84 THE MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY 



the lots were, of course, of the same size. Doubtless 

 the committee found their pre-conceptions to be 

 rather shaken up; but after due cogitation and look- 

 ing over the ground, they made up their report to 

 read: "In considering the performance of Mr. 

 Quincy's plough, your committee were constrained, in 

 some measure, by their construction of the terms on 

 which the premiums were offered (viz., "the best work 

 with the least expense of labor," ) to place time against 

 good work, as the work of this plough was unquestion- 

 ably the best in the field, and the team under exem- 

 plary discipline." Accordingly, Mr. Quincy, notwith- 

 standing the lateness of his team in arriving at the 

 end of the last furrow, was awarded the third premium. 

 It may be remarked, with a view to add desirable 

 definiteness to this record, that from the beginning, 

 the ploughing matches took place on some field a short 

 distance away from what may be called the show 

 grounds. Prior to the building of the Boston and 

 Worcester railroad, a field near Market street, now 

 crossed by the railroad, was used, and on some later 

 occasions the ten acre lot opposite to the Bull's Head 

 tavern. 



In 1831 the cattle show was omitted. In making the 

 announcement, the trustees speak of the satisfactory 

 results which had been attained through the cattle 

 shows of the society during the preceding fourteen 

 years, more especially in respect to stimulating better 

 practices among the farmers in the breeding of neat 

 cattle, sheep and swine. To this, they say, the shows 

 of the county societies have contributed greatly, and 

 will continue to be effective in that way. This favor- 

 able state of things, they say, will justify the applica- 

 tion of the society's funds to other important objects. 

 They therefore propose to continue the usual pre- 



