130 LOGGING 
because they are more active than oxen. The latter are now 
used chiefly in the hardwood regions of the Appalachians and in 
the yellow pine region of the South, where they are frequently 
supplemented by horses or mules. 
The following conditions are those under which oxen may be 
used to the best advantage : 
(1) On swampy ground, because they do not mire as badly 
as the smaller-footed horse or mule. 
(2) For skidding on brushy ground, as they require little 
swamping. 
(3) On slopes, especially if the ground is rough and the under- 
brush abundant, because they are not excitable in difficult situ- 
ations. 
One advantage is that eight or ten animals can be handled 
by one teamster, while only four of five horses or mules can be 
worked by one man. Oxen stand heavy pulling day after day 
better than other draft animals and also require a minimum of 
attention because only one feed per day is necessary if the animals 
are turned out to graze at night. 
They are slow on short hauls but they can be loaded more 
heavily and thus partially offset the greater speed of horses and 
mules, although they are not as serviceable as mules on hot, 
dusty roads because they suffer from continual exposure to the 
direct rays of the sun, and on very warm days, may be easily 
killed by over-exertion due to careless driving. They can be 
used in cold regions without danger. Under average conditions 
an ox will travel about 1 mile per hour when pulling a load. 
Oxen are harnessed with a yoke. The driver controls them by 
the voice and by a heavy rawhide whip. They are worked in 
teams of from three to five yoke. In a team of five yoke, the 
front pair are called "leaders," the next two pairs are "in the 
swing," the fourth pair are "point cattle" and the rear pair are 
called "wheelers." The leaders are the best trained, while the 
wheelers are the heaviest j^oke of the team. 
The training begins when the animals reach the age of one 
and one-half or two years, but they do not attain their best 
development until their fifth or sixth year. They are service- 
able, under average conditions, until they reach the age of ten or 
twelve years. 
In the South oxen for logging purposes weigh from 1000 to 
