PLOUGHINa. 17 



upon the surface to wilt under the influence of the sun, are 

 turned under beyond his influence, where the seeds remain for 

 some subsequent ploughing to bring up to a favorable position 

 for vegetating. 



More immediate advantages may also be derived from the 

 vegetable manures, if kept near the surface ; if sunk too deep 

 they become more or less unproductive, until brought up and 

 ploughed under the influence of heat and air to produce 

 fermentation. Fossil manures have a tendency downwards, 

 and sink into the soil fast enough without the aid of deep 

 ploughing. 



John Brooks, Chairman. 



WORCESTER NORTH. 



From the Report of the Co7iimittee on Single Teams. 



Before announcing the premiums, it is due to the society to 

 lay down one cardinal principle wliich has governed your com- 

 mittee in awarding them, namely : the dispensing altogether 

 with tlie whipping process ; upon this point your committee are 

 a unit, and we crave your indulgence while we dwell a little 

 more at length upon this head. 



The objects of the ploughing match are not, like those of the 

 Grecian Olympic games, the mere naked test of agility or 

 strength. 



We have heretofore acted towards dumb animals too much 

 upon the old puritanical doctrine of " total depravity," upon 

 " the spare the rod spoil the child" dogma, which, leaving the 

 question of its truth or justice upon bipeds, is totally inappro- 

 priate and ill-chosen, in the opinion of your committee, upon 

 quadrupeds. The infliction of blows upon the poor brute 

 begets a correspondent desire to reciprocate by the free use of 

 his extremities, or grass-croppers, the application of which, to 

 sensitive humanity, is not at all pleasant or agreeable ; more- 

 over, if he learns, while we are venting our spite upon him, 

 what we really want him to do, he knows enough to thwart our 

 desire, often preferring to let us exhaust ourselves in pounding 

 his ribs while he still stands (in military parlance) " as you 

 are." How often, for instance, have we seen that useful 



