548 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



The kind of team that is best for the farmer to keep will depend entirely upon his cir 

 cumstances, and the character of the land he is to till. On some farms oxen, as we have 

 seen, would prove the most inefficient team the farmer could employ, while on others they 

 would prove the most efficient and profitable. 



Horses and mules are indispensable in the extensive grain-growing sections of the conn 

 try, where a delay of a few days in the sowing or harvesting of the crop might be attended 

 with great loss. On a small farm, where the farmer cannot afford the expense of keeping 

 horses or mules, a good ox-team may perhaps be found most desirable, all things being con 

 sidered. 



The expense of keeping a pair of horses or mules shod during the year will exceed that 

 of oxen. The necessary outfit of harnesses, wagons, etc., for a horse or mule team will also 

 be considerably more than that required for the ox-team, while the feeding expense of horses 

 and mules is greater than that of oxen. The horse and mule will depreciate in value as they 

 grow older, until they finally become worthless, while an ox may be readily fattened and 

 converted into beef, bringing a good price in the market. 



On the other hand, one horse is almost a necessity, even on a small farm, for use in 

 travel, and it might be that some farmers would be so circumstanced that it would be more 

 profitable for them to keep an extra horse to complete the farm-team than to keep in addi 

 tion a pair of oxen. Each farmer must consider his own individual circumstances and 

 decide accordingly, as to what team is best adapted to his use. 



The number and kind of teams should always be suited to the kind and amount of 

 work to be performed. On large farms, where a large amount and variety of labor is to be 

 performed, a large number of teams will be required. It will not be economy, however, to 

 keep more animals for tins purpose than are needed on the farm. 



Whatever the kind of animals used for farm-teams, they should always be humanely 

 and kindly treated. They are the farmer s patient and willing servants, constantly doing his 

 bidding in performing tasks for him, wearing their lives out day after day uncomplainingly 

 in his service, and as such are entitled to kind consideration and care. He who abuses such 

 faithful servants, or permits those in his employ to do so, is guilty of base cruelty, and does 

 not deserve to be benefited by their labors. There is no farm animal but that can be best 

 managed by kindness, while with some, such as a high-spirited, sensitive horse, blows and 

 harsh words are often absolutely ruinous, and always greatly lessen the money value of the 

 animal thus treated. 



We have known many valuable horses to have been rendered vicious and worthless by 

 such means. Very few animals are naturally vicious, the majority of those that are so having 

 been made thus by improper management. To some animals harsh words are almost as 

 abusive as blows and kicks. The man who abuses in any way the innocent creatures in his 

 power deserves to change places with them, and learn from experience the suffering caused 

 by such treatment. Aside from the humane consideration, animals kindly treated are 

 much more valuable and profitable to their owners, being more tractable and reliable; there 

 fore for this reason, if for no other (although the humane principle should be the leading 

 one), every fanner should feel personally responsible for the treatment his animals receive. 



