390 NORFOLK SOCIETY. 



of the year, and the crop proposed to be cultivated. In break- 

 ing up an old field for the common purpose of increasing the 

 fertility of the soil, the depth of the furrow should be limited 

 only by the strength of the team ; the more earth exposed, the 

 more perfect the operation. In breaking up a field in the au- 

 tumn, with the design of cross ploughing and planting in the 

 spring, lapping the furrow slices" is supposed to hasten the de- 

 composition of the sod. In the spring, however, where the 

 harrow alone is to be used after the plough, the more complete 

 the inversion of the sod the better. 



The most important crop in our vicinity is hay, and much 

 difference of opinion exists among farmers as to the application 

 of the plough in reference to this production. Upon moist 

 lands, very good crops of grass are raised by inverting the sod 

 with care, and sowing on the bottom ; but the want of deep 

 ploughing is said to show itself soon, in the early diminution 

 of the crops. Thorough ploughing, continued for two years, 

 with fallow crops, carefully weeded, avoiding fresh manure the 

 second year, is the surest basis of an enduring and heavy 

 growth of hay, and the only way to eradicate the ribwort, the 

 whiteweed and the buttercup, the greatest enemies of our hay 

 crops. 



For the committee, 



James M. Robbins. 



September, 1852. 



Single Teams. 



The committee on ploughing with single teams, award the 

 following premiums : — 



E. W. Robinson, Dorchester, Ruggles, Nourse & Ma- 

 son's plough, first premium, $10 00 



Benjamin V. French, Braintree, Prouty & Mears's 



plough, second premium, . . . . . . 9 00 



Lemuel W. Babcock, Milton, Prouty & Mears's 



plough, third premium, . . . . . . 8 00 



Henry Goulding, Dover, Prouty & Mears's plough, 



fourth premium, 7 00 



