ESSEX AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 19 



day of November ; and the premium was awarded, as the com- 

 mittee say, " inasmuch as the object of this society is to encour- 

 age judicious efforts in agricultural improvements," there being 

 but this one entry. 



The first premium for ploughing was awarded to Timothy 

 Pickering, on account of the superior performance and superior 

 utility of his plough ; and the second premium was given to 

 Gorham Parsons, of Byfield. Col. Pickering's plough was 

 made by Henry Borden, at Utica, N. Y. 



In 1821, the premium list consisted of offers for management 

 of a farm, green crops for cows, Indian corn and other crops, 

 sumac, the dairy, cider, live stock and forest trees. 



Premiums for domestic manufactures were first offered in 

 1822, and the women of the county were enlisted in the enter- 

 prise. 



It was not until 1832 that premiums were offered for horses, 

 and as follows : — 



For the best horse raised in the county, not less than 



three nor more than five years old, . . . $20 00 



For the second best, 15 00 



For the third best, 10 00 



In their report, the committee say, " They regard the im- 

 provements in the breed of horses as an object of utility and 

 importance ; * * * and their value and beauty should 

 excite more attention than has hitherto been given to the rear- 

 ing of them in this county." There were many entries ; and 

 the first premium ever given to a horse by this society was 

 bestowed on the iron-gray colt, three years old, of John 0. W. 

 Brown, of Newbury. 



In striking contrast with the simplicity and necessary small- 

 ness of the early premiums offered, stands the liberality of the 

 last. In 1857 the society paid $1,111.50 in premiums, as 

 follows : — 



Farms, &c,, $299 00 



Farm stock, 324 00 



Farm produce, 488 50 



