208 A HISTORY OF 



improving the art of worsted weaving, premiums were 

 offered for machines called Billies, of not less than 

 thirty spindles, which prepared the cardings of wool 

 into slabs ready for spinning on the jenny ; with further 

 premiums for skeins, &c., worked on such. One 

 hundred pounds were to be applied in premiums on 

 the value of scribbling cards, or of cards to be affixed 

 on cotton-carding machines. 



The principal hosiers of Dublin having represented 

 that their trade would probably benefit by encourage- 

 ment being extended to the construction of gig frames, 

 and teaching working hosiers the mode of using them, 

 six guineas were paid to a person who instructed two 

 master framesmiths in the method of making gig 

 frames of the most approved construction. 



In vol. lii. of the Proceedings of the Society, app. B 

 (1816), is a sketch of the origin and progress of the 

 merino factory, Kilkenny, by Thomas Nowlan. A 

 report was made on this factory, in 1819, from 

 which it appeared that its superfine cloth of native 

 wool had obtained the chief premium of the Farming 

 Society. 



