BRISTOL SOCIETY. 335 



animal, and is from an excellent Galloway cow, still in my 

 possession. They have had the same fare as the cows and their 

 other associates. 



VuE del'Eau, October 10//i, 1849. 



On Ploughing. 



The committee are unwilling to commence their report, 

 without first making an effort to impress upon the minds of 

 members of the society, that our object in coming together at this 

 time, and at all our meetings, is, to call into action our latent ener- 

 gies, to excite us to greater industry, and to wake up in our minds, 

 a spirit of inquiry into the best mode of doing the most labor, 

 and doing it in the best manner, with the least or smallest 

 means. The importance and utility of ploughing matches may 

 be, and have been questioned by some persons ; but as they are 

 generally considered the most exciting and interesting part of 

 the show, very few arc found to discourage them, and no one 

 who has made himself well and thoroughly acquainted with 

 the subject, will speak lightly of them. 



All persons who are much advanced in life, can well remem- 

 ber when no one thought of ploughing sward ground, without 

 four good oxen ; and it was then often deemed necessary, to 

 add a horse. A team of this size would always require, at 

 least, one experienced driver, and often a boy in addition, to 

 lead or ride the horse. But now, the work is better done — as 

 we have this day had abundant evidence — with one yoke of 

 oxen and one hand. And this state of things has, in a great 

 measure, been brought about by ploughing matches, which 

 have led directly to the better training of cattle ; and the gen- 

 eral emulation excited by them, has also led to great improve- 

 ments in ploughs, as well as in the use of them. 



Agriculturists should never forget, that the finest and impal- 

 pable parts of the soil, is the principal, if not the only actual 

 portion in the vegetable growth ; hence the necessity and im- 

 portance of a thorough pulverizing of the soil, and I believe 



