OUR ISLAND STORY -- "1-11

301d Clyde,” purchased upon arrival here by Mr. Stephen Hall, of

Travellers Rest, in Prince County, “Stockman.” performing goOd se1 vice in Queen 3 County, and “The Elm Horse" in King 3 County.

In later years “Brown Stout ” “Challenger,” “Lucky Lad, ” and'

last and greatest of all, Barrister—_selected 1n Scotland by Mr. C. C. Gardiner—all did their parts in the improvement of the heavy horses for which the Island is famed '

Individual horsemen and farmers have, particularly in recent years, impOrted from the United States and Great Britain trotting and draught horses, adding greatly to the excellence of .the blood by vwhich the reputation of the Island horses has been maintained.

In" like manner herds of Island Cattle and flocks of Island sheep have.

lately been founded by the enterprise and care of individual breeders

and farmers. But early 1n the history of the countiy there were

importations from England and Scotland of first- class stock.

Lieut. Governor Ready was one of: the first of those who pur- I chased cattle and'sheep in the Mother Country and in France. The Central Agricultural Society, the Royal Agricultural Society Which succeeded it, and the Government Stock Farm Commissioners 1m- ported cattle and sheep, selected by men in the Mother Country who

were known to be good judges of stock. Cattle of breeds known as _i ' the Shorthorn or “Durham" cattle, and Ayrshire cattle were those ‘

which were most favored by the importers. The Royal Agricultural Society and the Government Stock Farm had calves and lambs of the beSt breeds and strains available distributed, by means of auction sales, among the best farmers 1n the country; and so the stock of the country was gradually improved.

Of the first Agricultural Society of the Provincemthe Central Agricultural Society—them are no records available. The Royal Agricultural Society was established by an Act of the Legislature 1n the session of 1849, and the first meeting in pursuance of the Act Was held on the 12th day of May 1n that year. There Were

then present the Hon. William Swabey, president; Hon. Stepheni

Rice, Hon. Charles Hensley, Hon. I. M. Holl, Hon. Judge Peters,

' and Messrs. Charles Haszard, William Hodges, Henry Longworth, George Beer, jr. ., Alexander Laird, William Pethick and William

V W. Lord At this meeting it was resolved “that the President -

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