354 



The Horse vs. the Ox. 



Vol. 111. 



long, nor so low, as for the hocks of the beasts 

 to strike against it when thoy lie down. I 



There are various modes of fastening' the } 

 beasts to their stalls: in some, ihe posts to 

 which they are tied have iron crows or sta- 1 

 pies, with a ring to slide up and down as the 

 beast moves his head, with a piece of chain 

 fixed to it about the middle, and a ring at one 

 end with a hook like a T through the other, 

 according to the length of the bullock, so 

 as not to allow it to slip over his horns. — 

 In others, the cattle are fastened to up- 



right posts about four inches in diameter, 

 by means of loose iron rings and small bows 

 which are put round their necks. The 

 upper part of the bow is flat, and has two holes 

 in it, as in fig. 50 of the following cut: tiie 

 bow part is made with split ash, has a button 

 or knob at each end, which is put into the 

 circular holes of the flat head-piece, when, 

 by the spring of the how, the knobs are pre- 

 vented from returning by their slipping over 

 the notches, where they become fixed, as in 

 fiff. 51. 



O 



Fig. 51. 



Fig. 50. 



There is also a collar, which is slung be- 

 tween two posis, as designated in fig. 52, — 

 which is much used in many places. In other 

 places a transverse spar is run along the up- 

 riglit posts of the stalls, about the height of , 

 the animal's head, bored with two holes be- 

 tween each post. A collar, fixed round the 

 neck or horns, of a proportionate length to al- 

 low him to stand at case, and to lie down, but 

 not to turn round, is then passed through one 

 of the holes in the spar, and continued to the 

 ether, where it is secured with a knot and a 

 small knob of wood. Many farmers, howev- 

 er, use nothing but a halter buckled round the 

 neck, and hooked to a chain which is mor- 

 tised into the manger, and thus forms a very 

 secure fastening. Or the common mode of 

 securing their^'heads between two upright 

 posts, one of which is a fixture, and the other 

 moves in a groove, to allow the entrance of 

 the animal's head ; after which the post is re- 

 placed and fastened with a pin, which pre- 

 vents him from drawing it back. The chains, 

 or stakes, should be so contrived, as that no 

 ox should rai.se his head too high when eating ; 

 for in this way accidents sometimes occur by 

 choking: when that happens, however, the 

 feeder should be provided with an elastic 

 lube,* covered with a polished head at the 

 end; which if introduced into the animal's 

 throat, the obstruction may be very easily 

 pushed down into his stomach : or a drink may 

 be administered of warm salt and water with 

 a mixture of oil. 



Fig. 52. 



The Horse vs. the Ox. 



" Who shall decide when doctors disagree." 

 To the Editor of the Farmers' Cabinet. 



Sir,— The article at p. 305 of the Cabinet, 

 on the comparative value of the horse snd the 

 ox for labor, would seem to leave no question 

 on the subject, and decides in favor of the 

 latter ; but audi alteram partem. 



I beg to copy from my memoranda a " com- 

 parative conclusion" on the same subject, 

 which I took from one of the agricultural sur- 

 veys, but forget which. 



"Price of an ox three years' old XIO 



Kfpt one vear idle * 



Work of three years, equal to his keep, • 



Cost at the end of his work, equal to his value 1.5 



To fatten him, food, labor, Wear, tear, and risk, 10 



• Farmers' Cabinet -vol. ii, page 187. 



He will then sell for what he has cost,. 

 Contra. 



.£25 



A strong 3 vears' old colt. 



Work 3 years much superior to the ox, hut say,. 

 At 6 years' old he will have cost, like the ox,. . . 



.£}5 



But he will then be worth, ^^ 



By which he pays his owner 100 per cent., 

 or one third of that sum annually, namely, 

 £10 per annum." 



Now, from this it would appear that the 

 advantage is all on one side, but it is on the 

 side of the horse. 



In some of the counties of England, Sfal- 

 fordshire and Lincolnshire for instance, this 

 system of rearing horses for tnarket at 5 and 

 6 years old, is carried to great extent, and 

 Igreat numbers of the finest cart colts, of im- 



