Itn ESSAYONTIIE 



who is not prepared to admit tliat in notliing is that diiTorencc orentei 

 than in tlieir treatment of all their cattle, and mure especially their 

 vxcn. In this ver}'^ dilference, in fact, is to he found the solution of 

 the question, and this brinjrs us to the point for makin<r the sucrjres- 

 tions we propose on ihe breed, gearing, training, and general treat- 

 ment of Ihe ox. 



As to the breed, there can he no doubt that if rejrard were had alone, 

 tc the working qualities of cattle, a skilful breeder niiyht in a series 

 of years, not very loner, manufacture out of our own country cattle a 

 race which would be as distinguished for quickness of motion and 

 endurance as, by like care and attention and skill, the improved short 

 horns have been made, and established for early maturity, symmetry 

 and disposition to lay on flesh and fat on the most valuable parts. 

 There is, however, in the two cases, this obvious difference in the 

 system of breeding the horse and ox, which is a matter of necessity 

 militating against the ox and detracting from him on the score of 

 action, leaving it even a subject of surprise that he should be as quick 

 as he is. Wiiile the horse, for instance, is bred and cultivated with 

 a view to the possession and display of a single quality, either high- 

 bred for light harness or the saddle, or cold-blooded, with weight to 

 be thrown into the collar, for the plough or heavy loads, for the cart 

 or the wagon, true economy compels the husbandman as to his cattle, 

 to keep in view and to combine, as far as he can, several objects in 

 some degree incompatible with each other, and with the highest attain- 

 able detrree of excellence in any particular one of them. Few, for in- 

 stance, could afford to breed cattle with exclusive reference to the pail, 

 the yoke, or the shambles! For either of these objects a different breed 

 would be taken, while, under all circumstances, for all these purposes 

 combined, we should pronounce in favour of the North Devon. It is 

 from this stock that the famous New England oxen are descended. Be- 

 ing of moderate size, and active and thrifty, they are adapted to a wider 

 range of country; and being in itself an unmixed distinct natural 

 breed, if we may say so, it transmits and preserves its peculiar quali- 

 ties with remarkable uniformity as to shape, size, colour, temper and 

 action; and without demanding, in order to keep them up to the 

 mark, that practised skill and extraordinary care in the selection of 

 the breeding stock which has been for many years exercised in the 

 formation of some other artificial breeds, choosing for that purpose 

 individuals in every case most free from the defects, and possessing 

 tli^> greatest number of the points which it may be the object of the 

 breeder to establish. 



In a correspondence between Dr. Mease of Philadel|)hia and some 

 English stock-breeders of celebrity, one of them, I\Ir. Chandler, who 

 had repeatedly gained prizes at Smithfield for the cattle he had raised 

 or exhibited, says in his answer to certain inquiries — "Not being an 

 advocate for very lartje animals or for feeding to an excess, I have 

 endeavoured from experience to make use of that description of 

 animals which pny best for the food they eat, and are the readiest safe 



