Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-08-06

ColuUt5ldn .HSfsCHuHfW
Georgetown, BY q gentleman 0f fhis
hieee, TO sphonr the hremism treDial.1y
offered by then, mas adiudged.
TO THE coLUMBIAS 1GRIcvLTuRAt
SOCIETY.
Gentiemfs,
The following essay on the mode
of gearing and working oxen is submit
ted to your inspection, with temerity,
I fear, hardly commendable, when re-
Acct on having been out OF the practlce
OF them for several years, and on having
no data for my guide, but fra'l and
fugitive memory. Indeed the attempt
would not have been made had l not been
apprebensivc that, important as this
branch of agriculture is, 1t might possl-
bly be overlooked in the pursuit OF o.
Tiers deemed of greater moment; and
thereby a science to which ! have been
partial yotary, be suffered to remain
stationary in this part of our country.
While am convinced, from observa-
ton s. comparison of the various modes
in which oxen are used, that my prac-
tice has been according 10 the :nost
approved system extant, am aware
that my long vacation will necessarily
subject this little treatise to many i'm
perfection. therefore hope to see
ample justice done to the subject from
some hand, aided by more recent prac-
tice. l trust shall not be accused here,
of arrogating this superior management
for my eastern brethren, from motives
of pride or vanity, when it is frankly con-
cedeL, that while they are slowly piod-
ding forward with team valued hIgh
at two hundred dollars, the Virginia
driver, proudly mounted, gallops off
with one that as many pounds would
| seldom purchase. On the other hand
this very concession is my main argu'
ment in favor of their general use 1t
being thereby, in the power OF almost
| every farmer TO own good team {;
which will not only be valuable In their
life. but when too old for service, may
| be fitted and made also valuable In their
| death,
Had the ingenious Yorick been as
| rruch IL the society of oxen as i have
| been, I am convinced bis remark woaid
have been, Cpslead OF All ass, " Wlt.
| an er could eo,nmuue forever lis
| attributes a,e in his front :-majesty,
ambition, patience and g. altitude are VI.
! sible III his physiognomy ;--a.!d all these
| properties are found ipherent in Thu va
lu9ble qusdruped-Happy would 1t be
FIR him, could as much always be said
of his lord and master! Iconfcss my
ref ctions, relative IL these slaves which
| have borne the heat and burden 81 the
day" with pe, have operated much IN
I their tavor, as a shield against every
species of severity: / have, when ob''g-
ed 10 use mom-ntary rigor, had them
| turn towards me an honest, rebuking
face, which has never failed to have It's
full effect. They always have appeared
to me, the innocent victims OF mans
Erst disobedience :-he fell, and drew
them along with him into painful sertl-
tude. He who could indulge in all act
OF cruelty to this patient, toiling ANIMAL
richly merits the doom, of preparing his
ground ever after with grubblng hoe.
Man, in many respects, must look up
to the beast as his superior. Mans rea-
son is replete with error but instinct,
or rather the inference drawn by brute
from certain sounds and motions, after
having once been taught their purport,
| is injaihble have seen the best drilled
soldier mistake, for the instant, adrancs
arms for recover ors's, bnt A. er raw y
well trained OK mistake gee Tor han, or
haso for gee. Hence system IS lndispen-
sible in the management of working cat
lie: he who would manage them with
ease and facility should maintain strics
conformity 10 his conduct towards them
They must have names : therefore
calves intended to be raised for working
should be named while young, to which
they become familiar by the time they
are ready for the yoke.--Any thing aP-
propria,e to their color or shape is pro-
per; such as bright, broad, line, spafk,
buck, star, tuck, golden, &c. The but
faloe breed of cattle, or those without
horns, will not answer we'll Tor working,
as horns are necessary in backing the
carriage they are attached to, and IN Car !.
rying IL down hill. They shouid never
be changedin the yoke after having been
broke; the near and off enc should al
ways remain as soch BY changing
them they BECOME confused, and all the
benefit oil their tuition is. ofcourse lost.
a temporary change, hoaerer, rl'ay DO
made in one instance to advantage -
this is when they hang of'from each O, 4
.,iier, is they are apt TO 90 IN bad travel /
ling, when they get fres;ed: then ;hs}
cut each others feet with their shoes
and shifting puts this out OF tecir he~d
Tor that time.
An.oxroke. which Is pr.Derly made