408 AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



teams are on a par, as a good ox team will do as much in a 

 day in cool weather, as horses. Where the loads can be 

 tipped, as in unloading manure in the field, or roots through 

 a scuttle, or in heaps, the ox cart, or the single two-wheel 

 horse-cart is best, as all the labor of throwing out by hand is 

 avoided. 



The situation of the farm may materially affect this esti- 

 mate. In a warm climate, horses, and more especially 

 mules, would be more serviceable than oxen, as they are 

 capable of enduring much greater heat with impunity. If 

 the farm be small and convenient to market, the labor may 

 in general, be best accomplished by oxen, as little travelling 

 will be required. So too, if the land be stony or rough, the 

 plowing and harrowing will be more kindly and patiently 

 done by oxen than by spirited horses. Other considerations 

 will suggest themselves as affecting the comparative eco- 

 nomy of this labor. 



The time of work is to be fully considered. If much and 

 heavy work be required in summer, as is often the case in 

 plowing extensive wheat farms, horses are to be preferred ; 

 yet if the ox-team be started at early dawn, and worked 

 briskly four or five hours, and then turned out to rest with a 

 supply of suitable food, they may again commence when the 

 extreme heat has abated, and accomplish a day's work that 

 few horses will exceed. During the season of rnuddy roads, 

 the horse with his broad, compact foot and longer leg, has a 

 decided advantage over the ox. If the ox draws by the yoke 

 (which on the whole is the best mode,) he is liable to a sore 

 neck when working in wet or snowy weather, and at such 

 times he is over matched by his competitor. This is par- 

 tially remedied by applying a decoction of white or yellow oak 

 bark. 



The kind of stock raised on the farm has an important bear- 

 ing on this question. Some farms ,are devoted to rearing 

 horses, and some exclusively to rearing cattle. These some- 

 times remain on hand after they are fit for market, from the 

 want of a profitab'e demand. They can then be employed 

 not only without injury, but in consequence of the thorough 

 training thus secured, with positive benefit to their future 

 value. Even if intended for the shambles, the well devel- 

 oped ox may advantageously be put to light work at three, 

 after which, it may be gradually increased till he is six or 

 eight, and during all this time he will be improving, and after 

 doing an early spring's work, he may then be turned on to 



