142 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



defect, saying to the farmer if you will come to my store and 

 purchase a new point, your plough will be as good as ever. 



From the above we may learn the following lesson — that 

 every farmer should be well informed as to his own business, 

 and not be under the necessity of calling on his neighbors or 

 traders for advice ; for should he do so, they will most assuredly 

 sell him the new plough before they recommend a point to the 

 old one. 



Joseph How, Chairman. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



Ploughing with Single Teams. — It seems hardly within the 

 bounds of propriety that the exhibition of ploughing at our 

 County Show, so underlying all other great industrial opera- 

 tions, should be allowed to pass off, as is sometimes the case, 

 with the mere announcement of the award of premiums. The 

 committee, indeed, all of whom were present except one, whose 

 place was filled by Mr. Tenney, having given the closest atten- 

 tion to the duties assigned them and having pronounced their 

 decision unanimously made, separated ; so that they as a com- 

 mittee cannot be held responsible for the remarks that follow. 



The lots for ploughing were laid out as usual, 210 feet long 

 and 34|- feet wide, containing one-sixth of an acre each. The 

 time of commencing was 10 o'clock 13 minutes. Mr. Winslow 

 finished at 12 minutes before 11 o'clock, and Mr. Barker one 

 minute later. Mr. "Winslow's team being 35 minutes, Mr. 

 Barker's 36 minutes. Both ploughs turned the furrows so as 

 to leave no vegetation in sight. The land was left by Mr, 

 Barker's plough (Robinson's) in a condition somewhat more 

 friable than by Mr. Winslow's, (Parker & Co's). This appeared 

 to be the effect of leaning the plough to the right. It would 

 undoubtedly be a recommendation to a plough to leave the 

 surface mellow, provided it could be done without detracting 

 from the quality of the work in other respects. Mr. Winslow's 

 (Parker & Co.'s) plough left the bottom of the furrow level, 

 and the land side perpendicular. Mr. Barker's plough by being 

 held out of perpendicular, leaning to the furrow, left the bot- 

 tom uneven and the land side cut under, thus leaving an unfin- 

 ished appearance. Mr. Barker uses the Robinson Plough, No. 

 11, and was his own ploughman. 



