2G 



ESSAY 



England roads. All the varied minutise of superior 

 training are requsite here, and some of them may be 

 seen in the best light. But perhaps I have made the 

 desirableness of thorough, judicious training sufficiently 

 apparent without further illustration ; and, grasping at 

 the hope lodged in that " perhaps," I take courage to 

 assert that a yoke of educated oxen, (other things being 

 equal,) will perform one-third more work with one-fourth 

 less " wear and tear," than a pair only trained up to the 

 common standard. Besides this there is the physical 

 and moral effect upon the driver, which is above pecu- 

 niary price. 



Re-asserting what appears in the first part of this 

 paper, viz : that likeness of disposition and equality of 

 size and strength are indispensable conditions, I pro- 

 ceed to some practical hints on the early training of ani- 

 mals adapted to farm labor. While urging the propri- 

 ety of early matching and training I feel bound to state 

 what appears to be the only objection to such a course ; 

 viz: the risk of a dissimilar development — either in 

 point of size, strength, organization, or temper — in the 

 process of growth. And as some security against such 

 a risk, the employment of a sagacious, experienced per- 

 son in the selection of calves, . presents itself as a 

 suggestion worthy of adoption. The farmer must ex- 

 pect to give himself some trouble at the outset, and will 

 often find it necessary to search among the herds of his 

 acquaintances, at a considerable expense of time ; and 

 when successful must not grudge what may seem a sum 

 out of proportion to what his experience may suggest 

 as the maximum return. Having selected and brought 

 his calves together, let them be kept so during the en- 

 tire period of training. The manner of rearing calves 



