The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1825-10-26
A9rtcmlturaI.
Worcester County Agricultural So
caety.
REPORT

hEPORI
Of the Committee on the PLoughing Match
The Committee on the Ploughing Match
having discharged the pleasant but arduou.
! duty assigned them, with most scrupulou:
| regard to the rights of the competitors, submit
the following Report -
The importance of the plough, as an nipple.
ment OF husbandry and as the instrument bv
which is performed the first important act in
the production OF a cultivated crop, cannot be
too highly appreciated by the practical farmer
aad as the successor of the sword, will ever
be held in esteem by the Christian and phi.
lanthropist. Among the whole class oflabour.
saving machines there is no one, perhaps, o.
greater public utility; no one that has been
more improved from its first introduction: and
from the important Improvements recently a.
dopted, we have reason to believe there i.
no one that has been so long in use that is
sui so susceptible of further improvement.
The first and principal object of our Plough.
ing Match is the improvement of the plough,
and the introduction, to common use. of the
one best adapted to ordinary purposes. your
| Committee are confident that no single model
can satisfy the wants of good farmer. There
is the same necessity for ploughs of different
construction, to make good work on smooth
soil and rough, in turning the sward for crop
of corn or in breaking up the burrows after one
years tillage, as there is for scythes of different
| construction in cutting the tender grass and in
destroying brush of stubborn growth. The
object in the one instance is to turn the furrow
as smooth as possible, in the other to pro-
duce very different result.
Your Committee are aware that diversity
of opinion exists among practical farmers Ito
| say nothing of theorists as to the best manner
OF ploughihg sward land. Some are of opinion
| that the furrow ought to be left at such an an
| gle with the surface as to expose small DOR
| ton of the sward to the action Of the atiios-
phere and -~;-, the sod, ia that situation,
will more readily decompose than when left in
horizontal position.
Such would undoubtedly be the effect Of
leaving the furrow standing on its edge: and
when the primary object in the application Of
the plough Is to decompose a firm, hard. stiff
sward, to mix wasting stubbe with the soil.
or break up burrows that have lain one wear
! under tillage, such course would be judicious.
and the cast-iron plough, ofrecent introduction.
is extremely well calculated to produce the
effect. But your Committee are very confident
that in breaking up most of the tillage land in
this County, the objects to be aimed at by the
ploughman, are smooth surface with suffi.
clent mould for easy cultivation.
10 accomplish these objects, it is neces-
sary the mould-board, as connected with the
land side OF the plough, should partake more of
the character of the wedge, and turn the fur
row less abruptly than the cast-iron plough now
\ in use.
! Your Committee have been thus explicit as
respects their views in relation to the manner OF
! performing the work, as a justification of their
conduct In awarding the premiums; and, in re-
lation to the construction of the plough, for the
purpose of inviting the attention of scientific
| farmers to the improvement of this useful
| machine.
AS respects the appearance and docilitv Of
the oxen by which the labour was performed,
1t would be superfluous in your Committee to
make any remarks.-The cattle were before
you, and although portion of the dumb cre-
alton, their conduct spoke a language as une-
qulvocal as that Of the ass of BALKAN. and as
sured US that they had been we'll instructed
IN their important parts, by faithful and skilful
masters.
Sixteen teams had been entered for the
match. On repairing to the ground allotted for
the occasion, one only was withdrawn. leaving
fifteen to enter the lists. The lots were as
signed in the usual manner, and the plough
men were assured that no regard would be had
to the time in which the labour should be per-
formed, if done within 80 minutes, the time
allotted by the rules Of the Society.
The work was all performed within that
time; and the execution of the work, in con-
nexion with the number of cattle attached to
each plough, and the difference of soil in the
several lots, alone claimed our attention.
The Committee, after careful examination
OF the work, have awarded to Samuel Sibley.
of Sutton, the first premium, of So.
For Plough, made by John Hall, of Sutton,
himself ploughman, $4-stephen Marsh, jr.
driver, Sc. -
To Silas Dudley, of Sutton, for Plough. by
Jesse Warren, of Dedham, $6-himself plough.
man, $4-Joseph Dudley, driver, So.
The work performed by Mr.. BENJAMIN
Woodbury., I'd, was extremely we'll done, and
the Committee did not without some hesitation
give to Mr.. Dudley the preference.
To the Hon. Seth Hastings, of Mendon, thew
have awarded the lst premium, for team Of
one pair of cattle-for Plough, by Jesse War.
rem, $8-Elias Rawson, driver, S4.
To Reuben Wheelock, Of Sutton, Cd pre-
mum-tor Plough, $6-as ploughman, 81.
| To Royal T.. Marble, Sd premium-for
Plough, $5-as plOughman, So.
10 Israel Whitney, of Worcester, as plough
man, for Plough made by Wesson, Of Worces.
ter, So.
The work performed by Ward & Rice, and
by Nathaniel Gates, all of Worcester, was we'll
done. In relation to the others, we deem COM
ment unnecessary.
Respectfully submitted.
r TAET T.. -. -