92 MAINE STATE SOCIETY. 



three years old which have cost him $100 to rear, or he has purchased 

 at that cost. lie then has $100 invested in brute force for carry- 

 ing on his farming operations. This investment with twenty-four 

 years interest at six per cent, amounts to $244. He sells his oxen at 

 seven years old, for $175, invests $75 in improvements on his farm 

 or lets it at interest, and supplies the place of his oxen with another 

 pair of three years old which he has reared, or purchases at the cost 

 of the first. The $75 gain, at interest for the twenty remaining 

 years, amounts to $165. This process cgntinued, of selling at the 

 end of every four years and putting the gain at interest, would at 

 the end of the period, (twenty-four years,) give A an income of 

 $727.00 on his work team, from which deduct capital $100 and use 

 $144=244.00 leaves him a net gain of $573.00. 



B has selected horses, and invests $250 in a pair, which sum, at 

 the rate of interest allowed in A's case, amounts at the expiration 

 of the term, to $610.00. 



At this period the horses are past labor and are valueless : and 

 the investmant and interest are sunk. This estimate gives a differ- 

 ence in favor of ox labor : 



Net gain on ox labor, $573.00 



Loss on horse labor, . . . . . 610.00 



Amount, $1,183.00 



It may perhaps with some truth, be objected that the oxen for the 

 first years, at three and four years old, are not as efficient a team as 

 the horses. If this be the case, and four oxen are required to sup- 

 ply the place of the horses, the difference in favor of ox labor will 

 be increased ; for in that case a pair of oxen may be sold every two 

 years, and the gain put at interest. 



In the above estimate I have only shown the advantages to the 

 farmer, of using oxen instead of horses, in the performance of his 

 labor, besides which, should be taken into the account, that in the 

 one case the community is supplied with some 12,000 lbs. of beef; 

 and in the other, the crows, with carrion, or the compost heap with a 

 small, though valuable addition to its fertilizing properties. These 

 results are obtained from an equal amount and value of feed ; or, if 

 there be a difference, it is in favor of the oxen, they requiring less 

 than the horses. 



