286 AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



breeding, or as it is some times termed fancy stock. For ordi- 

 nary milch cows which have been moderately fed, three years 

 is a proper age to come in, after which they must be milked 

 as regularly, and as late before drying as possible. 



BREAKING STEERS should be commenced when two or 

 three years old. Some begin with the calf, accustoming him 

 to a light yoke and occasional training. This practice will 

 do as a pastime for trustworthy boys, as it makes them gentle 

 and manageable afterwards, but is hardly worth a man's 

 time. If always carefully handled when young, they will be 

 found tractable. They should at first be placed behind a pair 

 of well -broke cattle, nor should they be put to hard labor until 

 quite grown, strong and perfectly accustomed to the yoke. 

 If properly managed, cattle may be trained with all the 

 docility, intelligence and much of the activity of the horse. 

 That they are not is more frequently the fault of their 

 masters. 



MANAGEMENT OF OXEN. To procure perfect working 

 cattle, it is necessary to begin with the proper breed. Many 

 parts of the country will furnish such as are well suited to 

 this purpose. A strong dash of Devon or Hereford blood 

 is desirable when it needs to be improved. A well-formed, com- 

 pact, muscular body; clean sinewy limbs ; strong dense bones ; 

 large well-formed joints, with a mild expressive eye, is essen- 

 tial for good working oxen. After breaking, they must be 

 led along gently, and taught before they are required to per- 

 form their task, and never put to a load which they cannot 

 readily move, nor dulled by prolonging exertion beyond that 

 point when it becomes irksome. A generous diet is neces- 

 sary to keep up the spirit and ability of cattle, when there is 

 hard work to be done. The horse and mule are fed with their 

 daily rations of grain when at hard service, and if the spirit 

 of the ox is to be maintained, he should be equally well fed, 

 when as fully employed. Great and permanent injury is the 

 result of niggardly feeding and severe toil, exacted from the 

 uncomplaining animal. His strength declines, his spirit 

 flags, and if this treatment be continued, he rapidly becomes 

 the stupid, moping brute, which is shown off in degrad- 

 ing contrast to the more spirited horse, that performs, it may 

 be, one half the labor, on twice his rations. The ox should 

 be as little abused by threats and whipping, as by stinted feed 

 and overtasked labor. Loud and repeated halloing, or the 

 severe use of the lash, is as impolitic, as it is cruel and dis- 

 graceful. We never witness this barbarity without wishing 



