ON PLOUGHING SINGLE TEAMS. 47 



analogous, lias been used in all ages, both by civilized and un- 

 civilized nations, and considered an indispensable utensil in 

 the cultivation of the soil. Rude and awkward instruments 

 were formerly used : oxen's horns were used by some barba- 

 rians. 



Great improvements have been made in the plough ; so great 

 that with the best improved, one half the strength and labor only 

 are required now, tliat were formerly required, for turning up 

 the sward. The very circumstance of this society offering a 

 premium, thereby encouraging the practice of ploughing, with 

 one yoke of oxen, sward land, is itself evidence of the great ad- 

 vance in this operation. Wlio, even twenty years ago, would 

 have harbored the idea of breaking up with a team of one yoke 

 of oxen ? 



In such a universal and necessary operation, fifty per cent, is 

 certainly an immense saving to the agricultural community ; but 

 who will undertake to say, so far as regards animal strength, 

 that in the progress of improvement, fifty per cent, more may 

 not be saved, and the process of ploughing be performed by 

 steam ! 



Three entries were made for ploughing with single teams, 

 viz: — 



Daniel Putnam, 

 Moses Pettingill, 

 Asa Tapley, 



in lots numbered in the order in which they are named. The 



work was all well done, especially that of Pettingill and Tapley. 



The committee found much difficulty in deciding which was 



entitled to the first premium, but finally were unanimous in 



awarding them as follows : 



Asa Tapley, of Danvers, lot J\o. 3, 48 minutes, 28 fur- 

 rows, Wyatt P. Woodman, ploughman and 

 driver, the society's first premium, ^ 10 



Moses Pettingill, of Topsfield, lot No. 2, 52 minutes, 30 

 furrows, Nathan Hurd, ploughman and 

 driver, second premium, 8 



