SUMMER [Chap. 



sometimes lame ; but you will see whole droves 

 of fat Devonshire oxen, without a lean one 

 amongst them. An ox will go in a cart or 

 wagon, just as well as a horse, and with more 

 docility. The exceeding troublesomeness of rely- 

 ing solely upon the spade, and the necessity of 

 my being constantly present here; besides the 

 absolute necessity of a good deal of carting; 

 made me, sometime ago in conversation with a 

 friend, express my deep regret at not being able 

 to bring over a yankee with a pair of oxen, his 

 yoke, and his bows. As it happened this friend 

 had been in America himself, and was now using 

 oxen in England, and kindly offered to send 

 me two pair, ready broken to their work. I 

 have them, and very docile and excellent oxen 

 they are. I was afraid of being compelled to 

 resort to the horse, the " head '^ carter, the 

 well-informed blacksmith, and the scientific 

 farrier. I trembled at the very thought, 

 and was happily relieved from my distress by 

 the intervention of this brother emigrant to 

 America. For heavy or deep ploughing we 

 take the two pair. For light ploughing, such as 

 the inter-tillage above mentioned, one pair will 

 be enough. These oxen cart the dung, bring in 

 the corn, the mangle-wurzel roots and leaves, 

 and, in short, do all the work upon the farm. I 

 have one little horse to send into town and for 



