Teams, 



The superior advantages of horses in teams, are their quick- 

 ness of motion, and greater docility; and their disadvantages 

 are, their greater expense in raising and keeping, and extra 

 expense of harness, and being of no value, when their service 

 is at an end. The advantages of oxen, are said to be their bemg 

 less expensive in raising and keeping,and their value, after their 

 time of service expires ; and their disadvantages are, their 

 slowness of motion, and their being less tractable. 



The following calculations, respecting the relative value, 

 utility of horse and ox teams, is worthy of consideration : "Say 

 that a good span of farming horses are worth, at four years 

 old, one hundred dollars : at fourteen years from that time, 

 they are worth little or nothing ; of course, another sum of one 

 hundred dollars, at the expiration of that time, be expended in 

 the purchase of a new span. This sum, laid out at the end of 

 fourteen years, is about equal to fifty dollars paid down. In 

 order, therefore, to keep the span, a capital of one hundred and 

 fifty dollars, is necessary ; which is equal to an expenditure of 

 ten doUara and fifty cents a year. A yoke of oxen, at four 

 years old, are worth, say sixty dollars ; and allowing them 

 not to depreciate in value, till turned off for fattening, 

 they require an expenditure of four dollars and twen- 

 ty cents a year, as the interest of the capital, laid out for 

 them. Say that the horses will cost fifteen dollars a year 

 more than the oxen, to keep them, and provide harness for 

 them. Say also, that they do a hundred days work in a year, 

 andthat the oxen, vorking a quarter slower, require one hun- 

 dred and thirty-three days to perform the same labor ; then if 

 one hand only, is ernployi'd with the oxen, his Avages and board 

 dunng the extra thivty-three days, at fifty cents per day, would 

 stillleave a balance m favor of the osen, of four dollars and 

 eighty cents, for the year's v/otk ; but if they should require a 

 boy to dnve, v/hile another handh^ide the plough, then the bal- 

 ance would be very considerahb in favor of the horses. 



Perhapg on smooth laads, atid for carrying loads to market 

 at a distance, horses may be preferable. But oxen are certain- 

 ly preferable for husbandry in maay respects ; they are cheap- 

 er than Wse?, as it regards tl^b food, the method of keeping 

 tiieni, the superiorxty of their dung, their being subject to fewer 

 ciiseases,and their suffering no loss of value by W. Two oxen in 

 a plough require not a driver more than a span of horses. Lord 

 Skame3says,thattheDutch,atthe capeofGoodHope,plouffh with 

 oxen, Without a driver, and early exercise them to a quicl pa^-e 



