PLOUGHING WITH HORSE TEAMS. 83 



as thoroughly done, as the committee have ever witnessed. 

 Among so many who did well, it was no easy task, to say 

 which did best. Most of the committee were experienced in 

 the management of teams of horses, and were practical plough- 

 men. Drivers were not forbidden to be used, still, the com- 

 mittee thought, with teams properly trained, there was no ne- 

 cessity for their use. They noticed some of the horses were 

 so thoroughly trained, that they would halt instantly, at the 

 voice of the ploughmen ; — so when the plough struck a rock, 

 or wavered from the furrow, it could be instantly reinstated in 

 its proper place. With powerful horses thus trained, and well 

 skilled ploughmen, the best of work can be done in the short- 

 est time. 



The " straight line side hill plough," No. 83, made by Rug- 

 gles & Co., used by Moses Pettingill, of Topsfield, and held by 

 his son, David Pettingill, all things considered, completed the 

 work in the most satisfactory manner, and richly merited the 

 first premium of $25 00 



The work done by Ruggles& Co.'s plough, No, 73 1-2, 

 entered by John Washburn, of Swampscot, merited 

 the second premium of 15 00 



The work done by Doe's plough, of Concord, with Mr. Slo- 

 cum's team, found much favor with the committee. Two 

 other teams, that used No. 73, of Ruggles & Co., did their 

 work in a manner worthy of commendation. Had the com- 

 mittee been so authorized, they would have cheerfully award- 

 ed the competitors twice as much, for they never saw premi- 

 ums better earned. 



The committee regret that any combination of circumstan- 

 ces should have prevented the generous donor from being pre- 

 sent, to witness the result of the experiments that he had eli- 

 cited. This is the second time the Society have been under 

 special obligation to Mr. Stetson, for his generosity in advan- 

 cing the interest of their Show. It only remains for a few 

 more men of public spirit like Mr. Fay and Mr. Stetson, to 

 come forward with just discrimination and liberal hand, and 

 our farmers would show that they can do work that shall be 

 worthy of all admiration. 



For the Committee, J. W. PROCTOR, Chairman. 



