REPORTS 



On the Ploughing and Spading Matches, Oct. 1845. 



The committee appointed by the board of agriculture to superin- 

 tend the plowing and spading matches, and to test the qualities of the 

 plows and other agricultural implements presented for competition for 

 premiums, respectfully report : 



That availing themselves of the liberal offer made by Charles 

 Henry Hall, of Harlem, with whose untirinff zeal and enterprise in 

 promoting the agricultural interests of our country the public are al- 

 ready well acquainted — a loamy, green sward field, containing about 

 eight acres, was selected near the residence of that gentleman as the 

 arena on which the contests for the prizes which had been most libe- 

 rally offered by the American Institute, were to come off. The day 

 appointed for this highly honorable strife was* different from that of 

 last year in its being, instead of stormy, a clear, glorious October day, 

 as if Heaven had blessed with its splendid weather the humble labors 

 of man below. No soil better adapted could have been chosen. It 

 was composed of loamy sand and humus, and sufficiently moist toadmit, 

 under skilful hands, the most perfect overturn of the green sward. 



The ground to be plowed was laid out in lots of an eighth of an 

 acre each, staked off and numbered. Corresponding numbers were 

 then drawn by the competitors, who severally arranged their teams 

 and plows in the positions indicated by their respective drawn num- 

 bers. A multitude of citizens were present on the occasion, among 

 them many farmers with their teams. Nine only however entered 

 their names for the contest — viz., .Tohn Brewster, English Neighbor- 

 hood, N. J., Joseph Clark and John Ilea, of Morrisania, Joseph Mo- 

 rel, of Govvanus in Kings county, John Meleus, of Flushing in Queens 

 county, John Savage of West Farms, James Cochran, of Staten-Is- 

 land, M. Meyher, of the city of New-York, and Benjamin Meyher, 

 of Newark, New- Jersey. 



