THE AM. 407 



mals, we shall find the horse wasting $6 annually for this 

 item, while the mule deteriorates but $3, making an addi- 

 tional item of $9,000,000 more ; and an aggregate of 

 $39,000,000 as the annual saving to the United States by 

 substituting good mules for three-fourths of the horses now 

 used in this country. When will our farmers have the good 

 sense to make this change'? It may bo l;.iil\ answered, 

 when they shall prefer utility, and int<M*->i. ;nnl u. just taste, 

 to a diseased fancy ; for though we admit ilio taij" riority in 

 appearance of the race of horses over mul^-s. \\ ck-ny that a 

 bad horse looks belter or even as well as a u~d mule ; and 

 with the same keep and attention, a good mule will outwork 

 and outlook most horses of any breed. 



THE COMPARATIVE ECONOMY OF HORSE AND OX LABOR. 



This is a question which has been often discussed, and when 

 with candor, the conclusion generally has been in favor of ox 

 labor. The different employments, the variety of situation, 

 the season and the kind of stock reared on the farm, are all 

 questions which should be fully considered in arriving at 

 their true comparative advantages. Most farmers would 

 find it for their interest to keep teams of each, where there is 

 employment for more than one ; or if this be not the case, 

 the preference should be given to that which is best suited in 

 all respects to their particular position. If work upon the 

 road is required, a horse team will generally be best. Their 

 superiority will consist principally in their greater speed, for 

 even with a heavy load, they will be able to trot occnsion- 

 ally, and when driven without it, they may increase their 

 pace to nearly double the natural gait of the ox. This will 

 amount to a large annual saving in the time of the driver 

 when steadily employed. The same is true when removing 

 manure or crops on the farm to remote distances, over a 

 smooth surface, which admits of trotting with the empty 

 wagon. Harrowing ought always to be done with a quick 

 team, as a violent stroke of the teeth, breaks the clods, and 

 pulverizes the earth much better than when slowly dragged 

 along. But we assume in this comparison, that oxen shall 

 not only be well adapted to their work by their natural for- 

 mation like the Hereford, the Devon and others equally good, 

 but that they be also well broke, well managed, accustomed 

 to quick movements, and as well fed and looked after as 

 horses. We shall then find their walk equal to a quick 

 horse team, and that in this case, the horse will have no 

 advantage over the ox in harrowing. For plowing, the 



