BERKSHIRE SOCIETY. 341 



supply adequately, the place of human hands. The plough 

 has been brought to such perfection, in strength and structure, 

 that an apology for bad ploughing can be found only in bad 

 teams and bad land. And surely time enough has elapsed for 

 great improvement, since " Ceres taught Triptolemus agricul- 

 ture," and "All the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to 

 sharpen every man his share and his coulter." 



The most exciting part of our annual exhibition of produce 

 and workmanship, is the amicable rivalry of the ploughing 

 match. The great number of the intelligent of both sexes in 

 attendance upon this rival exhibition of skill and dexterity, 

 clearly shows that they appreciate its benefits, and that it has 

 a value and consideration beyond the mere achievements of 

 victory. It is quite as important to educate good ploughmen 

 as good lawyers and physicans; nor is the ploughman's busi- 

 ness any the less respectable because there are no scientific 

 principles formally laid down, and very few precepts found in 

 the books for its practice. The working oxen on the field were 

 fine, the horses were unusually good and substantial farm 

 horses; and as horses of this character, are, in some parts of 

 the country, superseding oxen, the committee are happy to 

 notice that greater attention is being given to them. Depth 

 of furrow not less than six, and width of slice not more than 

 twelve inches, were prescribed by the rules of the society. 

 This regulation was carefully observed, — whether it be suited 

 to all soils — and if not, to what, your committee were not 

 called upon to determine. To the execution of the work only 

 was their attention directed, and the awards reported are based 

 upon the manner in which the work was done. 



It is usual for committees upon ploughing to report that 

 they find it very difficult to settle the relative merits of com- 

 petitors. There is strict truth in this, and the difficulty is be- 

 coming every year more perplexing. Fifteen years ago it 

 was comparatively easy to discriminate. No two workmen 

 ploughed alike; such improvements have been made since 

 then, producing such uniformity as renders it almost impossi- 

 ble to detect any material difl'erence in the work of competitors. 

 Your committee were of one mind, that all the lands struck 

 out were remarkably well ploughed. Better ploughing is 

 hardly conceivable. The boys, half grown, were as tall as the 



