OF LIVE STOCK. 123 



Another intelligent correspondent expresses his convic- 

 tion, that where twenty horses are required, it would be 

 preferable to have sixteen horses and eight oxen. He al- 

 ways works his oxen with their collars reversed, that is, the 

 broadest part upwards. In ploughing and rolling they arc 

 very useful. Horses are better in harrows, from their 

 quick step, by which the pulverization of the soil is accele- 

 rated. In harvest likewise, when expedition is necessary, 

 horses are to be preferred. In breaking up old turf land, 

 however, oxen are better in the plough, their motion being 

 more steady than that of horses ; the flag is less broken in 

 turning over, which is a great advantage. For short car- 

 riages, as in carting dung, turnips, &c. the advantage of 

 using oxen must be very great ; and they may occasionally 

 be used in the plough, when the carts are sent for lime, or 

 to the market with grain.* 



It is contended, that where oxen from 70 to 80 stone 

 weight, (as is the case on the Borders), can be sold com- 

 pletely fat at three years old, that the farmer will find it 

 more profitable to feed his oxen, than to work them ; but 

 were that even the case, it is evident, that if the price of 

 horses, and the expence of maintaining them, should in- 

 crease, the partial use of oxen may become necessary, and 

 from the facts above detailed, it is at present, to a certain de- 

 gree, advantageous. Besides, as the oxen grew older, their 

 weight would increase, and the quality of the beef would 

 improve. 



2. SHEEP. There are some of the finer breeds of sheep, 



* The principal objection to the use of oxen, is the difficulty of shoe- 

 ing them. Any improvement in the art of shoeing oxen, would be well 

 entitled to a premium. Perhaps the shoes should go over, as well as un- 

 der the heof. 



