jS2 THE IIUKAL SOCilATES. 



I ellablifli it as a fundamental rule, wherever th-2 

 roads are not exceflively fliony, nor the eftatc extremo 

 ly deep, that it is of more general advantage to ufe oxen 

 for draught, than horfes ; with iome exceptions, how- 

 ever, where the trade in horfes is conliderable, and 

 that in horned cattle fcarcely opened at all : a cafe rare in 

 moH parts of the world, and ieldom or never met with 

 in Switzerland.^ — My remarks will be chiefly confined 

 to that country, as the only one I am fufficiently ac- 

 quainted with. 



The only fenfible advantage of horfes over oxeug 

 cither in drawing or ploughing, cbnfifts in the greater 

 Tigor and fpecd, with which horfes extcute their work, 

 other things being cqtial ; for experierce evinces, that 

 four very robufl oxen, forward as much biifirefs as 

 four horfes indifferently maintained without pats*, ac- 

 <:ordingto the cuftom of Ciar peaf-ints. — But other 'kings 

 being equal, I will fet ac one third the fuperior fwift- 

 nefs and vigor of horles, that is, I allow four liorfes to 

 do the fame work as fix oxen ; which is all I can poflibly 

 grant; and fome laborers of good judgment, whom I 

 have confulted, vvill ftarcely admit one fifth diifcrence. 

 The general prcpofleflion here in favor of oxen, may 

 perhaps, account for this. — You will pleafe to obferve, 

 Sir, that this advantage, however great it appears, 

 will be immaterial, in all f^ums, that like ours m 

 general, are too fmall to employ a team of horfes 

 thronghont the year. Our fortunes are too contrad:- 

 ed, our corn-countries too populous, and our eftates too 

 dear, to admit of making cxtenfive purchafes. Fifty 

 acres of arable land, the fame quantity of meadow, and 

 pailurage in proportion, are with us confidered as large 

 farms : there are very few of greater dimenfions. Nay, 

 k is found by experience, that aneflate of that fize feldom 

 produces ir^orc than of half wliat is made of the lame 



number 



♦ Horfes maintained uith.juf oil* ! What are w« X(y undesfland bj' 



