USEOFOXEN. 155 



when fit for market. I have in consequence used tlie North Devons. 

 They are the best breed that I am acquainted \vith for the united 

 purposes of labour and feeding, being very active, fast walkers, quick 

 feeders, of a very good quality when slaughtered, and of a size now 

 very generally preferred in our markets to the very large beasts, being 

 from one hundred to one hundred and fifty stone of eight pounds. 

 They are worked in yokes from four to six to a plough, and plough 

 upwards of an acre per day ; indeed they work harder than any other 

 oxen in this country^ for Devonshire is a very hilly country. The 

 Devonshire cows are not of a large size, but very handsome forms, 

 quick feeders, and give milk of a very rich quality. I should suppose 

 that a yearling bull would not be procured in either Devon or Here- 

 ford, from the first breeds, for less than one hundred o-uineas." 



It is stated in the communications to the Board of Agriculture in 

 England, vol. iv., that ten North Devon cows of Mr. Congon pro- 

 duced on an average five dozen pounds of butter per week in summer, 

 and two dozen in the winter; or, in other words, two hundred and 

 sixty-eight pounds per cow. His thirty cows averaged an annual 

 profit of ^'13, 14s. Sd., or $60.53 per head. 



Another fact which weighs heavily in favour of the ox is, that his 

 size is not diminished by labour; a consideration dwelt upon with 

 emphasis by the late John Lowell of Massachusetts, eminent alike 

 for his knowledge and for his public-spirited use of it. In a report 

 in 1825, he remarks — "There was another very interesting fact dis- 

 closed on this examination. There were three fine five year old steers 

 of Joseph Eastbrooks, two of which had been worked hard from the 

 age of three, and the third had never had a yoke around his neck. 

 The judges, and better judges there could scarcely be than my asso- 

 ciates, could perceive no sensible difierence in the value of the worked 

 and unworked cattle of the same age, owned by the same man ; and 

 with the same treatment and food, the unworked oxen often were in 

 no degree superior to those which had been submitted to labour. 

 Gieat Britain might learn a lesson from this example if her farmers 

 could have been present." 



Were it admitted, as perhaps it should be, that an ox will consume 

 more hay or long provender than a horse, it must also be conceded 

 that the horse refuses much that will well sustain the ox — and the 

 objection can at any rate only apply in all its force where the owner 

 is near enough to market to send his hay for sale. Now as the grain- 

 crop is more condensed in proportion to value, and admits of much 

 easier transportation to market, the horse being the consumer, accord- 

 ing to Mr. Stabler's calculation, of ninety bushels more of grain, is 

 in that view and in that proportion the more expensive animal of the 

 two. In a national point of view it is worthy of remark that he con- 

 sumes too the very staple which goes most efficiently to increase and 

 sustain the population and strength of a country ; very few, perhaps, 

 have reflected on the number of people who may be kept on the food 

 of one horse. For example, the usual allowance for a slave is a peck 



