ESSEX SOCIETY. 29 



ner, and in about forty five minutes, several acres were well 

 ploughed. The committee were pleased to observe so many- 

 citizens of the county, willing to exhibit their skill in this 

 important part of the show. 



The plough must ever be considered among the most indis- 

 pensable instruments of husbandry; and the public are under 

 obligations to the distinguished plough makers of this State, 

 and elsewhere, for that degree of advancement towards per- 

 fection which has been attained. But the skilful use of the 

 plough has not kept pace with the improvements of the plough 

 itself. Many fields, smooth and without obstruction, may be 

 seen, ploughed with furrows deviating from a right line, one 

 or two feet on either side, with, the land left uneven, and the 

 furrows of unequal depth. But the society is doing much 

 towards improvement in this respect, by giving examples of 

 good ploughing. 



The committee, after a careful inspection of the ploughing of 

 the several lots, with but slight difference of opinion, awarded 

 the premiums as follows : 



The first premium, to John Washburn, of Lynn ; 



plough, Ruggles, Nourse, Mason & Co.'s, . . $8 00 



Second premium, to Moses H. Poor, of West New- 

 bury ; plough, Martin's, . . . . 7 00 



Third premium, to Richard S. Bray, of Newbury ; 



plough, Prouty & Co.'s, . . . . 6 00 



Fourth premium, to William Foster, of Andover ; 



plough. Doe's, of Concord, . . . . 5 00 



Fifth premium, to David Nevins, of Methuen, . 4 00 



There were three double ploughs on the field, which attracted 

 attention, but the committee did not feel it to be their duty 

 to take them into consideration, in awarding the premiums. 

 These ploughs were looked upon with favor by the committee, 

 but having no practical experience with such, they forbear to 

 express an opinion ; but hope that the society wiU take mea- 

 sures to test their utility. 



The committee would suggest to the trustees, the propriety 

 of giving a gratuity of five dollars to each of the competitors 

 with these ploughs, all of whom did their work well, viz. : to 



