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we now iiiid few farmers owning working oxen. This has 

 resulted from several causes. The small profit in making 

 beef since the supply has come mainly from the West, the 

 greater quickness with which many kinds of work caii be 

 performed by horses, and the high price of fodder in past 

 years, have all contributed to this result. But we have some- 

 times thought that farmers have gone too far in this direction, 

 and we hold that the comparative value of horses and oxen 

 for ordinary farm labor, is really quite an important question 

 for every fiirmer. 



Undoubtedly the use of horses is most economical for the 

 performance of many kinds of work, such as ploughing " old 

 ground," harrowing, and many kinds of teaming, but yet 

 there are some things which can be done best by oxen. It is 

 seldom that a horse team can turn over grass ground so well 

 as oxen, especially if the ground be rough or stony, and gen- 

 erally for any kind of work requiring especial strength and 

 steadiness, oxen are preferable. Still it is absolutely neces- 

 sary for every farmer to keep a horse, and of course if he 

 can perform all his work with it, he does not need a pair of 

 cattle. But if his farm is large enough to require more ani- 

 mal labor, then it becomes a question whether he had better 

 employ oxen or horses. There are several points to be 

 considered in deciding this question, which will readily sug- 

 gest themselves ; but we will only refer to one or two. If 

 the faruler has carts and harnesses for horses, and no equip- 

 ments for oxen, he must consider whether it will pay him to 

 go to the expense of an outfit for an ox team. If his business 

 is such as to require a large amount of teaming on the road, 

 he must consider whether his work cannot be done more 

 economically by horses. But then we suppose it is the expe- 

 rience of almost every farmer, that when he finds it necessary 

 to' sell his horse, he cannot get as much as he gave, even if 

 his horse has not depreciated in value. We do not think 

 this applies particularly to farmers, but suppose it to be a 

 general law, — with now and then an exception, — that the man 



