294 AMERICAN CATTLE. 



A working ox, according to his necessities, should be as well 

 fed, groomed, and sheltered, as a horse, and his labor would be 

 as much better for it. TVe have seen many a well kept yoke 

 of oxen, that would do as much ordinary farm labor as a pair 

 of horses, with much less expense of keep, and not a tithe of the 

 wear and tear of gearing. But the great drawback with almost 

 every farmer, where himself cannot direct the labor, is the diffi- 

 culty of finding good drivers. As the ox goes without a rein, he 

 is directed by the word, and the motion of the whtp, or goad. 

 He is slow in movement, incapable of being hurried, yet, when 

 well trained, is obedient to command, and always equal to any 

 reasonable requirement. It requires some skill to drive an ox 

 well, as it does a horse, and as long as brainless men exist, who 

 care for nothing but to get through the day, and take in their 

 own provender while at service, we may despair of much reform 

 in the management of ox labor. 



REARING, MATCHING, AND TRAINING. 



None but likely, thrifty, well built steers, should ever be kept 

 for working, and no different treatment in calf hood is required 

 than with other young farm stock. They should be castrated at 

 any time not exceeding six months old, to give them a truly ox 

 like character when grown a stag being always uncouth in 

 appearance, and less saleable. A pair of steers, intended for 

 matching, should be as near alike in breed, in looks, color, tem- 

 per, and action, as possible, as these qualities add much to their 

 selling value ; and uniformity in temper and action make them 

 more valuable in labor. Training may be commenced at any 

 age, after six months, with a small yoke ; and small boys, when 

 they take a fancy to such work, can do it as easily as a grown 

 man. We know that all farmers cannot well do this at that 

 early age of the calves, but where circumstances admit, it is less 

 labor to train them at an early age than when older. They are 

 less liable to injury, and more tractable. 



