663 the Stock Age, of Cattle how 0/t 



pounds a year, when nearly two thirds of the land are managed in a convertible 

 method of hufbandry, proper allowances being made for different circumftances.* 

 The method of managing them there is by means of the yoke and bows, in prefer 

 ence to the collar, as in fuch mountainous diftricts the powers of the animals are in 

 this way, or that by the head, more effectually brought into action. Lord Somer- 

 ville has found this to be the cafe from actual trial, being convinced that the pole 

 and the yoke form the true lever for the ox.f Yoked in this manner, the labour 

 is performed with great expedition and difpatch by thefe animals. Some advife 

 the oxen not to be worked too hard, and in this view think fix mould be employed 

 in a team, four working at a time, and two remaining alternately at reft. Whatever 

 practice may be purfued in this refpect, it is extremely neceffary that the oxen be 

 well mod before they are put to the work, as, where this is neglected, they foongec 

 lame and ufelefs* As there is confiderable trouble and often danger in cafting them 

 in order to perform this operation, it is better to have a machine contrived fo as 

 to fhoe them ftanding. Ufeful contrivances of this nature have been defcri- 

 bed.f 



The continued rife in the expenfe of horfe-keep ftrongly mows, and at the fame 

 time enforces, the necefllty and great benefit of making ufe of oxen in all cafes 

 where they can be employed to advantage. 



In the fattening of oxen or other forts of neat cattle, various fyfterrss of manage 

 ment are praetifed in different cafes, according to the particular circumftances and 

 objects the farmer has in view, which have been already explained . 



The age of neat cattle is fhown by their mouths and horns. Wherr turned two 

 years old, the places of the calf- teeth are fupplied by two new ones, and in every 

 fiicceeding year two more are added until five, when the mouth is faid to be full 

 this is not probably the cafe until fix years old, as the two corner teeth are not 

 fully protruded till that period; 



In the horn, the firft ring or circle does not take place till three years old, after 

 which a frefh one is added every fucceeding year, as long as the horn continues 5 

 but thefe rings are often effaced by the artifices of the jobbers and dealers in 

 for the purpofe of &quot;deceiving the purchafers. 



Annals of Agriculture, vol. XXX. I Ibid. J Ibid, vol. XXXVI. 

 See Grazing and Stall-feeding, in fcftion on Cultivation of Grafs Land. 



