148 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



long observation of long continued, carefully made experiments ; 

 experiments made under the eye of keen intellects and a keener 

 competition ? The mathematical rule in application to the draft 

 of the plough is, that the resistance is in proportion to the square 

 of the furrow depth. Thus, if at the depth of four inches the 

 draft required were 252 pounds, at the depth of seven inches 

 the draft would be 771 — (the square of 4 being 16, and of 7 

 being 40.) But by Mr. Pusey's experiments the result proved 

 otherwise. In a moory soil the same plough, which at the 

 depth of six inches required a draft of 300 pounds, required 700 

 pounds at the depth of twelve inches. 



If my suspicion be true, that it is experiment and not arith- 

 metic, observation rather than algebra, that is to work out the 

 grand problem of a perfect plough, then, as before intimated, 

 the field of competition is still open. And with the present 

 system of annual exhibitions and governmental patronage, the 

 presence of woman, the orator's voice furnishing music for 

 every body to keep step to, aye, and the presence of those 

 whom Thomson calls the kings and awful fathers of mankind, 

 why should not improvements in the plough go on to their 

 utmost possible limit? I am brought in closing to say a word 

 on the subject of ploughing matches. 



The Monthly Farmer in the May number for 1841, published 

 by Gov. Hill of New Hampshire, contains the following item 

 from the Maidstone Gazette : An extensive farmer of Essex, 

 (England,) not many years ago happened to lose his plough- 

 man, and went to the overseers of the parish poor for another. 

 Out of over sixty men at work on the roads not one could be 

 found who could hold the plough. The magnitude of the evil 

 induced seven farmers to join him in a society, which offered 

 premiums for the best ploughman. This is said to have been 

 the small beginning from which all agricultural associations 

 have originated. 



Beyond all dispute the public exhibition 1ms made ploughing 

 and the plough nearly all they are. Dr. Franklin's remark upon 

 foppery in dress, that " it is other people's eyes that spoil us," 

 has its application here conversely; "it is other people's eyes 

 that make us." No man will venture himself upon the arena 

 to be shot at, or to shoot at others, without long practice. The 

 field presents a ring of competitors, every one of whom under- 



