204 BEASTS OF LABOUR. ^5. 



fummer's night fcarcely affords a horfe time 

 enough to fatisfy his hunger. 



Another advantage of oxen is here held 

 out. In {liff pulls of every kind, moft efpe- 

 cially in going up fteep hills, a pair of oxea 

 are conlidered as a Iheet-anchor. Horfcs, it 

 is argued, are fearful, and foon iofe their 

 feet in a fteep flippery road ; while oxen, 

 where they are unable to proceed, will always 

 ftand their ground. Indeed oxen feem to be 

 confidered as effentially neceflary in an auk- 

 ward hilly country. 



This idea, in a country where half-bred 

 hunters are the principal horfes ufed in 

 draught, is no doubt well founded; but 

 where thorough-bred cart-horfes are in ufe, 

 it lofes much of its weight. 



But what are thorough-bred cart-horfes > 

 "Why, a fpecies of ilrong heavy fluggifli ani- 

 mals, adapted folely to the purpofe of draughty 

 and, according to the prcfcnt law of the 

 country, cannot, without an annual expence, 

 which no one beftovvs upon them, be ufed 

 for any other purpofe. 



This fpecies of beads of draught coft, r.t 

 four years old, from twenty to thirty pounds i 



wills 



