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ESSAY 



place I would caution drivers against a common error — 

 the practice of going before cattle to back them. Oxen 

 thus treated never perform, the operation handsQmely. 

 While backing, the driver should keep a little back 

 rather than forward of the ox's middle, as there is a 

 tendency to " wing out" when handling a heavy load. 

 When using a cart or wagon upon the farm, and especi- 

 ally around barns, or in the door yards, the teamster 

 should never ride, or allow any one else thus employed 

 to do so. This common practice is fatal to the discipline 

 of trained cattle. The driver should walk steadily by 

 their side, not often using the whip, nor speaking in 

 any but a firm, distinct manner, and manifesting chiefly 

 by motion, his will. In the matter of ox-yokes my ex- 

 perience has not failed to impress me with the need of 

 a revolution — most of those in common use being too 

 heavy, " bungling," and every way inconvenient. These 

 remarks specially apply to those made by Nourse, 

 Mason & Co. Indeed I have met with but very few of 

 unexceptionable pattern, and those were manufactured 

 in a part of Worcester County where ox-training is car- 

 ried to a point much nearer perfection than in any other 

 locality of which I have knowledge. 



