160 BRISTOL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



BRISTOL COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, 



The twenty-fifth anniversary of this society was held at 

 Taunton, on Thursday, the 12th day of October last. The 

 weather was pleasant through the day, and it was highly prized, 

 it having been stormy the two previous exhibitions. The at- 

 tendance, both of people and stock, was unusually large. The 

 show of breeding stock was much more extensive than in former 

 years, and much of the stock was excellent. Ten fat oxen, six 

 pairs of steers, and six colts, were entered for premium, all of 

 which were on the ground. 



No address was delivered before the society, but several 

 speeches were made at the dinner table. 



Ploughing. 



The fashion that now prevails at our ploughing matches, ex- 

 ceeds the economy even of a Franklin ; for he once quaintly said, 



He that by the plough would thrive, 

 Himself must either hold or drive ; — 



which, all will agree, is very true and sound doctrine. But Dr. 

 Franklin himself, it would seem, with all his philosophy, never 

 once thought or dreamt that the same individual could hold and 

 drive both, and that this practice would be brought about so 

 soon as the first half of the nineteenth century. 



The plough is not only a very ancient implement of husband- 

 ry, but the most useful and valuable of all implements, being 

 the greatest labor-saving machine of any ; for, if we were now 

 obliged to resort wholly to the spade, we should need to have 

 onr importation of foreigners to this country (which is now 



