The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-10-23
DIR. Holiness Report on the Berkshire
PIOughing Match.

DIR. Holiness Report the Berkshire
PIOughing Match.
The committee on the ploughng match are fully
sensible of the dignity and importance of the office
entrusted 10 their judgment To decide upon the
comparative merits of so many excellent specimens
of agricultural art Is most delicate, responsible
and honorable duty.
The plough is very ancient implement Ii is
written in the English language p-lou-g b, and,
by the association Of free and independent spoilers,
pillow. Ii may be remarked that the same gen
temen can, by similar process, turn their coughs
into cows, which would be the cheapest mode of
raising live stock, but ii is to be feared that they
(referring to the cows) would prove but low bred
animals Some have derived the English word
plough from the Greek ploutos-the wealth which
comes from the former suggesting its relation To
the latter But such resemblance between differ
ent languages may be carried too far, as for ex
ample, If a should trace the name of the
Alatamaha TO the circumstances that the first set
tiers were all tomahawked on the margin of that
river.
Time and experience have sanctioned the GUS
tom OF putting only PLAIN, practical men upon this
committee Were il not so, the most awkward
plumbers would be constantly occurring. The in
habitants of cities, for instance, who frequently
visit the country during the fine season, would find
themselves quite al loss, If an overstrained polite
ness should place them in this position. Imagine
trader professional man from the capital of the
State Unexpectedly called upon to act in rural mat
tiers.
Ploughshares are to him shares that pay no divi-
dends. A coulter he supposes, has something to
do with horse. His notions of stock obtained
in Faneuil Hall market, where the cattle look fun
nily enough, to be sure, compared with the living
originals. He knows it is true that there is diff
ference in cattle and would tell you that he prefers
| the sirloin breed to all others. His children are
equally unenlightened. They know no of
the poultry yard than what they have learned by
having the chickenpox and playing on Turkey
carpet. Their small amount OF knowledge OF wool
| growing is lam 81 entable.
The history of one of these summer visiters shows
that his rural education must be very imperfect.
He no sooner establishes himself than he commences
| series of experiments. He tries to drain marsh,
but only succeeds in draining his own pockets. He
offers TO pay for having a compost heap carted of,
but s informed that il consists of corn and potatoes
| in an unfinished state. He abundantly, but
| reaps little nothing, except with the implement
| he uses in shaving-a process which Is frequently
performed for him by other people, though he pays
! no BARRIERS bill flo builds wire fence aud pa ints
IL green, that nobody sec it. But he iorgets
to order pair of spectacles apiece for his cows,
who, taking offence at something else take his
fence in addition, and make an invisible one OF II,
sure enough, in no time. And finally having
| bought a machine To chop fodder, which chops of
good slice Of his dividends and two three chill
dren's fingers, he concludes that instead of cutting
feed he will cut farming and 80 sells out 70 one OF
| those plain practical farmers, such you have
| honored by placing on your committee, whose
| pockets are not so full when he starts, but have
fewer holes, and not 80 many fingers in them.
Clear the brown path 10 meet his coulter's CLEAN
| 10, on ne comes Dfnlnd MS smoking uaU,
With tolls bright dew-drops on his sunburnt brow,
| The lord Of earth, the hero Of the plough
First in the field before the reddening sun,
Last in the shadows when the day is done,
Line after line along the bursting sod
Marks the broad acres where his feet have trod;
Still where he trcads the stubborn clods divide,
The smooth, fresh furrow opens deep and wide;
| Matted and dense the tangled turf upheayes:
Mellow and dark the rdgy cornheld clcayes,
| Up the steep hillside where the laboring train
IAI- 4. -. al. Ill.
Through the moist valley clogged with oozng clay
The patient convoy breaks its destined way;
At every turn the loosening chains resound,
The swinging ploughshare circles glistening round
Till the wide field one billowy waste app airs,
And wearied hands unbnd the painting steers
These are the hands whose sturdy labor brings
| The peasants food, the golden ponp Of kings;
! | This i the page whose letters shall be seen
Changed by the 20 words Of living green;
. Tls L the scholar whose immortal pen
Spells the first lesson hunger taught To men:
These are the lines o heaven commanded Toll,
+ That fiji thy deed-the charter Of the soili
, O. gracious mother, whose bcnignant breast
Wakes W ~ life and lulls Us all 10 rest,
How sweet thy features kind 10 every cline,
r Mock with their smile the wrinkled front Of Time
, We stain thy hOwers-they blossom Ger the dead;
We rend thy bosom and Il gives us breadi
O'er the red field that trampng strife has torn
= Waves the green plumagc Of thy tssseled corn;
n Our msddenIng conillcts scar my ialrest pam,
A NAli hAJ opih eaiaW'f - 80 -'a''
. Yet O. our mother, while uncounted charms
Z Round the fresh clasp Of thine embracing arms,
o Let not our virtues in thy love decay,
1, And thy fond weakness waste our strength away.
No BY these hills, whose banners, displayed,
In blazing cohorts Autumn has arrayed;
z by yon twin crest, amid the sinking sphere,
} | Last D. dissolve. and first " reappear;
BY these fair plains the mountain circle screens
y Md ieeds ia silence from its dark rayines,
Q True 70 their home these faithful arms shall toll,
4, To crown with peace their own untainted soil;
. Aud true H. God, ~ Freedom, W Mankind.
y n her chained bandOgs Faction shall unbind,
le These stately forms, that bending even now,
Il Bowed their strong manhood 70 the humble plOug
Shall rise erect, the guardians VI the land,
D. The same stern iron in the same right hand
n Till greyDck thunders ~ the parting
, The sword has rescued what the plougshare wont
The committee have the qualification II al
a. nouncing, that Notwithstanding tie unusually al
- favorable weather, The number Of entries for y
/, prize. sas greater than common. Nor did yariO
difcultes pflsentcd by the character Of the grOur
IN prevent the competitors from showing very skili
4 specimens Of the noble of plOughing. After
careful examination, made with dus impartIah
j. -partiaIity being indeed impossible where most
r. the Judges Werc ignorant u the names Of ml
l.. Of the candidates tor d-tinction-thc commit
awarded the following prizes
% roa PLoUGHING WITH HORSES.
q lst 20 John G. Wilson, Of West StOc kbridge..
n. ID, 70 Joseph X. HeWins, Of West StOckDridge.
. 3D. ~ Philip Merrill Of Plttshcld ...........
r. ith, 10 Daniel sprague, Of Pitsfield .......
5th. ~ George = Willis, Of Pittsfcld .........
etb 10 Edmund Bush Of Sheffield. T.. ......, ~
l., 7th ., Edison sexton Of StOckbridge.. .,......
y PoA pLoUGHiSG WITH OxES
II LIST, ~ james Foot jr., OF Pittsheld ........'
n. d. 70 Daniel Spraguc, Of Pttsheld ,..........
!, 3D. b. Isaac Barrett, Pittsteld. ....,..,,,t,-
i'' tth ~ Edward Clark. 4 Pittsheld.. .........
on 5th h. Jacob Burgbsr u Great Darlington.
as 9TH b. Levi T.. sears LenoH. .,.. $500.
n i prop.r 10 rnentOn that several compctit
we're excluded by the terms Of the match, IN GO
'rs sequence Of Overrunning their time One Of the
w Collins y Warner, Of Pitts6eld, was considered
the committee 10 have shown such excellence IN
ed pl0ughiug that they recommend that extra p
MUM u : should b. awarded ~ him. AnOtf
he piece of work very good ip many respects, y
excluded on account II the too great breadth Of
1D- furrOy o. W HOLMES, Chairman