USE OF OXEN. 167 



least three gallons of grain a day, and for six months in the year one 

 hundred and twenty-five pounds of hay per week. Supposing him to 

 be at work only two-thirds of his time, and during the remainder to 

 be kept on hay or pasture alone, he must consume upwards of ninety 

 bushels of grain, and two thousand eight hundred and seventy-five 

 pounds of hay in a year, which latter is amply sufficient, with such 

 pasture as the horse must have, (and some additional coarse food in 

 the winter), to keep the ox in prime order for work without the use 

 of any grain. Thus it appears, that for every ox substituted for a 

 horse, there are ninety bushels of grain saved in the year. 



From data given, Mr. Stabler shows a saving on four oxen instead 

 of four horses in twelve years, of twn thousand four hundred andfffy 

 dollars — and concludes his observations on the subject with this 

 wholesome advice : — 



*' It cannot be too strongly urged upon those who are about em- 

 barking in agricultural puisuits as a means of securing a livelihood, 

 (and who may be free from many of the prejudices entertained against 

 oxen), to make the experiment at least, and give the thing "n fair 

 triaU before they encumber themselves with that mo/A, a stock of 

 farm-horses; in doing which, it will easily be seen they hazard no- 

 thing ; for should any wish to abandon the plan after a sufficient 

 trial, one summer's grass will enable them to obtain, in cash, an ad- 

 vance on the first cost of their cattle, if young and thrifty ; and such 

 are always to be had." 



J. S. S. 



