114 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 



Oct. 29, 1830, 



BRIGHTON AGRICULTURAL REPORTS. 



PLOUGHING MATCH— TWO YOKE OF OXEN. 



The committee on the Ploughing Match with fwo yoke 

 of oxen, Report — 



That eleven ploughs were duly returned for 

 this match, (a greater number than were ever be- 

 fore entered at Brighton,) that on calling the list 

 at 9 o'clock, thirteen plougiis were offered for 

 competition, but as only 11 lots were assigned, 

 the two last on the list were under the necessity 

 of retiring Crom the contest. 



Alter a most careful examination, the com- 

 mittee unanimously awarded the first premium to 

 Abiel Wlieeler, of Concord, $15 



Do, as ploughman, 8 



Jacob Jepson, driver, 4 



2d premium, Samuel Hoar, 2d, of Lincoln, 10 

 Do, as ploughman, 5 



Franklin Wheeler, driver, 3 



8d premium, G. M. Barrett, of Concord, 6 



Do, as ploughman, 3 



Ira Fisher, driver, 2 



$.56 



The shortest time occupied by any team was 



30 minutes; longest time do, do, 41|^ do. 



Greatest number of furrows to any lot was 21, 



Fewest, do, do, do,' ^ 17, 



except the lot No 1, being about a rod shorter than 



the rest from the shape of the field, required to 



be httle wider, and 23 furrows were made — the 



size of the lots were 20 rods long and 20 feet 



wide, making about 24 rods to each. 



Every plough used was of Cast Iron, and 

 were chiefly of Tice's make (all that obtained pre- 

 mium were of his patent ;) the whole work was 

 excellently well performed, and much difficulty 

 was experienced in selecting for the three premi- 

 ums ; the committee would gladly have had it in 

 their power to have awarded eleven. 



It seems necessary to give their reasons for 

 deciding as they did, and the rules they establish- 

 ed which were, that Cattle should not be hurried, 



as goodness of work was the object, to be ploughed 

 not less than 5j inches deep, and the furrow 

 slice to be cut narrow, and laid as fat in it as was 

 possible — the reason of the committee was this, 

 that in this part of our country very little land is 

 cultivated in winter grain, and the object of fall 

 ploughing, is to have the sward rotted for spring 

 cultivation, and which they think best effected by 

 this mode ; as if laid on edge, and so left till 

 sijring, much grass comes up in rows in the hol- 

 low of the finrows — and on the_/7a/ method it is 

 all equally covered, and no grass grows. 



The committee well know that in England, 

 (and ])robably in our own country, where 

 winter grain is cultivated on sward land) they 

 adopt the ridge furrow slice, as by this means, 

 in broadcasting their seed, it naturally falls into 

 the lowest part of furrows, and then by harrowing, 

 the seed is deeper covered, and comes up in roivs 

 as they wish, giving a better chance for a free 

 circulation of air in its after growth, and to clean, 

 by hoeing if they wish, and also probably some 

 saving of seed — having nearly the same effect as 

 sowing by drill machine. 



The first ploughing match planned in the United 

 States, was at Brighton, in Oct. 1817. At that 

 match, not one cast iron mould board plough lous in 

 our vicinity, if in the Slate — and at the present 

 show none but of cast iron was in our match. 

 This shows in the clearest possible view, the im- 



mense improvement that our cattle shows, and par- 

 ticularly the ploughing matches, have produced 

 in this most important Agricultural Implement. 

 Respectfully submitted by 



JOHN PRINCE, ) 



EBEN. HEATH, V Committee. 



JOHN NORTHEND, j 



SHEEP AND SWINE. 



The committee, who were appointed to award 

 premiums upon sheep and swine, have attended 

 the duty assigned them, and request leave to 

 state — 



That they proceeded to the discharge of their 

 duty by first visiting the pens in which the swine 

 were, and they found them well filled ; and after 

 a careful and thorough examination of their sev- 

 eral points, qualities and properties, they awarded 

 To John Mackay for the best boar, 12 



To John Mackay for the next best dOj 8 



To John Mackay for the best sow, 12 



To John Mackay for the next best do, 8 



To Isaac Bobbins for the next best do, 5 



To John Mackay for the best pigs, not less than 

 two in number, nor less than four months old, nor 

 more than eight, 10 



To Isaac Robbins for the next best 5 



They then visited the sheep pens, and were 

 much gratified to find in them several lots of Dish- 

 ley or New Leicester breed of sheep. One fine 

 ram and three ewes belonging to Enoch Silsby of 

 Boston of pure blood, imported from England. 



A buck lamb, six months old belonging to John 

 Prince of Roxbury from the superior Dishley ram 

 of Col. S. Jaques, and two ewe lambs 6i months 

 old from imported stock. 



Two Dishley ewes and two yearling rams be- 

 longing to Thomas Wilhanw of Noddle's island. 

 They were from the importe.i ram of Col. S. Ja- 

 ques, who obtained the Society's premium the last 

 year, and was presented this year for exhibition. 

 The committee were not insensible of the respon- 

 sible and delicate situation in which some of its 

 members were placed to discharge their duty sat- 

 isfactorily, but after a minute and close examina- 

 tion of the sheep, their form, shape, size, and other 

 peculiar properties they unanimouly award 



To Enoch Silsby for the best Dishley ram, 830 

 To Enoch Silsby for the best Dishley ewe, .«30 

 And it is v/ith great pleasure the Committee 

 observe the attention of gentlemen turned in fa- 

 vor of the Dishley sheep. They consider them an 

 important and valuable acquisition to the country, 

 and among the farmers' best stock. They will 

 yield more profit than other sheep from the fleece, 

 and their carcass is remarkably well calculated for 

 the market. 



There were two pens filled witli native weth- 

 ers. One lot was owned by E. T. French of Mil- 

 ton ; and the other by P. P. Peirce of Lexington. 

 Some of those, that were offered by Mr Peirce 

 were large and in good condition, but there were 

 not a sufficient number of such extraordinary qual 

 ity as to justify the committee to award the pre 

 miums t^ 



JOHN hIaRD, Jr, \ 

 SAMUEL JAQUES, \ Committee. 

 THOMAS WILLIAMS,) 



Specific character of the Dishley or New Lei- 

 cester breed of sheep. Heads clean, straight, and 

 broad ; bodies round, or barrel shaped ; eyes fine 

 and lively; bones fine and small, pelts thin ; wool 



long and fine, well calculated for combing, an 

 weighing upon an average eight pounds per fleect 

 when killed at two years old. Fatten kindl 

 and early, well calculated for market, thriving i 

 pastures that will scarcely keep other sheep, anj 

 requiring less food than others. Tolerably hard 

 and vigorous. 



The committee consisting of E. Hersey Derb; 

 Daniel Adams, and Timothy Corey, to whom we 

 assigned the ploughing match tvith one yoke of ca. 

 lie Report — 



That the land to be ploughed was divided int 

 lots of about 24 rods each. 



There were eleven competitors for the pretni 

 urns — the ploughs generally of the improve 

 kiuds, and four of them were without drivers. 



As the principal object of the ploughing mate 

 was to show good work, and skill in the plougl 

 men, they were particularly directed not to huri 

 iheir cattle, — shortness of time being no objc 

 in comparison with good work — that attentit 

 would also be paid to the appearance, and docilil 

 of the cattle, and the management of the driver- 

 The ploughing to he not less than five inches dee 

 and that narrow furrows, laid lapping on ea< 

 other would be preferred to wide and flat ones. 



Under these regulations the first lot was ploug: 

 ed in 33, and the last in 46 minutes. 



The committee state with great pleasure, th 

 the work in every instance was of a superi 

 order, tliat that there was so little difference 

 most of it, they found it extremely difficult to d 

 cide to whom they should award the premium* 

 After great deliberation, they award as foUovi 



1st premium, to Moses Whitney, of Stow, $ 

 G. P. Meriam as ploughman 

 Moses Whitney, as driver, 



.$27, 

 2d, premium to Otis Meriam of Concord, 

 aged 17, $ 



Same as ploughman, 

 Abel Meriam, aged 11, as driver 



$18, 

 3d premium, to John Tildeii,Jun. of N. Brii 

 water, 



Edwin Dunbar, aged 18, as ploughman. 

 Same as driver, 



$11, 

 E. HERSEY DERBY, Chairman, 

 Brighton, 20th Oct. 1830. 



cows, HEIFERS, BULLS AND EUtL CALVES. 



The committee on Bulls, and Bull calves, Co« 

 and Heifers, were gratified to perceive the if 

 proveniont in the value and api)earance oft 

 stock exhibited this year at the Brighton Cat 

 Show. The number of fine animals with t 

 spirit manifested by the great assemblage of ag 

 culturists are pleasing indications of the i 

 proveinent which excitement and honorable C9' 

 petition will effect. 



True it is that imported animals of groat nai 

 do not call crowds round a i)en as was once I 

 case — nor are fine animals so rare as in years p» 



But your committee think that our discerni 

 farmers will be gratified to notice the advanO 

 grade in the improvement of stock. 



They will be pleased and led to usefid pi^6t 

 by observing that not only from the irapor. 



