No. II.

Account of the Castleknock Farmers Society. Communicated by the Rev. Doctor O'Connor.

ON the 27th November 1797, the first meetting of this Society was held at the Rev. Dr. O'Connor's, the Right Honourable Thomas Pelham in the chair; at which a number of Resolutions were entered into, and of which the following are the principal :—

That the objects of this Society be the im provement of agriculture, the encouraging and rewarding faithful, industrious, and sober servants, labourers, and others, employed in the business of husbandry.

That every landholder or inhabitant of the united parishes of Castleknock, Blanchardstown, and Porterstown, subscribing annually half a guinea or upwards, shall be a member of this Society.

That a Treasurer and Secretary be elected annually.

That the premiums held out by the Sussex Agricultural Society be adopted as the basis of ours.

On the 29th of January 1798, premiums were offered for the encouragement of agriculture and industry, to the amount of 617. 185. 3d. Not more than 161. 145. 9d, of which has been granted, the disturbances of the following summer preventing claims from being sent in it was at the same time resolved, that the funds of this Society, or such part thereof as shall be

agreed on, be lent every year, interest free, on such security as should be approved of, to such persons as should establish a village-shop or shops within the united parishes, furnished with such articles as are generally made use of by labourers, manufacturers, and mechanics; such shop or shops to be under the inspection and subject to the regulations of the Society.

A committee was appointed to draw up rules for the internal regulation of the Society; which were as follows:

1. That the meetings of the Society be held four times in the year, viz. on the last Mondays of June, September, December, and March; and that notice of said meetings be given to all members by the Secretary.

2. That a majority of the members present at any of the quarterly meetings, may adjourn said meeting from time to time, and that a special meeting may be called on the requisition of five members, the Secretary giving a week's notice.

3. That a Chairman, chosen by the members present, do preside at and regulate the proceedings of the meeting.

4. That all subscriptions be paid in to the Treasurer on or before the last Monday in December each year, and that all subscribers are deemed perpetual members; and the usual subscription is considered a debt to the Society until notice in writing be given to the Treasurer of an intention to withdraw it for the ensuing year.

5. That the premium-year do commence this year on the 1st of April, and hereafter on the 1st of March; and that all claims for premiums requiring a year for their completion, be sent in on that day; and all others at such times

as shall be agreed on at any quarterly meeting. All premiums for the ensuing year to be announced in hand-bills before the 1st of March in each year.

6. That no premium be given to any nonsubscribing landholder worth 50l. per annum.

7. That tenants to landholders worth 100l. a year, obtain no premium unless they or their Landlords be subscribers to this Society.

8. That no person be allowed to obtain a premium for the same thing above once every three years.

9. That a candidate being detected in any attempt to impose on the Society, shall not only forfeit his present claim, but be declared incapable of obtaining any premium in future from this Society.

The meetings of the Society were interrupted for some months by the disturbances of the country; but not discouraged by this, the Society resumed their meetings on the 26th of November 1798; appointed a Committee to prepare a list of premiums for the present year, which they accordingly did to the amount of 571. 25. 4 d. (See list of premiums for 1799.) Ordered that the ploughing-match, which was interrupted last year, should be held on the 5th of July 1799; on which day four ploughs with oxen, and six with horses appeared in the field; judges were appointed, and premiums given to the best ploughmen to the amount of six guineas.

Ordered, that the Right Honourable Thomas Pelham, at his own request, be continued an honorary member.

The number of members about forty.

The subscriptions from half a guinea to twe guineas.

C

Premiums adjudged and paid by the Farmers Society, Castleknock, for 1798,

No. 1 and 2. Ploughing.

24th June. To John Archbold, ploughman to Mr. M'Farland,

£. s. d.

Three ploughs only with horses appearing this day, the 5th of July was. appointed for a second trial; on which day four ploughs with oxen, and six with horses appeared, when premiums were adjudged and paid as follows:

To

o Bryan Floody, ox-ploughman to Mr. Blackwood,

To Christopher Kelly, horse-ploughman to Mr. Troy,

No. 3. Rearing Children. October 28th, To Patrick Magenis, for having brought up the greatest number of children (viz. fifteen) in habits of industry,

To Patrick Sharkey, for next greatest number, viz. eight,

To Thomas Kernan, for next greatest number, viz. seven,

To Connor Farrelly, for fourth greatest number, viz. two,

No. 7. Labourers in Farming, &c. To John Beddy, for fourteen years service with Mr. Smythe,

To Andrew Mooney, for thirteen do. with Mr. Kirkpatrick, Coalmine, To Connor Farrelly, for eleven do. with do.

256

2 56

256

No. 24. Superannuated Labourers.

To Daniel O'Brien and Patrick Lynch, 17. 25. 9d. each,

To Thomas Carrol and Edward Mahon, 115. 4žd, each,

£. s. d.

256

I 29

£18 40

The premiums which require a year for their completion from No. 10 to No. 24, to be determined at the first meeting after the 1st of May 1800.

The Society foreseeing a dear season, have opened a subscription to purchase provisions and fuel, to be sold out to the poor at reduced prices.

A premium to superannuated labourers, suggested by a paper of Dr. Dobbin's. Agricultural Magazine, No. 1. p. 39.

Premiums proposed by the Farmers Society of the Union of Castleknock, for the year commencing the 1st of May 1799, and ending the 30th of April 1800.

LABOURERS PREMIUMS.

1. To the best ploughman with oxen,

2. To do. with horses,

The qualifications necessary to gain the above premiums, to be determined by a committee appointed for that purpose. The ploughing-match to be held in a field of Mr. Troy's at Porterstown, on the 24th of June 1799. All claimants for the ploughing-premiums