280 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



and we rejoice to know that the farming community responds, 

 by an appreciative verdict, to what has been done. The shrewd 

 and progressive farmer of the present day, cannot afford to keep, 

 and improve upon, any but the most perfect breeds of cattle ; 

 and in the same view he is inclined to regard those he employs 

 for draught. He knows that the slipshod manner of conduct- 

 ing the business of matching and training oxen for the farm, is 

 the worst economy, even only so far as his own requirements 

 for ox-labor are concerned ; and when he comes to the market 

 demands, every principle of true economy is against it. But it 

 is matter for serious wonder why the majority of men acquainted 

 with farming pursuits fail to recognize, practically, the fact that 

 the standards in this department of their calling are greatly 

 elevated, and that to compete with those who are up to the 

 times, and make the raising and sale of cattle remunerative, 

 they must abandon their old notions, and regulate their condi- 

 tions to meet the facts of the new. In our view, the growing 

 disuse of ox-labor, in favor of horse-labor, on farms, is an error ; 

 but if we were to employ the most effective means of convert- 

 ing all to this view, it would be ox-training carried to the high- 

 est pitch of perfection. Many of the arguments brought against 

 the use of ordinary oxen on the farm, have no force against the 

 trained ox. The farm is the appropriate sphere of labor for the 

 ox, and in his training this fact should be kept constantly in 

 mind. In our essays we have never failed to set forth, that it is 

 the lighter uses for which our oxen should receive training. 

 We regret that those who compete for premiums are not more 

 familiar with this view ; for although we honestly think that the 

 conditions required to constitute oxen eligible to premiums by 

 no means cover all that is desirable, or all that oxen are capable 

 of doing, yet the most progressive interpretation of the terms 

 cover more than competitors are wont to apprehend. In the 

 matter of backing, for example, drivers show a too general igno- 

 rance as to what is desirable. It is not enough that a pair of 

 oxen are capable of forcing a load back a certain distance — 

 they must be able to do it within certain limits of space and time. 

 To test cattle on these points, the weight of the load should be 

 even more nicely adapted to the weight and strength of the 

 cattle than if the trial were for draught. We cannot escape 

 the impression that the rule of one-third more than the weight 



