56 



The Spading Match has become one of the most interestmg fea- 

 tures of our exhibition, whilst the great improvement manifested in 

 this department shows that our farmers have profited bj the les- 

 sons of previous years, and are fully aware of its importance. 



It would be useless, here, to repeat the benefits of thorough 

 spading ; but it may be of advantage to state the plan on which 

 your Committee made their decisions. 



It is difficult to convince competitors that time is not the main 

 point ; and although there was a decided improvement in this 

 respect over previous years, yet there is room for still more. 



Not only time, but the deftli, fineness of pulverization, and 

 general finish presented by each lot at the conclusion of the work, 

 are to be taken into account. 



On the outside, at the head of each lot, a stake was driven, 

 with a number marked on it plainly, and the men then drew for 

 the choice of numbers. 



Each lot contained on^e hundred square feet, and before com- 

 mencing, it was distinctly cut round and marked out. 



The shortest time occupied in performing the work was sixteen 

 minutes, and the longest twenty-four. The recipient of the first 

 premium did not perform his work in the shortest time, but excel- 

 led in the above-mentioned requisites of good spading. 



The following premiums were awarded by your Committee : 



1st premium, for best spading, to Peter Ford, of North 



Wrentham, diploma and $8.00 



" Dennis Doody, Dorchester, . 7.00 



Timothy Ilickey, " . 6.00 



Thomas Barber, W. Medway, 5.00 



Dan McColoff, Dorchester, . 4.00 



Wm. Hickey, " . 3.00 



Charles Ford, Eockville, . 2.00 



Michael Kelly, Roxbury, . 1.00 



For the Committee, 



AARON D. WELD, Chairman. 



