The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-10-21
On the Ploughing Match.


This interesting part of the exhibition Of
the day has fully answered the public expsc-
tatlon. The competitors were eleyen-aI of
whom are entitled to much praise for the good
order and discipline of their teams and the yery
neat and skilful manner in which the work
was performed A little more time was con-
sumed, than has been usual on these occasions
owing, partly to the dry and hard bound state
OF the soil, partly to the unevenness of the
land, being hillside, and, partly to previous
understanding, that the time of performance, if
within reasonable despatch, would be of little
account. The quantity of land, the same in
each lot, was under stood to be the fourth of an
acre-the average tins of performance, about
thirty minutes The grand object is
utliity' and not amusement, merely; and, if
the sober and honest yeomanry of our County.
generally, would attend these exhibitions. tbev
would be gratifed to find, that the ploughing
match is not, what some have enormously sun
posed, mere game, in which are united much
cruelty and vain curiosity, and little or nothing
else They would not withhold their admira-
ton at the stiffness, order, ease, and skill
displayed throughout the whole scene. No
noise, whipping, driving cattle beyond their
natural and ordinary strength, is found. But,
let it not be supposed, that all this regularity
and ease, and we may add gracefulness, are ac-
CURED without pains. Much industry, labor.
and patience, are bestowed in the training of
oxen, before they become veterans of the
plough, and herein consists the grand secret or
mystery of the business The fact is, the
breaking of steers and colts should be consider
ed trade, or craft, to be committed to one or
more persons in each town, who should make
it the principal business of their lives and, at
which, they should serve a regular apprentice
ship. 1t were better, even to employ that an
nual pilgrim from the Land of steady habits"
known to the farmers throughout our County,
by the appropriate name and style, of "Capt.
Handy'-with all his unsightly apparatus and
disgusting love of "good rum than for the
business TO be con6ded to inexperienced and
unskiIlful hands. We cannot but congratulate
ourselves, that one good effect, at least has re-
suited from our Agricultural Societies, besides
the improvement in the breeds of animals 1t
has made the business of agriculture fashiona-
bic and popular. Until within the last ten or
twelve years, the cultivation of the earth
was considered servile and degraded employ
ment, in which no young gentleman could con-
( sistently engage. "Clodhopper" was nearly
synonymous with Shoe Black, or Chimney
Sweep, and equally repulsive. But to turn n
furrow gracefully, requires as much skill, as to
dance cotilion and that subject, which has
engaged the attention and employed the pen of
| the ancient Poet, and of wise and good men of
all ages-thut business which is the ground
work of all other employments, cannot be UNI
worthy of being honored and encouraged In
deed, in this, as in many other respects, the
| times have changed-and may that other, and
more important, change soon come, when
Swords shall be beat into ploughshares y
Agriculture seems, already, to have lost ma
| ny OF its terrors, and acquired new charms.
But time will not permit us TO enlarge
The Committee, after much examination,
and deliberate attention, have, in several in
stances, as all have done well, found no little
difficulty in deciding the comparative merits
of competitors.
! Asa Cummings, Jr., of Sutton, with a single
team, who ploughed his land with uncommon
neatness, without whip, and almost without
word of command, was considered entitled 10
much praise, but, as he drew the second premi-
UNI on the same cattle, last year, he was ex-
cluded, by the rules Of the society," from draw
ing any premium, this year, unless the first
The Committee hesitated between him and
William Eaton, Jr., but, finally awarded
On Single Teams,
! To William Eaton, Jr., of Worcester, the
first premium-for plough, IS
! Ploughman,
To Nathaniel c. Moore of Worcester, the
second do. for plough, 8
To silas Dudley OF Sutton, the third do,
for plough, s.
4 Ploughman,
To Micah Johnson Of Worcester, the
fourth do, for plough,
| Poughman,
To William q. Harrington Of Grafton, the
4 6nh do, for plough and PloughmaE, y