192 '^^^'^ SOMERSET SOCIETY. 



drain, thus forever getting rid of the stones, oftentimes at less 

 costihan dumping them by the roadside — always a nuisance. On 

 farms free from small stones, no doubt tile drainage is the most 

 economical and eflficient. Whatever material is used in making 

 uuderdrains, great care should be taken in having the ducts, or 

 courses, in as direct and straight line as possible. All angles 

 should be avoided, as dirt will accumulate in them, and soon fill 

 the passage. In the absence of a better plan for loosening the 

 dirt in the trenches, we could recommend the following: After the 

 first or second plowing, take a large plow and attach a strong 

 whippletree to it, long enough to hitch a pair of oxen or horses at 

 each end and leave space for the ditch between them. Then hitch 

 to the plow with a chain, to be lengthened as the ditch becomes 

 deeper. It is a slow, tiresome job to dig all the dirt by hand. The 

 above method is a great improvement over it. 



It is hoped that more attention will be paid to draining our wet 

 lands, some of which when freed from the surplus water become 

 the most profitable of any, ensuring from two to three weeks 

 earlier seed time, and a greater difference in the maturity of the 

 crops. 



Our awards are as follows: D. J. Briggs, 1st premium, $25.00; 

 W. R. Wright, 2d, $20.00 ; J. H. Jordan, 3d, $15.00 ; John Goss, 

 4th premium, $10.00. 



Respectfully submitted. 



xt' TT a' r Committee. 



V. H, Sprague, ) 



WEST SOMERSET SOCIETY. 



By Ben. Moore, Secretary. 



The Annual Show and Fair of the West Somerset Agricultural 

 Society, was holden on the Society's grounds at North Anson, 

 October 10th, 11th and 12ih. The weather was so very cold and 

 windy that it was impracticable for farmers at a distance to drive 

 their cattle, and doubtless kept many people away. There were 

 entered for exhibition and premium, seventy-four oxen, seventy- 

 four steers, eleven cows, twenty heifers, five flocks of sheep, five 

 flocks of lambs, a good exhibition of poultry, and some swine. 

 The exhibition of oxen was excellent, being pronounced the best 



