WORKING OXEN. 281 



of the team is too high, unless the team is trained up to a high 

 point of efficiency. - 



And this brings us again to say, that far too large a majority 

 of the oxen whose exploits on the cart it is supposed to be your 

 committee's business to "sit in judgment" upon, are unworthy 

 to compete, for the above reasons. It is quite evident that this 

 class of teams have had no training ivith a single view to the 

 trial for premium. This is not as it should be. We do not 

 plead guilty to a desire to exclude any team, and yet it would 

 not seem consistent with the society's intent that your commit- 

 tee should fail to suggest " a better way." 



But the prime barrier in the way of all betterment in this 

 matter, is, that trainers are incompetent. We wish it were pos- 

 sible to set forth, with force and clearness sufficient to instruct 

 the more obtuse, the actual demand our present standard makes 

 for efficient teamsters. This demand cannot be met by the class 

 of self-elected teamsters (in whose mind no standard exists), 

 who continually thrust upon the attention of judges achievements 

 that are not creditable, even in the eyes of the ignorant crowd. 

 But despite the difficulties which hedge this whole subject of 

 teamstership and training of oxen, it is slowly, but surely, de- 

 veloping itself as a distinct, well-defined and most noble science. 

 That several of our farmers' clubs have introduced for discus- 

 sion the subject of training, must be regarded as an encoura- 

 ging " sign of the times." Let us all, as much as we may be 

 able, agitate for some definite standard ; and we can but sug- 

 gest to those whose jurisdiction may include necessary modifica- 

 tions of our by-laws, that the qualifications for premium be 

 extended so as to require more grace, nimbleness, and a greater 

 discipline in the minor movements, which truly are desiderata 

 in oxen to be used on the farm. We should prove recreant to 

 our sense of what is desirable, did we fail to indicate the direc- 

 tion the discipline should take. 



It is well known that awkward cattle are utterly unable to 

 take care of their legs, and of consequence the legs and feet of 

 untrained oxen are constantly subject to mutilation, either from 

 other legs and feet, or from the chain, as in logging, &c; hence 

 that part of their discipline which arms them against these dire 

 calamities, is especially to be recommended. Indeed, we have 

 known valuable pairs of oxen to be rendered hors du combat by 



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