80 



by mcnns of wliich tlie bread of Europe is grown on our western 

 pliiins, Iiave not returned to our country the value of their cost? 

 These cases are exactly parellel with that of the mowing machine, 

 and lie who proclaims against one, attacks all ; and each illustrates 

 equally well the magnitude of the interests centering in the improve- 

 inont of agi'icultural machinery, and the importance of the successes 

 already accomplished. 



Our agrictdtural societies have therefore done well in encouraging 

 the demand of the times, by lending tliL'ir aid to the cause of advance- 

 ment in the application of the mechanic arts to the farm. By so 

 doing they have touched tlie mainspring of material prosperity. 



The exhibit with wliich your committee had to deal was composed 

 of twenty-three enti-ies, and, though lacking in some respects, was 

 on the whole most encouraging, and contained ons feature deserving 

 of particidar commendation, namely, the collection of plows. This, 

 the first implement of tillage, and the emblem of husbandry, has 

 ever claimed a pre-eminent position in the attention of skillful agri- 

 culturists ; no other is of such prime importance, or can be less read- 

 ily dispensed with. Tho;J^■h it has been for a century the subject of 

 study and improvement the last few yeai-s have witnessed a lotig 

 stride toward the ideal plow. Ilardiy h:id a successful swivel plow 

 been produced, than the so-called chilled im])lement niade its appear- 

 ance, combining the wearing and scouring qualities of steel with the 

 cheapness of iron. And when it is rou)cml)cred that men hardly 

 yet past theii- i)rime have used the ancient wooden-mold-board plow, 

 and knew of none better, then the revolution in these instruments is 

 well nigh marvelous. 



It is not my purpose to enter into the details of award, which can 

 be found elsewhere, but to simply enter a protest against the spirit 

 which prevents some farmers from availing themselves of every 

 opportunity for enhancing the value of their labor, and give a brief 

 expression of commendation to the agrictdtural societies in their efforts 

 toward achieving this great end by cncoui'aging every possible appli- 

 cation of the mechanic arts to agriculture. 



II. E. STOCKBRIDGE, 



For tlie Committee. 



