The Newtown bee., 1889-05-03


 clear and bright, the sky soon clouded over and, ere the day was done, fine pen etrating rain had several times fallen, succeeded, about 8 o'clock, by smart shower, which caused stampede for shelter. However, most of the blowing was already finished.
 Early in the morning, plowmen were on the grounds, examining the land which had been given them by lot and calculating their chances of winning. It was 10 30 before the word was given and then If teams moved of together, each man being allowed a driver for the first furrows. Those entering were:
 William seery, one of Bronson's men;
 Miles Howell, another of Bronson's employ cs;
 George Skeen, third Bronson man;
 Thomas Craig of Fairfield;
 Dennis Mnloney of Black Rock; Robert Dickie of Fairfield;
 John Keely, n Bronson man;
 A. E. Miller of Bridgeport
 William Craig;
 o. B. Jennings of Fairfield
 William Wilson of Greenfield
 A. Hamilton of Bristol;
 Curtis Banks of Greenheld;
 Dwight Banks, Greenfield;
 E. N. sipperly of westport exhibited Wi ard sullxy blow and Cushing, Morris & Co., of Bridgeport a Syracuse sulky.
 Hamilton had Columbia blow and Thomas Craig a Wizard; all others were Syracuse. Wilson, Hamilton and Cur tis Banks used oxen and Dickie had mules; otherwise horses were used. Fur rows were to be not less than six nor more than seven inches deep; the width was discretionary, usually about foot, though Miller and his big grays, one of s. M. Gates best truck teams, turned IA to 15 inches eachstime. The judges, H. G. Birge and George P. Jennings of Greens Farms and Simon c. Bradley of Greenfield Hill, carefully inspected each mans work at the start, the first six fur rows, the general appearance and the fin ish, while Foreman Costigan moved up and down the line, giving orders and see ing that everything worked smoothly and without friction.
 Starting at the stake, each man plow- ed six fnrrows on each side, turning the sod toward the center; he then "plowed around again" until the plot was finished. Hot coffee and sandwiches were passed and all went smoothly until nearly ? o'clock, when Hamilton's blow, which he had won at blowing match at fair, struck a stone so forcibly as to break the iointer and render it useless. Declining proffered aid, Hamilton, who was about two-thirds through, withdrew from the contest.
 Sipperly, whose use of the Wizard sulky was vigorous and dashing, if not strictly scientific, and whose horses, though scarcely heavy enough for such work. went over the ground almost on trot, finished his half acre about l 30 and de voted his time to extoIling the farm ma chinery for which he is agent. Miller, whose straight, wide furrows and rapid work excited praise, came next Ut 45 His splendid gray horses had never drawn a blow before, but their work was as perfect as that of veterans. Dennis Maloney finished at 21 and then, in quick succession, came Skeen, Keely, Dickie, Craig, Jennings; nearly all had finished when n heavy shower caused them to seek shelter in the barn. Dur. ing the day, scores of teams containing ladies had paused in the road while their occupants watched the scene and ar eyer-changing stream of humanity moved slowly up and down, passed comment and unofficial judgment upon the worl and presently drifted away to other scenes. Only those interested in the fina award remained at the barn to hear tht judges' decision. After the shower had cleared away, George F. Jennings mount sd fence and said: ssAs judges of thii blowing match, we have had difficul task. think there Is no doubt that thu work done here Is from 30 to 50 pel cent. better than the average and thii high quality has been maintained neacI of the II lots into which the seven acres were divided. The prizes were original Iy S25, $l5, Sl0, -$5; but with the con sent of Mir Costigan, the judges have de cided, in view of the uniform excellence of the work, to reduce the first prize to s20 and to add a special prize of $5. The first prize, s20, is awarded to George Skeen. the second, $l5, to A. +. Miller: the third, sIO, to Dwight Banks; the fourth, 80, to Miles Howell; the fifth (extra), S5, to William Wilson," As each mans name was called, Foreman CostIgan handed him the money and rib bon.
 Judges, plowmen and reporters were then invited to the farm house, where a bounteous feast of good things awaited them. At it's conclusion, the judges, re- porters and experts passed vote of thanks to Mir Costigan in particular and all his assistants In general, who had rendered the occasion so pleasant.
 verna Farm Is prettily located in the heart of Greenfield Hill, about three miles from Southport or Fairfield depot. The farm itself contains some 200 to 300 acres, but 1t Ia under state of cnitIvat- ion surpassed by none. Many ofthe yer dant pastures of to-day were but yester- day redceme4tf pm swampor waste land, ,ybpr~s Early in Ind of the old home-
 requested that Ahed and built up by snd 'iss t was s prosmpsly , jadicious fertili-
 acan scarcely be
 sr that fertile