USEOFOXEX. 167 



least three gallons of grain a day, and for six months in tlie year one 

 hundred and twenty-five pounds of hay per week. Supposing- him to 

 he at work only two-thirds of his time, and during the remainder to 

 he kept on hay or pasture alone, he must (consume upwards of ninety 

 bushels of grain, and two thousand eight hundred and seventy-five 

 pounds of hay in a year, which latter is amply sufiicient, with such 

 pasture as the horse must have, (and some additional coarse food in 

 the winter), to keep the ox in prime order for work without the use 

 of any grain. Thus it appears, that for every ox substituted for a 

 horse, there are ninety bushels of grain saved in the year. 



From data given, Mr. Stabler shows a saving on four oxen instead 

 of four horses in twelve years, of two thousand four hundred and pfly 

 dollars — and concludes his observations on the subject with this 

 wholesome advice : — 



" It cannot be too strongly urged upon ihose who are about em- 

 barking in agricultural pursuits as a means of securing a livelihood, 

 (and who may be free from many of the prejudices entertained against 

 oxen), to miake the experiment at least, and give the thing a fair 

 trial, before they encumber themselves with that moth, a stock of 

 farm-horses; in doing which, it will easily be seen they hazard no- 

 thing ; for should any wish to abandon the plan after a sufficient 

 trial, one summer's grass will enable them to obtain, in cash, an ad- 

 vance on the first cost of their cattle, if young and thrifty ; and such 

 are always to be had." 



J. S. o. 



