No. 4. 



St. George* s Ploughing Match. 



133 



To Crosdale Warner, of Bucks county, 

 the first premium of ^5, as the best plough- 

 man. 



To Hugh Young, the second premium of 

 $3, as the next best ploughman. 



The committee regret that they had not 

 premiums to distribute to all the ploughmen, 

 for all were highly deserving; so much 

 so, that they found it difficult to discrimi- 

 nate. They would make favourable men- 

 tion of others besides those distinguished by 

 premiums, but did they begin, they would 

 be at a loss to know where to leave oft". 

 They can only repeat the satisfaction their 

 several performances afforded to your com- 

 mittee, and all who witnessed their skilful 

 efforts. 



Aaron Johnson, 

 John Hinter, 

 Lewis R. Willard, 

 David \V hitall, 

 Edwin Moore. 



Rising-Sun, Oct. 18th, 1844. 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 

 St. George's Ploughing Match. 



Dear Sir, — Your readers may remember, 

 that in the Cabinet for January last, page 

 183, I complain of an undue prejudice that 

 had been manifested for some years past 

 against the Centre-draught plough, in the 

 matches of the St. George's Agricultural 

 Society of Delaware, and express a deter- 

 mination to be present at their next meet- 

 ing, to wipe off the disgrace that had been 

 inflicted, by bringing forward for competition 

 an old, rusty and worn-out implement, that 

 did, however, take a premium after all. 



The ploughing match the present year, 

 was advertised to come oft' at Cantwell's 

 Bridge, on the 26th of October; the terms 

 ofi'eied were, in the first class, three pre 

 miums of f*'3, S2, and $1, for farmers' sons 

 under 21 years of age. Second class — "free 

 to all gcod workmen of any age or nation 

 that beautifully finished plough, which cost 

 the Society, $20." I accordingly attended 

 the meetinfr, with several Centre-draught 

 ploughs, prepared to put their qualifications 

 to the test of fair competition; when, imme- 

 diately, "the beautifully finished plough, 

 which cost the Society $20," was with- 

 drawn, and the young men's three premi- 

 ums, of $3, $2, and $1, were thrown open 

 for competition, "free to all good workmen 

 of any age or nation." A proposal was, 

 however, soon after made, to relinquish the 

 ploughing match altogether; and this would 

 have been carried, but for the determined 

 and strenuous exertions of that indefatiga- 

 ble friend to agricultural improvement, Ma- 



jor John Jones, whose untiring devotion to 

 the good cause is far above all praise. This 

 difficulty overcome, the ploughs were per- 

 mitted to adjourn to the field, where it was 

 proposed by the plough-makers present, that 

 one only of the Centre-draught ploughs 

 should be permitted to start. This was ac- 

 ceded to, provided that one only of the se- 

 veral Concave ploughs present, should be 

 permitted to contend ; but this not meeting 

 their views, two of the Centre-draught 

 ploughs were at length permitted to start, 

 and the work commenced. 



During the progress of the trial, another 

 of the Centre-draught ploughs was put to 

 work on an extra land, for the purpose of 

 affording an opportunity to those who were 

 desirous of testing its qualifications with 

 their own hands; and here she won "golden 

 opinions," — the son of Major Jones, a fine 

 lad 10 years of age, and not much taller 

 than the handles of the plough, following 

 her through several rounds without the 

 least difficulty, and making excellent work. 

 At length she was set to go completely 

 alone, without the aid of any one to guide, 

 to the admiration and astonishment of every 

 beholder. 



At the conclusion of the trial, Major 

 Jones reported as follows : " The ploughing 

 committee find it impossible to award the 

 first premium to the Centre-draught ploughs 

 of Prouty & Mears, seeing that the premi- 

 ums are intended for the plonghmen, and 

 not for the ploughs; the Centre-draught 

 ploughs being so perfect in themselves as 

 not to require either holder or guide, but 

 going quite alone, without the aid of 

 either. They award the second premium 

 to William Banks, Centre-draught plough. 

 No. 5|, as the second-best ploughman on 

 the ground. The Farmers' Cabinet for 

 one year, being awarded to every compe- 

 titor." Now, although there were not two 

 opinions on the subject, as to the best 

 ploughing — in which term the character of 

 the plough certainly comes in for a very 

 large share of the credit due, but which 

 seems to have been overlooked by most of 

 the societies offering premiums "for the 

 best plovghivg,'" — yet as it was the duty 

 of every competitor to bow to the decision 

 of the committee, this was done accordingly, 

 and thus terminated the ploughing match of 

 the St. George's Society, Delaware. 



Thus, within a few days, the Boston Cen- 

 tre-draught ploughs, of Prouty & Mears, 

 have contended at three matches, and been 

 declared victorious in all; the last triumph, 

 however, being considered the most bril- 

 liant, and affording abundant proof "that 

 the trial of last year, at the St. George's 



