SECRETARY'S REPORT. 173 



quiet ox. Thus the moral inlluence of horses is, in this 

 respect at least, of considerable value. 



Thirdly, there are many agricultural implements of modern 

 invention, which can be worked advantageously only hy means 

 of horses, such as the machines for hoeing, planting, mowing, 

 raking, threshing, &c. Plorses are also indispensable for going 

 to mill, to market, and many other places where farmers like 

 to go. 



Fourthly, where the cultivated land is distant from the barn, 

 the transportation of manure and crops is much more econom- 

 ically effected with horses. Tlicre are, also, many occasions in 

 the year, as in ploughing, haying and harvesting, when it is 

 necessary to accomplish as much work as possible in a little 

 time, and oxen cannot be hurried. 



Fifthly, it is objected to the employment of horses, that there 

 are places upon many farms, where they cannot or will not 

 work so well as oxen, as in wet meadows, in the woods, and on 

 stony or stumpy land. In reply, it may be affirmed that horses 

 of the right breed, well trained and driven, will perform 

 admirably where any animal ought to be used, and that upon 

 marshy ground, with the aid of pattens or rackets, they are 

 much better than oxen. 



An excellent racket has been recently patented by H. B. 

 Davis, of Lexington, and is for sale at the agricultural stores in 

 Boston. It consists of a piece of oak board eight or ten inches 

 square, so ironed that it may be readily attached to the horse's 

 foot, and with these, it is said a horse will go safely upon any 

 soft ground where a man can walk. The cost is four dollars 

 per set. 



Sixthly, it is asserted by those who prefer oxen, that they 

 are less subject to disease and accident than horses. 



In consequence of his more ambitious spirit and greater 

 activity, the horse is undoubtedly more liable to be over- 

 worked, but, if properly bred and well treated, he will not 

 often fail until rendered infirm by age. 



After the trouble of training them, oxen rarely work more 

 than three or four years, while horses may be kept in fine 

 condition, at least, five times as long. It must be acknowl- 

 edged, however, that this is not commonly done, and that an 

 immense amount of property is annually wasted by the cruel 

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