FARM-WORK. 31 



nesses for horses, and no equipments for oxen, he must con- 

 sider whether it will pay him to go to the expense of an out- 

 fit for an ox-team. If his business is such as to require 

 a large amount of teaming on the road, he must consider 

 whether his work cannot be done more economically by 

 horses. But then we suppose it is the experience of almost 

 every farmer, that, when he finds it necessary to sell his 

 horse, he cannot get as much as he gave, even if his horse 

 has not depreciated in value. We do not think this applies 

 particularly to farmers, but suppose it to be a general law, 

 — with now and then an exception, — that the man who 

 buys a horse does not usually get his money back when he 

 sells. The animal is subject to the ten thousand ills to which 

 horse-flesh is heir ; and he is liable any day to find, even if he 

 buys a sound horse, that by some unlucky wrench or strain, 

 or carelessness, fifty per cent of the value has vanished. If 

 he makes an unlucky trade, and finds that his horse has some 

 quality which he doesn't like, or is utterly wanting in the traits 

 he most desires, he cannot easily sell, but must wait months 

 for a customer, and then sell at a low figure. It is true it is 

 not much easier to find a customer for a poor, thin pair of 

 oxen, than for a horse ; but we don't believe a good farmer 

 will often have that kind of oxen. If oxen are fat enough 

 for beef, they will always sell at the market-price ; so that, 

 if one buys a pair of cattle to work for a short time, he need 

 not lose any thing if the price of beef remains the same. 



The difference in the cost of keeping a pair of horses and 

 a seven-foot pair of cattle for a year is not very much. The 

 oxen probably cost the most in the winter, and the horses in 

 the summer. We do not advocate tlie use of oxen for farm- 

 work by every farmer ; but we think, that, by proper manage- 

 ment, they can be used profitably to a greater extent than 

 they are. And the first and principal point is to buy the 

 right kind of cattle. It is a common notion that it is most 

 profitable to buy thin cattle, and by good keeping get them 

 fat, thus making a gain. We believe this is a great mistake. 

 Our own experience is, that the most unfortunate trades we 

 ever made were in buying that kind of stock. There is 

 always some reason why cattle are thin ; and, unless we know 

 all about them, it .is impossible to tell whether it is for want 

 of good keeping, or because they are dainty, or by reason of 



