FOR PROMOTING AGRICULTURE 81 



specimens of swine, proving that the advantage of 

 careful breeding was becoming generally understood. 

 In 1821 the total of premiums offered was $2,000. As 

 usual, some were not competed for, but the total pay- 

 ments for premiums were $1,244. A new manufacture 

 was exhibited by the inventor, John Johnson, of 

 Marblehead, namely, seines and herring nets of cotton 

 twine, which were preferred by the fishermen of 

 Marblehead to those of hemp, whether of American 

 or foreign manufacture. A premium of $10 was 

 awarded. The superiority of the progeny of various 

 animals of choice foreign breeds now exhibited was 

 officially noted. 



In 1822 persons were present from all the New 

 England states and some of the southern states. In 

 1823 a Sicilian squash three feet long, raised at Brook- 

 line, from foreign seed, was shown; also ears of corn 

 14 inches long, raised in Roxbury, from seed obtained 

 in Missouri ; also large onions from Tripoli seed ; also 

 elderberry wine, of which the official report remarks 

 that "it is reputed to be very wholesome," seeming to 

 signify that it was a new thing, or at least not famil- 

 iarly known. In 1824 a pair of fat oxen from Shrews- 

 bury, weighing 5000 pounds, were in the exhibition; 

 also a mule. In 1825 a plough was exhibited with a 

 ''self-sharpening point," the sharpening being effected 

 by reversing the piece when it became worn. The 

 official report of it says, "Your committee had no 

 evidence of the instrument's having been used and 

 approved by practical farmers, and therefore do not 

 deem it within their authority to grant a premium." 

 In 1826 a satisfactory threshing machine was ex- 

 hibited, which, with horse-power, in seven hours, 

 would thresh 203 bushels of oats. In the official report 

 the trustees renew their declaration in favor of cast- 



