130 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



ATter a glance at the cattle pens, which were fast filling with 

 the various animals to be offered for premiums, we proceeded 

 to the hill on the south of the village, to witness the contest of 

 the participators in the ploughing match. The event proved, 

 however, that we might very well have spared all haste, as 

 something more than an hour passed away after the time 

 appointed by the published programme before the teams were 

 arranged and started, and this want of punctuality was carried 

 through all the transactions of the day, taking away much from 

 its pleasure by leaving much idle time to be' passed under a 

 cold and uncomfortable wind during the middle of the day, 

 and making it necessary to hurry all the closing business of the 

 occasion, because both managers and visitors had imperative 

 business demanding their attention at home. 



This fault, marring very much the interest of the occasion, 

 seemed to me to have its origin in the want of thoroughness in 

 the preliminary arrangements for the exhibition, in conse- 

 quence of which none of the officials of the show appeared to 

 understand what duties were expected of them. 



I would suggest to the managers of this society that hereaf- 

 ter there should be no waiting for committees or competitors, 

 but that every thing should proceed with as much punctuality 

 as the clock. 



But to return to the ploughing. The soil was a stiff, clayey 

 loam, with a very tough sod, and called forth all the energies 

 of drivers and teams, in consequence of the frequent occurrence 

 of small stone, requiring great watchfulness on the part of the 

 ploughman to prevent his plough from being suddenly ejected 

 from the furrow. But, notwithstanding all the difficulties, the 

 work was admirably performed, without any violent whipping 

 of the cattle or undue vociferation. Apparently, each mau 

 labored much as he would have done upon his own farm, and 

 the Avork performed reflected great credit upon all parties con- 

 cerned. 



After the ploughing match I made a more thorough exami- 

 nation of the cattle pens, .which contained many very fine 

 animals, the Durham and Devon blood prevailing. Very few 

 ordinary cattle were exhibited, and most of them exhibited the 

 indications of good care and keeping. Many very fine working 

 cattle were also present to compete for the premiums offered in 



