100 ESSEX SOCIETY. 



is placed in a chamber over a wood-house. It is now full of 

 honey, forty pounds or upwards. This is my first attempt at 

 keeping bees. 



I sowed a small piece of buckwheat for them, this fall, but 

 they have lived principally upon the white honey-suckle, of 

 which there has been a great quantity the past summer. 



Groveland, Sept. 23, 1851. 



Communication on the Michigan Sod Plough. 



On the day of our ploughing match, one of these ploughs 

 was operated on the field and attracted much attention. It 

 turns two slices at the same time, laying one upon the other. 

 Having seen similar ploughs operated at Dedham, at Taunton, 

 at Amherst, and at other places, uniformly with approbation, 

 and having heard some query expressed, as to the power of team 

 necessary for their movement, I determined to give them such 

 a trial as to satisfy myself, at least, of their value. According- 

 ly, I wrote to Mr. Prouty, the proprietor of this plough in Mas- 

 sachusetts, to send me two of best structure, so guaged as 

 to turn a furrow slice ten inches wide, and eight inches deep 

 — the sod part three inches, and the under soil five inches. 

 This was done ; and on Tuesday last, they were put in opera- 

 tion, with a team of two pair of cattle, in presence of several 

 persons, who had strong impressions against the utility of the 

 plough. It was tried in every form thought desirable to test 

 its merits. It was compared with one of the best Eagle Ploughs, 

 Ruggles & Co. The work was continued until each gentle- 

 man present had an opportunity to hold, until he was satisfied. 

 The result was, that each and all expressed their opinion, that 

 the plough was a decided improvement on any ploughs they 

 had ever seen ; and that it would be fouud of great value, for 

 many uses on the farm. William R. Putnam, who assisted in 

 operating the ploughs, says : — " My impression when I first saw 

 the plough was, that it might pulverize the soil well, but that 

 it would require more power to operate it than a common 



