156 BERKSHIRE SOCIETY. 



steel, is indeed not exhibited in barbarous trials of skill ; but the 

 strong-armed yeoman competes like valorously with his peers 

 of the plough. Honor to the victors in the conflict ! But the 

 difference is this. The chivalry of the lance and the sword 

 sends distress and death to the millions ; the chivalry of the 

 ploughshare sends to them plenty, and happiness, and life. To 

 be sure, at the plough, our country finds her noblest defenders. 

 It has been said that the whale-ship schools the mariner to that 

 glorious prowess which he exhibits in conflict upon the decks of 

 our navy. And so thought we to-day, as we saw our noble 

 Berkshire boys contending for victory in the plough-field. We 

 should like to see one of them turn his back to his country's 

 foe, in the hour of danger ! Such an event can never happen. 

 Whenever liberty needs strong arms, and broad breasts, and 

 stout hearts to defend her, she may find them here, at the 

 plough. 



We turn from speculations like these, (not entirely inappro- 

 priate, we trust,) to the tournament of the day. The number 

 of competitors with ox-teams was eight ; the number with horse- 

 teams, eleven. The land ploughed by each team was one fourth 

 of an acre. The work was all done skilfully and admirably, 

 and we would that we had at command a premium for each 

 competitor. We award as follows : — 



For single Ox- Teams. 



To Henry B. Brewster, Pittsfield, 39f minutes, 32 fur- 

 rows, 1st premium, $7 00 



To Asaph D. Foote, Pittsfield, 40£ minutes, 30 furrows, 



2d premium, 6 00 



To Zachariah Sears, Lenox, 40 minutes, 31 furrows, 3d 



premium, . . . . . . . . 5 00 



To Elisha S. Tracy, Pittsfield, 36i minutes, 28 furrows, 



4th premium, . 4 00 



To Peter Shearer, Pittsfield, 43 minutes, 31 furrows, 5th 



premium, 3 00 



To Daniel Sprague, Pittsfield, 39 minutes, 30 furrows, 



6 th premium, 2 00 



