330 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



parent stem. Of butter and cheese there were many boxes 

 and tubs which looked well, and if my olfactories were in tune 

 I should pronounce good. 



Here let me remark, that at exhibitions of this kind, those 

 articles are very improperly treated. It seems to me that 

 visitors, to say the least, act inconsiderately when thrusting a 

 thumb-nail into a lump of butter, or slicing off cheese with an 

 old jackknife, especially ill-mannered is it if said jackknife 

 has been long used in replenishing a filthy tobacco pipe. Let 

 the appropriate committees examine bread, butter and cheese, 

 and others let those articles alone, except optically, unless 

 invited to do otherwise by those having rightful authority. 

 Among the machines and tools, I noticed two which appeared 

 to be small affairs, but, on witnessing the operation of each, 

 found them to be really useful ; one an eyeleting, and the other 

 a machine for leathering tacks, each doing its work well. The 

 former, by Reed & Howard, West Bridgewater, the latter by 

 L. G. Bradford, of Plymouth. Some space in the room was 

 occupied by fancy articles, needle-work, etc., which was well 

 wrought, comparing favorably with other shows of the kind 

 which I have witnessed. 



Outside, the exhibition extended over much territory, no 

 portion of which lacked space for the free circulation of air. 

 A goodly number of colts were shown ; several fine ones, among 

 which was one that I regarded as a little extra; a Morgan, 

 seventeen months old, and owned by Darius White, of Plymp- 

 ton. In the cattle pens, many of which were empty, the more 

 noticeable were five cows, two calves and a large and fine heifer, 

 twenty-one months old, all Jerseys, and the property of Charles 

 G. Davis, Esq., of Plymouth, president of the society. Fat 

 cattle were scarce. No working oxen on the ground. On 

 viewing the ground that was ploughed the day before, it was 

 apparent that ten teams had been employed, but whether all 

 were oxen I did not learn. The furrows were well turned, but 

 believing they were not cut deep enough, made inquiry in 

 relation thereto, and was informed that the subsoil was of such 

 a nature as not to admit to plough deeper, — a fact that was not 

 apparent to a casual observer. Deep ploughing is my rule; 

 say from seven to ten inches. If the subsoil is filled with 

 rocks, why, of course the rule may not be conformed to strictly; 



