OUR ISLAND STORY 111 "Old Clyde/' purchased upon arrival here by Mr. Stephen Hall , of Travellers' Rest, in , "Stockman" performing good service in Queen's County, and "The Elm Horse" in King's County. In later years "Brown Stout," "Challenger," "Lucky Lad," and last and greatest of all, Barrister—selected in 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 States and Great Britain trotting and draught horses, adding greatly to the excellence of the blood by which 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 in the history of the country there were importations from England and Scotland of first-class stock. Lieut. Governor Ready was one of the first of those who pur¬ chased cattle and sheep in the Mother Country and in . The Central Agricultural Society, the Royal Agricultural Society which succeeded it, and the Government Stock Farm Commissioners im¬ 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 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 in the country; and so the stock of the country was gradually improved. Of the first Agricultural Society of the Province—the Central Agricultural Society—there are no records available. The Royal Agricultural Society was established by an Act of the Legislature in the session of 1849, and the first meeting in pursuance of the Act was held on the 12th day of May in that year. There were then present the Hon. William Swabey , president; Hon. Stephen Rice, Hon. Charles Hensley , Hon. J. M. Holl , Hon. Judge Peters , and Messrs. Charles Haszard , William Hodges , Henry Longworth , George Beer , jr., Alexander Laird , William Pethick and William W. Lord. At this meeting it was resolved "that the President * i tfi