APPENDIX. xliii 



The officers of the society appeared perfectly at home in trans- 

 acting the business necessarily devolving on them, and in their 

 several offices, as well as elsewhere, were attentive and ready to 

 furnish your delegate with information necessary for his purpose. 

 It was a pleasure to witness the precision as well as the decision of 

 the several committees. 



The ploughing match was the first effort of the society, and was 

 held on the society's own premises. The soil was not very tena- 

 cious, rendering the labor light for the teams. One-eighth of an 

 acre was allotted to each team, and was to be ploughed seven 

 inches deep. Forty minutes were allowed each man to plough his 

 patch. I think that all accomplished their task within the specified 

 time very acceptably, while some got through in time to witness 

 their neighbor's skill. 



Seven horse teams and seven ox-teams (one pair each) entered 

 and competed for the prizes. There were, also, two or three cattle 

 teams (two oxen and one horse) that strove for the mastery. The 

 kind of team last mentioned answers very well in light soil, with 

 light cattle, when tempered alike, but in general such teams vary 

 so much in disposition, that both horse and oxen, as well as the 

 driver, and sometimes the ploughman, will become unduly excited, 

 and the fret will prove worse to all concerned than will the same 

 amount of work to a single pair of able-bodied oxen, with quietness 

 at the plough. 



The severe drought of the last few seasons so affected our pasture 

 lands, that grazing stock in point of flesh, illy compares with that 

 of former years. This was the case with most of the cattle on ex- 

 hibition at Myrick's, and yet they would compare well with the 

 cattle in other parts of the State. 



Large numbers of cattle, horses, sheep and swine, as well as 

 coops of fowls, were on exhibition. The introduction of the feath- 

 ered tribe in our public exhibitions, is becoming deservedly very 

 popular. With proper care, perhaps there is no stock in the hands 

 of the farmer that will give a greater net profit on the capital 

 invested, than will the barnyard fowl. 



This society enjoys accommodations equal to, and perhaps supe- 

 rior, to most societies in the State. In the upper hall of the large 

 stone building, an almost endless variety of varieties was on exhibi- 

 tion. The ladies' department was well supplied with evidences of 

 taste and skill. To enumerate and to give to each specimen its due 

 meed of praise, is in other and better hands. I cannot, however, 

 refrain from speaking of needlework by the hand of F. A. Nelson, of 

 Lakeville, a miss of eight years old, which would do credit to one far 



