52 1 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



and 1 peck. The same quantity, say 2 rods, was 

 measur sd, on which the potatoes were planted with 

 the barn-yard manure only — the result was a frac- 

 tion less than 3 bushels. Cost of 4 barrels shell 

 lime at Lexington, 42 1-2 cts. per barrel, $1,70 : 

 less value of barrels at 10 cts. each, 40 cts. ; cost of 

 salt 25 cts. per bushel; cost of labor composting 

 50 cts. ; whole cose $2,05. I consider, upon the 

 whole, that the cost of manure in both cases was 

 about the same, and the result -would give at the 

 rate of 420 bushels to the acre in one case, and 

 240 in the otl er, or in other words at the rate 

 of one hundred and eighty bushels per acre in fa- 

 vor of salt and lime. 



1 remain your most obedient servant, 

 Lexington, Oct. 6, 1852. James Gould. 



MIDDLESEX COUNTY AGRICULTURAL 

 SOCIETY. 



The Fifty-Eighth Annual Festival of the yeo 

 manry of Middlesex was held at Concord, on 

 Wednesday, October 6th. The day was favorable, 

 and everything conspired to render the occasion 

 attractive and successful. The Exhibition, in all 

 its departments, was the largest and finest which 

 the Society, (the oldest County Society in the Com- 

 monwealth) has ever made ; and in some of them 

 it has never been surpassed in the State, or per- 

 haps in the country. 



The various exercises were such as to occupy 

 fully, and even to crowd, the hours which a single 

 day could furnish ; but the arrangements were so 

 carefully made, and so exactly executed, that ev- 

 erything was accomplished without confusion or 

 delay. Much trouble frequently arises at cattle 

 shows, as on other public occasions, from want of 

 punctuality — an hour lost in the morning, or even 

 a half hour, cannot be recovered through the en 

 tire day. Much credit is due to the chief marshal , 

 Col. W. E. Faulkner, of Acton, for his thorough 

 ness and efficiency in this particular. S:> far as it 

 depended upon him, everything took place at th 

 time appointed for it — and was seasonably ar- 

 ranged and provided for. The entries of stock, and 

 of fruit, vegetables, and manufactured articles, 

 were made on the day previous in a much greater 

 proportion than in former years ; which gave more 

 time for their ai-rangement, and relieved the offi- 

 cers of the society from much unnecessary and un- 

 comfortable pressure. By the thoughtfulness and 

 c ood sense of the contributors, some part of the ad- 

 vantages, of taking two days for the exhibition, 

 were thus secured ; and it is to be hoped that the 

 rules of the society may effectually provide a like 

 security hereafter. 



THE FLOWING MATCH, 



which was the first object of interest in the morn- 

 ing, took place at 9 o'clock. The field was a pie e 

 of land belonging to Simon Brown, Esq., lying 

 next the river on the Lowell road, containing about 

 eleven acres. It was level, with a tough sward, 

 rather moist, and containing ro< ts and m a I w 



grass enough not to be easy plowing, yet of such 

 even quality, as to give all an equal chance, and 

 leave but little choice of lots. There were forty- 

 three entries, and of these thirty-seven teams ac- 

 tually engaged in the contest — a larger number by 

 one-half at least, than had ever plowed at any pre- 

 vious match in the county. So far as our infor- 

 mation extends, there were never so many compet- 

 itors at any plowing match in the State. They 

 came from all sections of the county, and from 

 their performances it might safely be said, that 

 better plowmen were nowhere to be found. The 

 chief marshal and his assistants were early on the 

 ground, so that the places were drawn, the teams 

 stationed, and everything was ready for the signal 

 at the appointed minute. "Whoever is not ready 

 to start at 9 o'clock, precisely, must wait another 

 year," was the order. From the moment the 

 plowing commenced, the scene was extremely 

 beautiful and exciting. Two little knolls, which 

 were covered with spectators, aflbrded a view of 

 the whole field at once, and from the road, and 

 from the hundreds of carriages that surrounded 

 the ground, the opportunity of seeing was nearly 

 as good. From the bridge, the whole moving pan- 

 orama was seen reflected in the glassy surface of 

 the river, as in a mirror. The quality of the work 

 was worthy of the number of competitors, and the 

 keenness of the competition. Not a m m pi >wed, 

 who might not have entertained a reasonable ex- 

 pectation of taking the first premium — and the 

 task of the committees in deciding between such 

 rivals, might well have been agreeable, but could 

 not have been an easy one. "I have taken as ma- 

 ny premiums for plowing in my time, as anybody," 

 said an old member of the society, who looked on, 

 a deeply interested and delighted spectator of the 

 scene, "and the poorest plowing there is here 

 would have taken the first premium at any match 

 I was ever at before." One team finished its 

 eighth of an acre in 17 minutes — and the whole 

 was done thoroughly, rapidly and handsomely. 

 The spirited contest was witnessed by a large con- 

 course of people. 



TRIAL OF AVORKING OXEN. 



The trial of strength and discipline of working 

 oxen, and horses, followed next at 10 o'clock, on the 

 common in front of the Middlesex Hotel. Of oxen 

 there were 20 teams, and of horses 4 teams, en- 

 tered. There were many fine teams on the ground, 

 and the cattle generally exhibited evidences of 

 good blood, full strength, and excellent training, 

 with skilful management on the part of the drivers. 



The weight of the load to be drawn was 7200 

 lbs. 



CATTLE, SWINE, POULTRY. 



The society put up 52 substantial pens which 

 were mostly filled the night previous to the show. 

 This stock included fine specimens of native, and 

 most of the foreign breeds. T < re was also a fii e 



