USEOFOXEN. 157 



"When two young cattle," says Mr. Stabler, " aro yoked and 

 turned loose with their tails tied together to run and plunge about, 

 they are almost certain to acquire a habit of running away ; and even 

 should this not be the case, one, and sometimes both, lose a part of 

 their tail in these violent exertions. When they are sufficiently 

 broken to the halter, they maybe placed side by side, for the purpose 

 of receiving the yoke, having reference to their relative size, strength, 

 and mastership ; because, if one is stronger and more free than the 

 other, he should be placed on the off-side that the team may rather 

 incline to, than from the driver." 



If one should be larger than the other, he will be likely to be 

 stronger and more free ; and, should they be put to the plough, the 

 furrow ox being the larger, the yoke will be kept nearer a level than 

 in the other case. It requires but little observation to see that they 

 are easier to be turned to the right, or made to " gee," than to the left, 

 or to " haw," or " come hither ;" therefore, if the master-ox be on the 

 off-side, he will assist in controlling the near or left one in " coming 

 round ;" but when reversed, and the master-ox on the near side, and 

 he not altogether willing to " come here," the team is some time 

 stationary ; for let the then off-ox be ever so willing to ol)ey the voice 

 of the driver, the horn of the near one speaks a contrary language, 

 equally intelligible. After the yoke is put on securely, their tails 

 should be well tied together, and they suffered to stand tied as before 

 until a strong pen is built round them, not more than sixteen or 

 eighteen feet in diameter, taking care that the ends of the rails do not 

 extend inwardly. The ropes should then be loosed, if possible, in 

 such a way that they will not be sensible of it. Here they will soon 

 learn to turn themselves about, without one violent exertion, or the 

 least fright. They should be tied up as before, at night, their tails 

 untied, and the yoke removed, to be replaced in the morninsf as be- 

 fore ; and the da}' following they may be led or driven in a larger 

 space. By this time the cause will be gained in a manner calculated 

 to insure a prime pair of cattle. They may now be attached to some- 

 thing light, and led about for a few hours, daily and gradually in- 

 creasing the draft, and greasing their necks occasionally, to prevent 

 galling. When put to the curt or harrow with others already 

 broken, contrary in {he usual practice, they should be placed before 

 instead of behind them ; by which arrangement it will be found that 

 if frightened the old cattle will not let them run; but, if otherwise, 

 they, by running against the older ones, may frighten them also. 



In Kentucky they practise another mode of breaking steers, which 

 is thus described : — Where the establishment is a large one, and 

 there are some to be broken in, every year, the fixture and practice 

 here recommended would seem to be eligible and judicious — " Get a 

 strong post eight feet long by two thick ; plant it three and a half 

 feet in the ground, well rammed ; round or level the top of the post, 

 and leave a pin to it, or make a mortice and insert a strong two-inch 

 pin of touph wood in it, perpendicularly at the top, six or eight inches 

 14^ 



