FRANCE. 279 



pence of one year's keeping ; they are fold 

 fat, at fix years old -, whereas, if they were 

 not worked, they would be fold at five 

 years old, which makes the difference of one 

 year in keeping on account of working 

 them* This is fo fmall an expence of teams, 

 compared with the purchafe of horfes, and 

 their wearing cut, and coming at laft to no 

 account, that I think there can be no doubt 

 of the matter. Indeed, in this country the 

 mule is much more profitable and lading 

 to keep than the horfe, afod I believe 

 the afs better than either. As to the com- 

 parative ftrength, the horfes, throughout 

 moft parts of the fouth of France, are fo 

 fmall and weak, that the ox has rather the 

 preference ; and I calculate, that three 

 oxen or heifers are equal to two good mules. 

 Upon the whole, I have the greateft reafon 

 to think, from all my experience in this 

 point, that oxen and heifers are greatly more 

 profitable teams than either horfes, mules, 

 or afles ; and I have been often much fur- 

 prifed to fee fo many farmers of the con- 

 trary opinion, and preferring horfes; nor 

 have I been able at all to account for this 

 preference." 



T 4 Before 



