THE ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY 137 



agriculture to carry out experiments, and instruct 

 others in the art of husbandry. The name of John 

 Wynn Baker appears for the first time in the Pro- 

 ceedings in the year 1764. He did a great deal for 

 the Society on its agricultural side, and obtained no 

 small reputation for the thoroughness with which he 

 performed his duties, being frequently mentioned in 

 complimentary terms during his tenure of office. 

 Baker was an Englishman and a member of the 

 Agricultural Society of the Hundred of Salford, 

 Lancashire. The missing minute book would no 

 doubt give a full explanation of his initial position, 

 but when first mentioned he had leave to resign as an 

 honorary member; he was, however, requested to 

 attend the meetings when convenient ; and a sum of 

 £100 was voted for his expenses in the cultivation 

 of cabbages, turnips, &c, and for his remuneration. 

 In his Experiments in Agriculture, 1765 (Haliday 

 Pamphlets), Baker says that in 1762 he addressed 

 an anonymous pamphlet — Hints on Husbandry — to 

 the Dublin Society. " Encouraged by people who 

 knew me to be the author, I, in 1763, took my present 

 farm (Loughlinstown, near Celbridge). In 1764, I 

 printed a short epitome of my plan. The Dublin 

 Society, always attentive to what appears to be to the 

 advantage of the public, adopted it, and gave me en- 

 couragement." Next year he was reported to have 

 made experiments in agriculture with great skill and 

 accuracy, and to have discharged the trust reposed in 

 him to the satisfaction of the Society. He was then 

 voted £200, and 500 copies of his special report were 

 printed. 



Soon after, Baker conceived a plan for educating 

 youths in husbandry, which, to a small extent, was 

 afterwards carried out. They were to be apprenticed 



