CHAP. viii. TRAINING OF DRAUGHT OXEN. 147 



small Highland horse, but farmers generally have abandoned the use 

 of draught oxen. It might therefore have been advisable to have left 

 out in the present edition the following remarks ; but as this work 

 circulates largely amongst colonists, with whom the labour of oxen 

 is often a matter of necessity, it has been deemed advisable to retain 

 them. 



A good ox for the plough should be neither too fat nor too lean, for 

 in the former case he will be lazy, and in the latter he will be weak 

 and unfit for labour. His bod}' should be well developed, joints short, 

 legs strong, eyes full, coat smooth and fine,' and every part of the body 

 well put together, so that his strength may easily be exerted. 



Another requisite is that he should answer to the goad, and be obedient 

 to the voice To this he can only be brought by gradual habit and gentle 

 treatment. The calves that are designed for the yoke should not be 

 broken in earlier than at two and a half or three years, lest they should 

 be overstrained ; l nor should this be deferred longer, because they may 

 afterwards become stubborn and ferocious. Their work should be so 

 proportioned as not to afi'ect their growth, which continues until about 

 their seventh year. Where this is not attended to, their value may be 

 lessened in a greater degree than will be compensated by their labour. 



The strength of this animal, when properly trained and managed, is 

 very great, and he has patience to endure fatigue ; but, being naturally 

 slow, he must not be hurried beyond his usual pace. The only method 

 by which success can be attained includes patience, mildness, and even 

 caresses : compulsion and ill-treatment will irritate and disgust him. 

 Hence great assistance will be derived from gently stroking the animal 

 along the back and patting him, and encouraging him with the voice, 

 and occasionally feeding him with such aliments as are most grateful 

 to his palate. When he has thus become familiar, his horns should be 

 frequently tied, and, after a few days, a yoke put upon his neck. After 

 this he should be fastened to a plough with an old tame ox of equal size, 

 and employed in some light work, which he may be suffered to per- 

 form easily and slowly. The young steer will thus be gradually 

 inured to labour. After working in this manner for a certain period, 

 the steer should be yoked with an ox of greater spirit and agility, in 

 order that he may learn to quicken his pace ; and, by thus frequently 

 changing his companions, as occasion may allow, he will, in the course 

 of a month or six weeks, be capable of drawing with the best of the 

 stock. 



After the steers are thus properly trained, it will be advisable to 

 match such as are intended to draw in the same team or yoke, atten- 

 tion being paid to their size, strength, spirit, and temper ; otherwise, 

 by being unequally matched, they will not only spoil their work, and 

 be greatly disqualified for draught, but the slower or weaker animal of 

 the two, being urged beyond its natural powers, will inevitably receive 

 material injury. 



Another circumstance of essential importance in breaking-in young 



1 In Devonshire, however, they are frequently put to gentle work at two years of age. 



L 2 



