76 THE MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY 



which gave us pleasure, as evincing a strong desire for 

 improvement. There were no two ploughs out of the 

 twelve alike. They were all of them uncommon, and 

 had some peculiarity of modern invention. 



This dissimilarity, and individualism in improve- 

 ment, was not destined to continue long, for the 

 reason, that will occur to the reader, that in the spring 

 of the year 1819, Mr. Quincy was to drive his team 

 afield with a New York plough attached, and, in the 

 autumn, to announce, whether, consciously or not, the 

 beginning of a new era in ploughing. 



The year 1818 was entered upon by the trustees 

 with hope and confidence. They could but mentally 

 assent to the newspaper's panegyric upon their recent 

 fair, as splendid and gratifying; and this gratification 

 arose in part only from the thought that their en- 

 deavors had been sustained by the farmer contribu- 

 tors, and had proved popularly acceptable. Its other 

 source was in the perception that they now had a new 

 instrumentality, through which to reach, and incite 

 to better things, the conservative and somewhat in- 

 credulous tillers of the soil. For them, henceforth, to 

 see and to believe might be happily joined. Early in 

 the season a committee of the board opened negotia- 

 tions with the selectmen of Brighton, looking to the 

 permanent establishment of the cattle show in that 

 town. They suggested to the selectmen that in what- 

 ever town they should locate, they should expect from 

 it the gift of half an acre of land, on which to set an 

 agricultural hall, and the use of four acres, near at 

 hand, during six days in October, each year, for the 

 placing of cattle pens and the convenience of specta- 

 tors, having already had a proposition to that effect 

 made to them in a neighboring town. A town meeting 



