THE ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY 297 



Societies of London and Edinburgh was desired by 

 many of the scientific men of Dublin, 1 most of whom 

 were members of both the Royal Dublin Society and 

 the Royal Irish Academy, and the moment for a 

 decisive step seemed opportune, but the Royal Irish 

 Academy at once declined to entertain the project. 

 The Royal Agricultural Society, on the other hand, 

 was quite ready to agree to the proposed amalgamation, 

 as matters had, in fact, reached a stage when it seemed 

 no longer possible to carry on its work on the old 

 lines. In October 1877, a joint committee of the two 

 societies reported in favour of amalgamation and the 

 formation of a new body to be called the Royal 

 Agricultural Association of Ireland. 



The Royal Agricultural Society of Ireland was 

 originally established in the year 1841 under the title 

 of the "Agricultural Improvement Society." From 

 the very first it received the support and assistance of 

 the Royal Dublin Society, for at a meeting of the 

 latter Society held on March the 25th, 1841, it was 

 resolved " That this Society is ready and willing to 

 give such aid and co-operation as its means and 

 premises afford to the new Agricultural Improvement 

 Society, should the same be required." 



The objects of the new Society were (i) To hold 

 a show each year in one of the provinces, taking them 

 if possible in rotation; (2) to promote the formation 

 of local or district agricultural societies, and assist 

 them in advancing farming and cattle-breeding; (3) to 

 establish an agricultural museum ; (4) to disseminate 

 practical and useful knowledge connected with agri- 

 culture by means of publications, and establish an 

 agricultural library in Dublin; (5) to establish an 



1 Report on the scientific prospects of the Royal Dublin Society, 

 Proceedings^ cxiii. p. 44. 



