REPORTS OF DELEGATES. ]:>'.) 



ESSEX. 



The cattle show of the Essex Agricultural Society was held 

 in Danvers, on the 28th and 29th days of September last, and 

 was attended by your delegate on the latter day, with more 

 than ordinary interest and satisfaction. Returning to his 

 native county, and to the home of his early manhood, — meeting 

 again the friends endeared to him by many pleasant associa- 

 tions, he regarded your appointment as a privilege, and was 

 rewarded in the fulfilment of it, with the highest gratifications. 



Prevented by unavoidable engagements from being present 

 on the first day of the exhibition, your delegate arrived the 

 next morning in season to witness the chief performance of the 

 occasion on the field, — the ploughing match. This was engaged 

 in by twenty-four competitors, and afforded a most exciting 

 spectacle to a large concourse of people. The grounds were 

 of the best character and condition. They had been marked 

 out with great precision, — a point not always attended to with 

 sufficient care. The contestants were all ready on the instant, 

 and started off at the given word, like men accustomed to the 

 work. The teams were all in good working condition, and 

 their proper training was noticeable. Double teams, consisting 

 of one yoke of oxen and a horse, were required to plough one 

 sixth of an acre, nine inches deep, with the Michigan plough, 

 and eight inches deep with any other. Single teams and horse 

 teams were required to plough the same quantity of land six 

 inches deep. These requirements were, as we judged, com- 

 plied with, and the whole work was performed with the skill 

 and ease which mark the labors of good ploughmen. We have 

 rarely witnessed any thing of the kind so well executed. 

 Amongst the competitors were some of a green old age, 

 handling the plough and driving the team with the vigor and 

 ease of early manhood, offering to the young an example fitted 

 to fire their ambition, and well worthy of their imitation. No 

 boisterous shouting was heard, and only in a few instances was 

 any needless hurrying of the teams observed. The quiet, 

 patient, thoughtful driver of a team may not always be a 



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