C5EOFOXEN. lit) 



" When two youngr cattle," says Mr. Stabler, '• are yokrd and 

 turned loose with tlieir tails tied together to run and plunge about, 

 they are almost certain to acquire a habit of running away ; and even 

 should this not be the case, one, and sometimes both, lose a part of 

 their tail in these violent exertions. When they are sufficiently 

 broken to the halter, they may be placed side by side, for the purpose 

 of receivingr the yoke, having reference to their relative size, strengih, 

 and mastership ; because, if one is stronger and more free than ihe 

 other, he should be placed on the oif-side that the team may rather 

 incline to, than from the driver." 



If one should be larger than the other, he will be likely to be 

 stronger and more free; and, should they be put to the plough, the 

 furrow ox being the larger, the yoke will be kept nearer a level than 

 in the other case. It requires but little observation to see that ihey 

 are easier to be turned to the right, or made to " gee," than to the left, 

 or to '• haw," or " come hither ;" therefore, if the master-ox be on the 

 off-side, he will assist in controlling the near or left one in " coming 

 round ;" but when reversed, and the master-ox on the near side, and 

 he not altogether willing to *' come here," the team is some tinie 

 stationary ; for let the then off-ox be ever so willing to obey the voice 

 of the driver, the horn of the near one speaks a contrary language, 

 equally intellicrible. After the yoke is put on securely, their tails 

 should be well tied together, and they snffered to stand tied as before 

 until a strong pen is built round them, not more than sixteen or 

 eiohteen feet in diameter, taking: care that the ends of the rails do not 

 extend inwardly. The ropes should then be loosed, if possible, in 

 3uch a way that they will not be sensible of it. Here they will soon 

 learn to turn themselves about, without one violent exertion, or the 

 least fright. They should be tied up as before, at night, their tails 

 untied, and the yoke removed, to be replaced in the morning as be- 

 fore; and the day following they may be led or driven in a larger 

 space. By this time the cause will be gained in a manner calculated 

 to insure a prime pair of cattle. They ma}' now be attached to some- 

 thinff liorht, and led about for a few hours, daily and gradually in- 

 creasing the draft, and greasing their necks occasionally, to prevent 

 galling. When put to the Ce:rt or harrow with others already 

 broken, cmirary tn the usual pradice, they should be placed before 

 instead of behind them; by which arranfjement it will be found that 

 if frightened the old cattle will not let them run ; but, if othervvise, 

 thev. by running agrainst the older ones, may frifjhten them also. 



\\\ Kentucky they practise another mode of breaking steers, which 

 is thus described: — Where the establishment is a large one, and 

 there are some to be broken in, every year, the fixture and practice 

 here recommended would seem to be eligible and judicious — " Get a 

 strong post eight feet long by two thick ; plant it three and a half 

 feet in the ground, well rammed ; round or level the top of the post, 

 and leave a pin to it, or make a mortice and insert a strong two-incii 

 pin of touoh w ood in it, perpendicularly at the top, six or eight inc'^es 

 13* 



