ORIGINAL ODE, WRITTEN FOR THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE ESSEX AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, BY GAIL HAMILTON. Now hang up the sickle, the reapers are done! The warm rains, the soft dews, and the sweet summer sun Ho! Freemen of Essex! Stout sons of the soil! Runs the blood of your sires pale and weak in your veins? No! a thousand times No! thunder out on the air, By the past that bequeathed us our might of to-day- All the strength of our prime, all the fire of our youth, In the sheen of our steel, guilt shall read its just doom. Fling our flag to the breeze! It shall never be furled- Brave yeomen of Essex! Your field is our Land, Match your strength to your day-Sow to God, the good Giver, REPORTS, &c. PLOUGHING-WITH DOUBLE TEAMS. The ground occupied for Ploughing was part of the field that was ploughed last year, well adapted to the purpose, being rather hard, with pebble stones, which is desirable to test the quality of the plough, and try the skill of the ploughman. It was also well situated, the land rising on either side, giving the large concourse of spectators an opportunity of overlooking the scene, to whom it must have been very pleasant to see nearly twenty teams of different classes competing for the several premiums at the same time. The work was performed in the most quiet manner, without much effort on the part of the teamsters, by the use of the whip, or otherwise, showing that the teams were well disciplined, and the teamsters (though some of them were quite young) were workmen that need not be ashamed. We have before said that there were as many kinds of ploughs as competitors, forcibly reminding some of your Committee of the great change that has taken place within their remembrance, not only in the quality of the plough, but the ease with which they can be procured. Memory goes back to the time when ploughs were not man ufactured by thousands, as they now are, and sold at almost every store. Then, if a person wanted a plough, he first went to the blacksmith and ordered the irons; then carried the irons to the plough-maker and ordered the wood-work; then again to the blacksmith to have the wood sheathed with plates of iron-all the work being usually performed without the aid of steam or water power. Many of them were of inferior quality, although there were ploughs made that would compare favorably in field work with the ploughs of the present day, but more team was required to use them. There has also been great improvement in instruments for pulverizing the soil and clearing the field crops of weeds. The cultivator, horse hoe and improved harrow were formerly not known. Experience shows, however, that the plough, in the cultivation of the field crops, should not be wholly laid aside. One advantage, however, the cultivator of the soil had in those days-the Yankee boys would perform more labor, hoeing in the field, than the foreigners necessarily employed at the present time. It is hardly necessary to say anything in regard to the depth of ploughing, as it is generally understood that deep culture is beneficial to the growth of plants. It depends, however, on the sub-soil, on the amount of manure applied on the crops cultivated, and various other things; therefore there is no general rule to be applied, but every cultivator of the soil must be governed by the circumstances in which he is placed. There were eight entries for premium-but seven, however, appeared on the ground as competitors. The teams appeared in fine order, well disciplined, and performed the work well. The time occupied in ploughing was from thirty to forty-five minutes. As to the ploughs, there were as many kinds as competitors, no two being alike. The Committee would recommend the following premiums: 1st premium, of $10, to Richard T. Jaques and R. S. Bray of Newbury. 2d prem., $9, Franklin Alley and Andrew Smith, Marblehead. $8, Hazen Ayer, South Danvers. 3d 66 4th " 5th " 6th " $7, Jacob Farnham, North Andover. $6, D. L. Goodridge and M. H. Poor, W. Newbury. $5, Wm. Foster and Joseph Kittridge, N. Andover. J. Longfellow, of Newbury, ploughed a lot with a Michigan plough, but is not entitled to the Society's premium, in consequence of not having entered according to the rules of the Society. But as Mr. Longfellow has shown himself an expert at ploughing, as he is accustomed to do on like occasions, the Committee would have been glad to have recommended a premium, had he complied with the rules of the Society. [The above report was amended, by vote of the Society, awarding Mr. Longfellow a gratuity of $5.] JOSEPH HOW, BENJ. P. WARE, DAVID WETHERBEE, COMMITTEE. DANIEL MOULTON, PLOUGHING-WITH SINGLE TEAMS. The Committee on ploughing with single teams, would make the following report, viz : There were but four entries for premiums. The ploughing was very well done. The time of doing the work varied from forty-three to forty-nine minutes. The Committee have awarded the premiums as follows, viz :— The first premium, of seven dollars, to Richard T. Jaques of Newbury. The second premium, of six dollars, to J. C. Newhall of Lynnfield. The third premium, of five dollars, to Franklin Alley of Marblehead. |