ON DRAFT CATTLE. 325 



ley's advice is, not to mix oxen with horfes, on 

 account of the inequality of the ftep. 



Thus, it is not a matter of fpeculation, but 

 of experience and proof, that all the labour of 

 hufbandry may be well performed by oxen ; 

 and furely, if the only objection, that of their 

 being fomewhat (lower than horles, can never 

 be furmounted (to which I am, by no means, 

 prepared to agree) there are other confidura- 

 tions of weight fufficient to overbalance it. A 

 greater number of them may be kept to for- 

 ward labour, and that, inflead of being an extra 

 charge (as would be the cafe with an extra 

 number of horfes) to both individual and pub- 

 lic emolument. The balance in favour of in- 

 dividuals muft be indeed great, if we reflect that 

 three oxen may be purchafed foi lefs money 

 than one good cart-horfe ; that the latter is lia- 

 ble to be worn out, and to become of little or 

 no worth, whereas the former never wear out, 

 but the lafl (lage of their ufeful lives is as pro- 

 fitable as the firri. 



The method propofed by mod people, de- 

 firous of effecting this advantageous change in 

 our agricultural ceconomy, is by the interfe- 

 rence of government, either by the way of re- 

 ftrictive taxation, or abfolute prohibition ; 

 means which, in my opinion, ought never to be 

 reforted to, in any fimilar cafe. I (hould think 

 it ought to be left to the good fenfe, and mature 



Y 3 reflection 



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