Horse aiifl Ox Teaiiis. 
55 
selection of the oxen to be made, is quite unnecessary. I never 
keep more than 2 at one time, and they work 10 hours a-day as 
steadily all the year over, except in frost, as the horses, and keep 
in perfectly good condition. We often see oxen going very slow 
and sluggardly at work; when well trained, and of a proper breed 
and size, they will step out as well and as fast as horses : mine do 
so. At a late ploughing-match in the district, where upwards of 
70 ploughs started, my ox-team was second off the field. The ave- 
rage period when frost prevents ploughing may be stated at six 
weeks. During this time, except in the thrashing-mill, oxen are 
unemployed. The horses are then engaged in carting dung, earth, 
&c. By calculating the work of the pair of horses, without the 
man's wages, as worth 65. a-day, and allowing 1/. 16s. as the value 
of the thrashing-mill work performed by the oxen during frost, we 
have the sum of 9/. standing against the latter. It will not do to 
listen to statements partly speculative and hvpothetical, about the 
capabilities of oxen for drawing wheel- carriages; it is enough for 
our purpose at present to know that they are not so employed; 
they are, in the time of frost at all events, unsuited for such a 
purpose. 
The soil best fitted for oxen to tread on is that which is dry and 
most free from stones. My farm is composed of both clay and black 
soil, some of the former of which is rather wet, but there are very 
few stones anywhere. My oxen, although unshod, and working 
as I have said steadily, never get the least lame, or suffer in the 
slightest in their feet. On another farm, however, which I occupy, 
where the soil is more of a clayey nature, and somewhat wet and 
stony, the hoofs of the oxen wore, and became tender, and rendered 
them unfit for steady work. Attempts have been made to shoe 
them in such circumstances, but the experiment seldom proved 
satis.'actory. The conclusion to which I have come is, that oxen 
cannot by any management or precaution be profitably employed 
on wet or stony soil. 
3. The Cost of Mainienanceand Farriery of each Pair of Horses 
and Oxen, including the separate Charge of Management. 
A horse getting I61bs. of oats daily will eat in seven months (the 
period he requires grain) about lOg quarters, which in value 
amounts to nine guineas. A horse wears 5 or 6 sets of shoes an- 
nually, which cost IBs.; other 5s. will be allowance enough for 
medicine. 
In regard to the cost of maintaining working oxen on green food, 
such as turnips, I have to remark, that the price of that ariiclc 
varies according to the locality where it is grown. I shall reckon 
the price or value of the ton of turnips at 10s., being the average 
in an inland district. I have repeatedly ascertained, both now and 
formerly, the exact quantity of turnips which oxen eat, and find that 
