after life to accomplish the great 

 object of Improved Farming, viz., 



" To raise the largest crops at the least expense, and with the least possible 

 injury to the land. 



