45 



farms in this county, in having stones to throw out the plough, 

 or roots of trees to prevent its even running. 



As it was, however, no obstruction was met witli, and the 

 teams could go at their fastest walk with no danger of being 

 "brought upstanding" by striking a fast rock, as so often 

 happens to many of us in breaking up. 



We think too much importance cannot be attached to good 

 ploughing, as in actual farming the success of the crop de- 

 pends largely on the thorough ploughing of the land at the 

 start. 



It seems to me that an additional argument to the one often 

 presented for keeping fields free from stones and bushes, — 

 (namely, that they may be mowed easier,) — can be adduced 

 from the fkct that it is possible to plough a clean lot thorough- 

 ly with even furrows and at a uniform depth, at an expense 

 which will be less per acre than is required to imperfectly 

 plough a rough and rocky field. 



Of course this must be restricted within reasonable limits, 

 as on my own farm, in fields from which stones have been 

 dug out and removed every time the soil has been broken up 

 for many years, we still find some at every ploughing, as they 

 are worked up from below by the frost. Hence it is only in 

 degree, not absolutely, that we farmers of Essex can clear our 

 lands and give free course to the plough. 



But doing this as well as Ave can, with our hands made 

 skilful by practice at home, and our eyes trained to accuracy 

 in the width of our furrows, we shall be ready to enter the 

 lists in friendly rivalry at our annual shows, and shall hope 

 to secure not only the premiums of the Society, but also the 

 larger rewards which skill and enterprise always bring to 

 those who possess them. 



Premiums awarded : — 



To William A. Russell, Lawrence, with oxen, first premi- 

 um, $12. 



To John P. Foster, North Andover, with oxen, second 

 premium, $10. 



