BRISTOL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. IGl 



deemed by many to be injuriously large,) doubled and trebled, 

 to assist us ill performing the necessary labor in tilling the 

 ground. 



The improvement made in the plough, since it was first 

 brought into use, is truly admirable. Think, for a moment, of 

 the difference between the sharpened log, with two handspikes 

 stuck into it for handles, and those beautiful implements which 

 we have seen so successfully used this morning ; — and the differ- 

 ence in the work goes hand in hand with the improvement of 

 the implement. 



The ploughing match is generally considered the most inter- 

 esting part of our exhibition. For a quarter of a century, this in- 

 terest, on the part of men, and sometimes of women, old and 

 young, has been unabated and increasing. We go forth at the 

 appointed hour, surrounded by our families, friends and neigh- 

 bors, to the place of trial, to exchange mutual greetings, and to 

 enjoy the moderate and rational excitement of the manly contest, 

 and to be reminded that, by the use of the plough, and by pa- 

 tient and cheerful industry, can the earth be made to contribute 

 to our sustenance, comfort and happiness. 



At some of the earliest ploughing matches, in different socie- 

 ties in the Commonwealth, the premiums were given to those 

 who most speedily performed the work. During more recent 

 years, however, this extraordinary speed has not been encour- 

 aged ; and the ploughmen have been charged to regard the ex- 

 cellency of the work, rather than the time in which it is per- 

 formed. 



The whole number of teams engaged in the work, was twenty, 

 nine of which were of one yoke of oxen each, without drivers- 

 five were horse teams, also without drivers ; and six were of 

 one yoke of steers and a horse each, without drivers. 



CROMWELL LEONARD, Chairman. 



Working Oxen and Steers. 



The trial of working oxen and steers was, as usual, one of the 

 most interesting features in the exhibition. The cattle were 

 21 



