OUR ISLAND STORY 115 school fairs and farmers' institutes, and the explanations and in¬ structions given in connection with them, have proved, perhaps, the strongest inducements to the application of skill and care in the production alike of vegetables, grain and animals. Competitions among farmers and exhibitions of farm produce have been held in Prince Edward Island since 1820. In that year the first exhibition of Island products was held at Crapaud . The advertisement referring to it set forth that "The inhabitants of Crapaud and surrounding country are anxious to open a market with Ramshag"—now Wallace, Nova Scotia ,—"to exchange sheep for spinning wheels and chairs;" and "young cattle of the best breeds from Cumberland , Nova Scotia , would meet with purchasers for cash or barter." Prize money was not, however, supplied by the Government of the Island until the year 1823. In that year a prize of £2 was offered for the best carcase of ox beef shown in the Market House of Charlotte town, and one pound for the best carcase of cow beef. It was reported that the former weighed 658 lbs., and that the latter weighed 394 lbs.; but who the fortunate winners of the prizes were was not stated. In October, 1849, a competition for the best field of turnips was held under the auspices of the Royal Agricultural Society. The judges reported that " James Peake , Esq., Royalty, was entitled to the first prize (£3) having grown twelve tons, seven hundredweight and two quarters on half an acre, which, reckoning the bushel, as is customary, at 56 lbs., will give a return of 990 bushels per acre; and the second prize to William Swabey , Esq., of Mount Stewart , having grown eleven tons, ten hundred¬ weight, three quarters and seventeen pounds on half an acre, which, reckoned as above, gives a return of 924 bushels per acre/' The names of the other, the unsuccessful competitors, were, B. E. Wright, Royalty, 904 bushels per acre; John Wil ¬ liams, Royalty, 864 bushels; Judge Peters , ¬ lottetown Royalty, 848 bushels; Richard Bagnall , , 834 bushels; George Coles , Royalty, 826 bushels; WTm. Bagnall, , 800 bushels;—Vance, Royalty, 776 bushels; A. Laird , New Glasgow , 800 bushels; George Lewis, Royalty, 740 bushels; George Beer , Char- a v