WORKING OXEN. 295 



With older steers, at the age of two or three years and they 

 should not exceed three they should be handled separately, and 

 be tied side by side in a stall, or under a shed, if possible, and 

 made gentle. The yoke should be first put upon them in the 

 stall, that they may become accustomed to it, and know what it 

 means; or if oxen of suitable size, already broke, be at hand, 

 they may be yoked and gently used with them. When once 

 accustomed to the yoke, a chain may be hooked into its ring, and 

 they may be gently driven around the yard gentleness, and 

 docility, being always practiced with them. We have seen pro- 

 fessed "steer breakers," who could break a yoke of "wild three 

 year olds" in a day, and called them fit to work; but turn them 

 loose for a day or two, and the steers forget it all, and are as 

 unbroken as ever. Steady, persistent training for some days, is 

 necessary to let them know what is wanted of them, and gentle, 

 every day labor must be practiced for weeks before they can be 

 trusted. The various manipulations of guiding them to the right 

 or left, and backing, must be managed by a practiced teamster, 

 for no written instructions will learn a raw hand to break a yoke 

 of steers. There are several good methods to do this work, and 

 every "teamster" is apt to think his own way the best. 



The yoke should always be well fitted to the neck, and of proper 

 crook, and size the bows of proper shape, one and a half to two 

 and a quarter inches in diameter, according to the size of the steer, 

 or ox, well fitted to the breast and shoulders, and every thing so 

 arranged as to work easy, and permit the steer to give his full 

 strength in a pull. The same care and judgment should be exer- 

 cised in the labor, feeding, watering, and cleaning a yoke of oxen, 

 as with a span of horses. They require less care, indeed, but 

 what care they do need should be as freely given, and it will be 

 attended with quite as profitable results. A team of well grown, 

 well matched, and well trained oxen, is a noble sight, and every 

 one who owns them, and properly values them, feels an honest 



