ON DRAUGHT OXEN. I3 7 



The ancients occafionally purged their labour- 



in sr oxen. 



Mr. Young, in the number of the Annals 

 above quoted, fpeaks of a hornlefs breed of 

 Devons, of a red colour, near Bridport; re- 

 courfe may eafily be had thither, by a curious 

 breeder. In breeding the ox for labour, the 

 required points, in my opinion, are, clean and 

 fine head and neck, deep (lioulder, wide quar- 

 ters, thin fldn, filk coat ; and thofe quahtics 

 muft be fought among the Herefords, York- 

 fhire fliort-horns. North- Devons, and thofe of 

 Suffex. I have feen exceeding faft v^alkers 

 amongft the Yorkdiire cows ; and fome well- 

 formed for labour, which appeared to be bred 

 between Norman or Alderney flock, and York- 

 fhire. At the foot of this account, however, I 

 will readily acknowledge, that equal aftivity of 

 exertion at dead pulls, or ability to lift great 

 weights, with our bed cart-horfes, muff never 

 be expefted in the mod improved breed of 

 oxen ; at the fame time it muft be conceded, 

 thofe qualities are not our material objefts of 

 purfuit. 



I have already hinted at a circumftance 

 which, in every county, forms a confiderable 

 bar to agricultural and veterinary improve- 

 ments ; I mean the inveterate prejudices and 

 obftinate conceits of fervants, which are pa- 

 tiently fubmitted to, and their pretended flvill 

 4 implicitly 



