THE FARMERS' CABINET, 



DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE AND RURAL ECONOMY. 



Vol. I. 



Pliiladelpliia, January 16, 1S3T. 



No. 13. 



THE FARIMERS' CABINET. 



Oxen. 



The author of a series of valuable Essays 

 3n Agricultural and Rural affairs, published 

 i few years since in North Carolina, says, 

 that next to the recommendation of the most 

 ipproved modes of culture, the best and 

 iheapest means of effecting it, deserve our 

 mention, and lastly frugality in the con- 

 sumption of our produce. The introduction 

 )f amore general use of oxen as substitutes 

 or horses in the cultivation of the earth, 

 ind the other operations of husbandry, have 

 ligh claims upon the attention of our farmers, 

 is being attended with many advantages. 

 3ut there is in this country a strong preju- 

 lice against this generous animal, which is 

 .he first thing to be got over — when that is 

 •emoved, the credit of the ox will soon 

 bllow. 



It is a fact, which cannot be disproved, 

 hat oxen in some sort of work, are equal to 

 lorses; in these cases, they certainly ought 

 be preferred, because they are kept at con- 

 siderably less expense, and less casualities 

 .ttend them. Although oxen cannot well 

 )e used to the entire exclusion of horses, yet 

 here is undoubtedly, a great deal of work \^ 

 Vol. I.— N 



that they would do as well, particularly in 

 carting and all heavy work. In most in- 

 stances they are nearly equal to horses, and 

 in their support they are infinitely cheaper. ■ 

 Since fall and winter ploughing for the suc- 

 ceeding year's corn crop, are coming into 

 general use, the value of oxen will be more 

 highly appreciated ; as at this cool season of 

 the year they may be usefully employed at 

 the plough in fallowing up the land, or en- 

 gaged in hauling in the corn crop, while the 

 horses are at this work. The late President 

 Madison, in one of his annual addresses be- 

 fore the Agricultural Society of Albermarle, 

 has some new and valuable remarks on oxen, 

 which claim the particular attention of every 

 husbandman. 



" I cannot but consider it as an error in 

 our husbandry, that oxen are too little used 

 in the place of horses. Every fair compari- 

 son of the expense of the two animals, favors a 

 preference of the ox. But the circumstance 

 particularly recommending him, is, that he 

 can be supported when at work, by grass 

 and hay ; while the horse requires grain and 

 much of it ; and the grain generally given 

 him, Indian corn, the crop which requires 

 most labor, and greatly exhausts the land. 

 From the best estimate I have been enabled 

 to form, more than one half of the corn crop 



