54 
Horse and Ox Teams. 
1. The Age and Breed of the Horses and Oxen, and the time at 
which they are Jirst put to Work. 
Horses in this country are put to work at three years old ; they 
are often from the commencement worked steadily, although it is 
considered prejudicial to their future development. I am not 
aware of the breed of the farm-horse in the middle and northern 
districts of Scotland being recognised by any particular name. 
The most perfect figure of a draught-horse is that of the Clydes- 
dale breed ; he is distinguished by a short compact body and 
strong broad bone, these properties being characteristic of strength 
and durability. 
Oxen are put to work somewhat older than horses, and they are 
not at the outset so able for steady work ; they cannot be de- 
pended on before they are four years old. Our work oxen are bred 
principally in the shires of Angus and Aberdeen. The peculiari- 
ties in their figure are, a small head, deep chest, round body, and 
short legs. The largest sizes, althoujrh frequently selected for 
work, are, I conceive, not the most proper. They have naturally 
small bones in comparison with the size of the body ; hence the 
strength of the limbs and the weight of the carcass do not always 
correspond in reckoning them as " beasts of burthen." The 
weight of my oxen averages about SOOlbs. without the offal, when 
fed. When much heavier, I find they want activity and endur- 
ance, and their feet, from the additional weight, are more apt to 
give way. 
2. TJie Condition of Horses and 0.ren — the Work performed by 
each — and its relative Value — Nature of the Soil where worked. 
In all well and economically managed farming establishments, 
due regard is had to the keeping the horses in good condition. 
Efficient work can never be performed by ill-fed, ill-groomed ani- 
mals. The ordinary allowance of food to each horse daily is 161bs. 
of oats, and as much oat-straw as he chooses to eat. My oxen get 
as many turnips as they can eat. They are fed four times a-day, at 
5 A. M., 11a. m., 6 p. M., and half- past 8 p. m., and at each time they 
eat betwixt them l"i51bs., being In all oOOlbs. daily. I often slice the 
turnips for them, especially at mid-day, w hen they have little time 
to eat. Tliey never drink any water even in the hottest days of 
summer. Both horses and oxen graze in summer; I have not as- 
certained which of them require the most grass. 
In regard to the work performed relatively by horses and oxen, 
I should s.ay that, except in frost, when the land cannot be ploughed, 
tlie amount and value of the work performed by each are equal. 
Many people who work oxen keep 4, and work each pair only one 
half of the day. This is a most expensive system, and were a good 
