162 ESSAY ON THE 



practice of using the latter, and of having a driver on botli sides of 

 the team to keep them straight, or of fastening a rope to the horn of 

 the near-ox for the same purpose, cannot be too soon exploded. 

 Riding on oxen is a shameful lazy practice, that should also be done 

 away with. Oxen may, and ought to be so taught, that by speaking 

 to tliem and making a kind of beckoning motion with the goad, they 

 will come to ; or, in other words, turn to the left without the trouble 

 of an assistant on the off-side, or a rope to pull them round. 



I would have one thing remembered in driving oxen, (which also 

 applies to every species of servants), I mean the impolitic habit of a 

 uniform harsh deportment, and of keeping the goad constantly going 

 over them ; it is a needless tax upon the lungs and sinews ; the oxen 

 will not do so much work for it ; and, what is worse, they become so 

 callous from this perpetual rough discipline, that they cannot easily 

 be brought to any extra exertion when it is indeed necessary. 



The benefit of a calm management has been very apparent to me 

 when I have been driving in company with these peevish geniuses ; 

 and coming to a steep hill, I would then speak sharp and determined 

 to my team, and ply the goad pretty freely, if necessary. This treat- 

 ment, so novel, would be fully appreciated ; every one of them would 

 pull as for his life, and the hill would be quickly surmounted ; while 

 the driver who has always been speaking harshly, and always been 

 plying his goad, could not here make use of any new argument to 

 stimulate his cattle to the exigence of the moment. The consequence 

 was, he would often have to receive assistance from a team no stronger 

 than his own. Drivers should acquaint themselves with the burthen 

 of their oxen, and never load them beyond it ; it discourages and 

 hurts them. 



Because they are very strong, many unthinking taskmasters appear 

 to believe them omnipotent. When they are properly taken care of, 

 they are not apt to be sparing of their strength ; they are sometimes 

 profuse with it. 



I have often been beset with difficulties when at work alone in the 

 woods with a yoke or two of oxen, and have then thought I could 

 perceive traits of reason in them; for, in proportion to my anxiety 

 and exertions to extricate myself, have I seen their's spontaneously 

 to increase. 



That all cattle should be sheltered in cold and wet weather, is ob- 

 vious to every person; but to those that work, it is indispensable; 

 their health and strength depend upon it. 



From the severity and duration of our winters at the northward, 

 our barns are generally spacious, and calculated to hold as much as 

 possible of our grain and hay. No doubt, however, but this is good 

 economy in every climate in the United States; as the farmer loses 

 as much in quantity and quality of his produce in a short time, by 

 stacking out, as would build a barn. 



Our old-fashioned barns, I believe, are not susceptible of much im- 

 provement. Those which cattle are wintered in are built a small 



