PLOUGHING. 



PLUM. 



exhibition, is entitled to receive, over and above, j 

 the Society's plough medal of silver, bearing a j 

 suitable inscription, with the gainer's name. 

 About 40 applications are made for the medals 

 every year, so that at least 600 ploughmen an- 

 nually compete for them ; but the actual num- 

 ber far exceeds that number; as, in many in- 

 stances, matches comprehend from 40 to 70 

 ploughs, instead of the minimum number of li>. 

 The matches are usually occasioned by the 

 welcome which his neighbours are desirous of 

 giving an incoming tenant to his farm, and its 

 heartiness is shown in the extent of the assist- 

 ance which they give him in ploughing a field or 

 fields at a time when he has not yet collected a 

 working stock sufficient for the purpose. 



Ploughing matches are generally very fairly 

 conducted in Scotland. They usually take 

 place on lea ground, the ploughing of which is 

 considered the best test of a ploughman's skill, 

 though I hold that drilling is much more diffi- 

 cult to execute correctly. The best part of the 

 field is usually selected for the purpose, if there 

 be such, and the same extent of ground, usually 

 from 2 to 4 ridges, according to the length, is 

 allotted to each portion of ground to be 

 ploughed. A pin, bearing a number, is pushed 

 into the ground at the end of each lot, of which 

 there are as many marked off as there are 

 ploughs entered in the competition. Numbers 

 corresponding to those on the pins are drawn 

 by the competing ploughmen, who take pos- 

 session of the lots as they are drawn. Ample 

 time is allowed to finish the lot, and in this 

 part of the arrangements I am of opinion that 

 too much time is usually allowed, to the annoy- 

 ance of the spectators. Although shortness of 

 time in executing the same extent of work is 

 not to be compared to excellency of execution, 

 yet it should enter as an important element in- 

 to the decision of the question of excellence. 

 Every competitor is obliged to feer his own 

 lot, guide his own horses, and do every other 

 thing connected with the work, such as assort- 

 ing his horses, and trimming his plough-irons, 

 without the least assistance. 



The judges, who have been brought from a 

 distance, and have no personal interest in the 

 exhibition, are requested to inspect the ground 

 after all the ploughs have been removed, hav- 

 ing been kept away from the scene during the 

 time the ploughs were engaged. 



The primary objects of the institution of 

 ploughing matches must have been to produce 

 the best examples of ploughmanship ; and by 

 the best must be understood that kind of 

 ploughing which shall net only appear to be 

 well done, but must be thoroughly and essen- 

 tially well done. In other words, the award 

 should be given to the plough that produces 

 not only work of a proper surface finish, but 

 which will exhibit, along with the first, the pro- 

 pertv :,; having turned up the greatest quantity 

 of soil and in the best manner. (Book of the 

 farm.') 



The following will be found a useful table, 

 showing the distance travelled by a horse in 

 ploughing or scarifying an acre of land ; also 

 the quantity of land worked in a day, at the 

 rate of 16 and 18 miles per day of 9 hours. 

 916 



