166 



ESSAY ON THE 



ing his house, protecting his fields, and finding his game, is made by 

 the calculating New England man to churn his butter. 



It is observed that less food is necessary for spayed heifers to keep 

 and fatten them than is required for the ox; and Mr. Marshall, in 

 his rural economy of Yorkshire, remarks, that it is a fact well esta- 

 blished in the practice of that district, that they work better, and have 

 better wind than oxen. 



It is a common thing to see a single ox in a cart at Norfolk in 

 Virginia, among a people as little as any other observant of improve- 

 ments going on in agricultural machinery. That whole States, even 

 where oxen are used, should forego the use of single oxen, serves to 

 show how proverbially slow is the change of habits among agricultu- 

 rists. Large bulls of immense strength are often kept and fed through 

 the entire, year, for the sole purpose of their services for eight or ten 

 cows, when they might haul immense quantities of wood and manure 

 in vehicles adapted to the purpose. 



For an ox working singly, some recommend a single harness with 

 the collar reversed ; but for the reasons he gives, and which are ob- 

 vious, the single yoke recommended by Mr. Stabler, and here exhi- 

 bited, is greatly to be preferred. When the collar is used, and the 

 draught heavy, the pressure of the traces on the sides is obviated by 

 the yoke. The length for a single yoke must be proportioned to the 

 thickness of the animal, so that the traces will be as far apart when 

 fastened to a small hook on the under side of each end as is required 

 to prevent his sides from being chafed. The following will show the 

 proper shape of the single yoke : — 



It will be observed that by placing the hooks perpendicularly 

 through the ends of the yoke, the draught is applied precisely as in 

 the double yoke, and the bow consequently keeps its proper place. 



Mr. Stabler, a nice observer and a practical man, residing in a 

 middle State, sets it down that a horse when at work must have at 



