199' ESSAY ON THE 



who is not prepared to admit that in nothing is that difference greater 

 than in their treatment of all their cattle, and more especialit/ their 

 oxen. In this very diflerence, in fact, is to be found the solution of 

 the question, and this brings us to the point for making the sugges- 

 tions we propose on the breed, gearing, training, and general treat- 

 ment of the ux. 



As to the breed, there can be no doubt that if regard were had alone 

 to the working qualities of cattle, a skilful breeder might in a series 

 of years, not very long, manufacture out of our own country cattle a 

 race which would be as distinguished for quickness of motion and 

 endurance as, by like care and attention and skill, the improved short 

 horns have been made, and established for early maturity, symmetry 

 and disposition to lay on flesh and fat on the most valuable parts. 

 There is, however, in the two cases, this obvious difference in the 

 system of breeding the horse and ox, which is a matter of necessity 

 militating against the ox and detracting from him on the score of 

 action, leaving it even a subject of surprise that he should be as quick 

 as he is. While the horse, for instance, is bred and cultivated with 

 a view to the possession and display of a slmrle quality, either high- 

 bred for light harness or the saddle, or cold-blooded, with weight to 

 be thrown into the collar, for the plough or heavy loads, for the cart 

 or the wagon, true economy compels the husbandman as to his cattle, 

 to keep in view and to combine, as far as he can, several objects in 

 some degree incompatible with each other, and with the highest attain- 

 able degree of excellence in any particular one of them. Few, for in- 

 stance, could afford to breed cattle with exclusive reference to the pail, 

 the yoke, or the shambles! For either of these objects a different breed 

 would be taken, while, under all circumstances, for all these purposes 

 combined, we should pronounce in favour of the North Devon. It is 

 from this stock that the famous New England oxen are descended. Be- 

 ing of moderate size, and active and thrifty, they are adapted to a wider 

 range of country; and being in itself an unmixed distinct natural 

 breed, if we may say so, it transmits and preserves its peculiar quali- 

 ties with remarkable uniformity as to shape, size, colour, temper and 

 action ; and without demanding, in order to keep them up to the 

 mark, that practised skill and extraordinary care in the selection of 

 the breeding stock which has been for many years exercised in the 

 formation of some other artificial breeds, choosing for that purpose 

 individuals in every case most free from the defects, and possessing 

 the greatest number of the points which it may be the object of the 

 breeder to establish. 



In a correspondence between Dr. Mease of Philadelphia and some 

 English stock-breeders of celebrity, one of them, Mr. Chandler, who 

 had repeatedly gained prizes at Smith field for the cattle he had raised 

 or exhibited, says in his answer to certain inquiries — "Not being an 

 advocate for very large animals or for feeding to an excess, I have 

 endeavoured from experience to make use of that description of 

 animals which pay bat fur the food they eat, and are the readiest sale 



