30 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



FARM-WORK. 



ESSEX. 

 [From the Eeport on Town Teams.] 



Witliin a few years a great change has taken place in the 

 manner of doing farm-work, particularly that requiring ani- 

 mal labor. Horses have, to a great extent, been substituted 

 for oxen ; and we now find few farmers owning working-oxen. 

 This has resulted from several causes. The small profit in 

 making beef since the supply has come mainly from the West, 

 the greater quickness with which many kinds of Avork can be 

 performed by horses, and the high price of fodder in past 

 years, have all contributed to this result. But we have 

 sometimes thought that farmers have gone too far in this 

 direction ; and we hold that the comparative value of horses 

 and oxen for ordinary farm-labor is really quite an important 

 question for every farmer. 



Undoubtedly the use of horses is most economical for the 

 performance of many kinds of work, such as ploughing " old 

 ground," harrowing, and many kinds of teaming; but yet 

 there are some things which can be done best by oxen. It 

 is seldom that a horse-team can turn over grass-ground so 

 well as oxen, especially if the ground be rough or stony ; 

 and generally, for any kind of work requiring especial 

 strength and steadiness, oxen are preferable. Still it is 

 absolutely necessary for every farmer to keep a horse, and of 

 course, if he can perform all his work with it, he does not 

 need a pair of cattle. But if his farm is large enough to 

 require more animal labor, then it becomes a question 

 whether he had better employ oxen or horses. 



There are several points to be considered in deciding this 

 question, which will readily suggest themselves ; but we will 

 refer only to one or two. If the farmer has carts and har- 



