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threshing, it is ultimately a great loss. The use df 

 oxen, therefore, in this operation, may certainly be 

 looked to, in some degree, as an improvement in agri- 

 culture. It is but fair to add, that for the first four or 

 five times, the oxen are very awkward in the mill, and 

 great care is then necessary to teach them ; but after that, 

 they go more steadily than horses. 



Mr Andrew Gray makes the following observations 

 on this interesting subject. Some persons are of opinion, 

 that as oxen in general move Very slow, hence, that much 

 time and labour would be lost in working them. That, 

 however, can be obviated, by altering the velocity of 

 the machine. It is also doubted whether oxen are as 

 proper as horses for walking in a circle. A farmer 

 in the county of Moray, however, informs me, that 

 he has used four oxen in a threshing mill, at one 

 of his farms, and that he found they did equally well 

 as horses; by which his plough horses were eased, 

 and the oxen he worked were kept in good condi- 

 tion, by turnips and straw : and as it has been found 

 from long experience, that oxen, if properly trained, 

 will work equally fair and pleasant with horses, either 

 in the plough, the wain, or any other machine in which 

 they move straight forwards *, it may therefore be pre- 

 sumed, that if taught, they will work equally fair when 

 walking in the same circle, and though oxen in general 

 move slower than horses, the threshing-machine can 



* Horses will carry as well as draw ; hence some of the 

 load may be put on their back, and the horse is the better for 

 it, more especially going up hill. Oxen, on the other hand, 

 will draw, but cannot carry ; tumbtil carts, therefore, having 

 three wheels, are the best for them. If oxen are apt to be 

 giddy in a threshing-machine, they should be blind-folded, 

 as horses sometimes are. 



