REVIVAL OF PLOUGHING MATCHES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10057, 3 August 1910, Page 4

REVIVAL OF PLOUGHING MATCHES.

Tt is pleasing to be able to record the fact that ploughing, matches have been revived in Wairarapa. Time wasw,hen matches of this description were quite historic events in the agricultural progress of the district, and created such widespread interest that competitors came from a considerable distance to show their skill and endeavour to lower the colours of the recognised local "champion of the plough." Farmers themsetves were as keenly interested as their men, and were always ready to pit,-,their ploughmen against a neighbour's *in a friendjy match, Jester ton was famed for it's ploughing .matches in days gone by, and old settlers still retain pleasant memories of many a hard fought contest. Uf recent years ploughing competitions have died out, and this may be accounted for, to a large extent, by the fact that the, advent of the seed drill dad away with the necessity for the plough making the seed bed, -and the disc harrow also had its effect in the same direction. Good ploughing is certainly essential to the good cultivation of the land, could tend to greater improvement in this respect than ploughing matchen. Besides showing what good work could be done, these competitions had another value, that of causing ploughmen to take an increased interest in their work. When contests were in vogue in Masterton, it was always noticeable that a ploughman, who intended to be a competitor, was always careful with his ploughing, and always aspired to do better work than he had done previously; and further, he took more care of his horses and harness, for these were telling factors with a ploughing match committee. The Wairarapa Pastoral and Agricultural Society have taken the initial step in this revival movement, and will hold a match shortly, in which considerable interest is being taken. In our opinion, ii the Masterton A. and P. Association were to institute competitions in t'hc Masterton district their action would mset withgthe hearty approval and support of the farming commun- ' ity as a step in the direction of benefiting both employer and employee. It is worthy of mention in this connection that in the early days of Masterton ploughing matches were held j on the grounds now known as the J: aolway Show Grounds, and they were i ' well attended by the public. I :