462 MASS. BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Mears, was found to work well without the aid of human 

 hands, and finally eclipsed all the achievements of its " illus- 

 trious predecessors." 



At the late ploughing match of the Bristol County Society, 

 it was observed that the last furrow of each of the lands 

 ploughed, was, by the direction of the committee, left standing, 

 without being cut or inverted ; while here in Franklin county, 

 great pains were taken to have the last furrow smoothly and 

 nicely turned. We are compelled to say that, in our judgment, 

 the practice of our friends in Franklin is far preferable to that 

 referred to in Bristol. 



On the second day, horses were the only stock exhibited. 

 The display was on Maine street, which is very wide and spa- 

 cious, and no part of the exhibition attracted more attention 

 than this. Instead of being confined in pens, as is the practice 

 at the shows of most other societies, these noble steeds were 

 driven at full speed by their owners. As they were of all de- 

 scriptions and colors, we were quite sure that no one, however 

 fastidious might be his taste, could have failed to be pleased, 

 and to exclaim with king Richard III, " A horse ! a horse ! 

 my kingdom for a horse !" 



In contrasting this with other festivals of the kind, we saw 

 much, very much to approve and admire. The custom of the 

 Franklin Society of having all the members of committees des- 

 ignated by an appropriate badge, we highly approve, and from 

 what we saw, we are also convinced that where it is deemed 

 advisable to have an agricultural fair occupy two days, it is 

 preferable to have the ploughing match on the first day, as was 

 the case here, than on the second, as, by way of experiment, 

 was the case in Bristol. Persons coming from a distance to 

 attend thg show of stock on the first day, can thus be present 

 at the ploughing match, also, with the same animals, and allow 

 them to be returned home on the same or succeeding day. 



The address of Professor Norton, at the church, and the re- 

 marks made by different gentlemen at the dinner table, seemed 

 to be directed to the discovery of the best means for the pro- 

 motion and advancement of the science of agriculture and agri- 

 cultural education. We will only add, in conclusion, that our 



