r ~——;: <

112 - OUR ISLAND STORY

do wait upon His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor with the request that he will be pleased to allow that the rooms in the Old Court House heretofore used by the Legislative Council, or such others as may be most advisable, be given to the Society for the public use, with permission to arrange and alter the same provided there be no injury sustained by the building.” This carefully worded and modest request was, however, denied ”upon public grounds," and other premises were obtained. Charles Stewart, Esquire, of Rose Bank, was subsequently nominated by His 'EX- cellency to the position of Secretary-Treasurer of the Society and no time was lost in respect to theadoption of practical measures for the advancement of agriculture throughout the Island. _Mr. James D. Haszard was subsequently, for several years, Secretary» Treasurer of the Royal Agricultural Society. ’ i

At the second general meeting of the Society, held on the 19th of May, 1849, it was resolved that “The committee is now prepar- ed to proceed with the formation of Branch Societies throughout the Island” and that “visitors will shortly proceed to GeOrgetown and Saint Eleanor’s for the purpose of establishing branches at those places ;” and at the same meeting it was resolved that “Pre- miums, the amount of which shall be hereafter advertized, will be given for the following objects, in the present year,” viz._, for the best and second best half~acre of Swede turnips; for the best and second best half—acre of yellow bullock turnips; for the best and second best quarter of an acre of Indian corn; for the best and second best two acres of wheat; for the best and second best two four—rowed barley; and the Hon. Messrs. Hensley, Peters, Hill, Swabey, Brennan, Rice, Dr. I. H. Conroy and Mr. David Hooper were requested to act as Visitors. In like manner preparation was made for the cattle shows and other activities held and carried on under the auspiecs of The Royal Agricultural Society. This Society I was well maintained until the year 1865. During the years of its existence impOrtations from the best herds and flocks in the Mother Country were made, and decided improvements in all the branches of Agriculture maintained in the Island were soon evident. It was succeeded by a Board of Commissioners of Agriculture appointed by the Government; and the Governement Stock Farm was es~