Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-12-16

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The Committee appointed 10 examine
and decide upon the several ploughs en-
tered for the premiums Of The Massachu-
sets Society for Promoting "A gricnlture.
at Worcester. on the 18th Oct 1910, after
awarding the premiums, having appointed
a subcommittee 10 report more specially
on the merits AMI peculiarites of the re-
speclive instruments the said sub-com-
mittee accordingly report:
That the importance ofthe decision 10
b made by the whole committee was
subject OF frequent conversations, in which
all agreed that the interests ofthe agricul-
iurisls Of our community might be as Sc
riously affected by their award, as.by the
action of any agricultural committee that
has ever repoFted in our commonwealth.
Good ploughing is absolutely essential 10
good and successful husbandrv; and
good ploughng is with great difficulty
performed with any other than a good
plough. Our decision, it was thought,
might possibly influence numbers in their
purchase Of this important implement !;
and with this thought in our minds. we.
could not fail 10 recognize the duty ofgiv-
ing 10 the several ploughs entered for pre-
MUM, as fair and full a trial as time and
opportunity would permit
Some Of tie committee having been de-
tanned an hour or two by slight acct
dent on'the railroad, we were obliged 10
defer the commencement of our examina.
ton until about II o'clock. The first OPP
Grafton was TO run burrows SO that we
might have narrow lands of about five rods
in length. Then fifteen ploughs were
brought On and used SUCCESSFULLY. Each
competitor was allowed to furnish his own
ploughman; to make his furrow Of what
ever depth and width he chose; and thus
10 give as his own specimen Of the work
of his own instrument. Each was allow
ed 10 turn several contiguous burrows.
( The Dynamometer, or measurer Of the
power required to draw the plough, was
applied to each, through two or more fur
rows. The power was noted down: the
depth and width of these burrows were
measured and our eyes scanned the work
ofeach. About five hours were consumed
in the trial thus far.
After having taken some refreshments,
several members Of The committee, whose
hands were not entire strangers to the
plough-handle, went to the field and sew.
eral tried such ofthe p!ouehs as either q
them was disposed to follow. On The fol.
lowing day. also, they ils '1 several Of the
plougns; and they oil agreed = = lie onln.
ION that the pIoughs Of Mr.. Howard and
those Of Messrs Prouty & Mears, are
managed with great care and comfort BY
the ploughman, and that each, when LEFT
TO ITSELF holds on in its proper position and
course, where the sod is uniform and free
from stones. They agreed, also, that the
form and position Of The am-handle O
Messrs. Ruggles, Nourse and Mason.
plough is such that the poughman can
not walk in the fulrow erect and comfort
ably when the plough is in position tc
make good work. They think, too, thai
this plough when left to itself tends 10 mar
row thefurrow slice, and run out and
therefore that CONSTANT though slight
effort on the part Of the ploughman, is re-
dsired to keep itin It's place, It is true
however, that in the hands of skilfa
holder, this Instrument, in shallow and fla
ploughing. makes as handsome work a.
any that we have seen. But where all
make work handsome enough, those must
be considered best which make the small
est draft upon the strength of the team
and the skill and comfort OF the plough
man.
In relation to the ploughs of Messrs
Prouty g. Mears, and those of Mr.. How
ard, we mean not TO say or do any thing
which shall be construed asa recommend
alton of the one above the other. tits be
lieved that il we were intending to pur
chase soon for ourown use, (aad two Of US a
least are intending this.) that we shoulc
not all prefer the plough Of the same man
ufacturer. The premiums are not 6rs
and second. but each is first IfoI It's kind o
work. We may state that the whole
committee, with little previous conferenc,
of opinion, when proceeding to give il b,
ballot. the name of the maker who shonlt
receive thepremium for fiat burrows, man
ifested the greatest agreement possibl
short of perfect ubanimilY; and that il
designating, by the same process. VII,
should receive the premium for lappin:
burrows, there was entire unanimity.-
Should our opinion be asked as 10 which
ofthe ploughs we should prefer for US
on farm. we might perhaps say to iii
Inquirer, if your land is mostly light an
easy to work, try Messrs. Prouty {
Mears first; but ifyour land is heavy
hard or rocky. begin with MIR. Howard:
Mr.. Howards is the heavier and proba
bly, the stronger Of the two. Both are I
good workmanship. and will doubtless d
good service We should say this ais,
oflhe ploughs Of Messrs. Ruggles. Nours
& Mason. which are in no respect infer
or 10 the others, excepting the particular
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