646 



Your Committee will only add, that in the absence of any instruc- 

 tions, they have awarded first, second, and recommended discretionary 

 premiums, as in their opinion the several articles deserved. 

 All which is respectfully submitted, 



MRS. M. L. FITCH, 

 MRS. E.T.SPENCER, 

 MRS. J. OILMAN, 



Committee. 



Pursuant to a vote of the Van Buren County Agricultural Society, 

 at the last Annual Meeting thereof, there was held a Plowing Match, near 

 the village of Paw Paw, on Saturday, the twenty -second day of Octo- 

 ber, 1853. 



The Committee on Plowing, at said Match, report that the competitors for 

 the premiums at the Plowing Match, were E. T. Spencer, S. Smiley, 

 Wm. Blades, Thos. Blades, Thos. Threadgold, John Pelton, S. Murch, 

 B. Murdock, and John Cook. 



The ground was selected and arranged for plowing, by the Commit- 

 tee of Arrangements. 



The competitors were required to plow ^ of an acre in one hour ; and 

 all completed their work within the time allotted to them. Thomas 

 Threadgold's team plowed quarter of an acre in 54 minutes, the work- 

 manship, considering the dry state of the ground, first rate. The Com- 

 mittee award to him the 1st premium, $5. 



Sam. Smiley's team plowed quarter of an acre in 67 minutes; the 

 plowing was done good. The Committee award to him the 2d premi- 

 um, 83. 



The Committee recommend that Wm. Blades, Thos. Blades, and 

 John Cook, be each awarded a bound volume of the Michigan Farmer; 

 we think they did themselves much credit as plow-boys. 



Taking all things into consideration, the Committee are of the opi- 

 nion, that all of the competitors, (with a very small exception,) did 

 themselves a good deal of credit, as plowmen and farmers. 



