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

v~.-ee sss5 s-s ~ ss ~,
| to be sieilant thatthe tackle sets easy and
free on his team.
when oxen are unequaily matched as
to streneth, the stronger IS apt to carry
! his end Of the yoke several inches before
the other this makes it uneasy to them
and can soon be remedied by putting the
stshle of the yoke nearest to the END OF
the strong OK.
1t does not, however. al.vays follow
| that the stronger OK carries the fore end
of the yoke it often happens, that dis.
parity of strength begets such an ambl~
ton in the weaker party, as will ruin him
by his overstraining himself for an even
yoke. The driver should be attentive to
this circumstance, and remedy it as just
pointed out.
1t is unnecessary, in yoking well tu-
tored oxen. to lug. the yoke round the
yard after them, as they are easily called
to that. have often called the OK
wanted from drove Of all sorts OF cat.
tie, Stand the yoke on end, steady it
with the left hand; take the bow out with
the right; and with kind OF beckonlng
motion TO the OK you want, call him by
name to you; slip the bow under his
neck turn tho yoke down upon 1t; en-
ter it into the bow holes, and put IN the
bow pin then take out the other bow,
and lifting up the near end Of the yoke
with the left haad, with the bow in the
right, call the near OK also by name, who
will core and " bow his neck to the
yoke" and is harnessed the same as his
companion.
An ox.goad to drive oxen with, is made
Of hickory or any tough wood, three and
! half to four and half feet long, as may
suit the whim of the driver; about the
size of mans finger, with prick, or
| sharp point of iron in the end, projecting
not more than a quarter Of on inch this
is cheap and simple, and has been found
TO answer much bettec than horse whip
or long green wi.hc. The fudicrous
practice of using this latter, and Of hav-
ing driver on both, sides, the cattle, to
keep them straight, or of fastening
rope to the horn or nose of the near OK
for the same purpose, cannot be too soon
| exploded Oxen may, and ought to be
so taught, that by speaking to them and
making a becknniDg motion with the
/ eoad, thsy will &c come to-" or turn to
| the lett, without an of-side driver, or
rope to pull them
TIE shameful practice of some team
| sters sadd!ins and riding the oxen When
at work ip ting yoke, should also be dis
continued; the driver cannot evenplesd
| convenience and from the slow heavy
pace of the animal, must contend that
tnothing bot consummate laziness would
| induce him TO follow it, The anatomy Of
The OK, ia to me sufficient proof,
hat he never was intended to carry
I weight on.ais back.
/ would have one thing remembered
| in driving oxen (which also applies to
| the management of every species Of SER
| .an,s) mean the miserable policy of a
| uniform harsh department, and of keep
| ing the goad constantly going over them:
| it is needless Tx upon the lungs and
| sinews; the oxen will not do so mneh
work for it; and what is worse, they be-
fcome so caAous from this perpetual
cough discipline, that they cannot easily
be brought to any extra exeruon, when
| il is indeed necessary. Tie benefit of
moderate temper, has been very appa-
rent to me when ! have been travelling
10 company with these heeUish senizses,
and coming to a steep hill: wsuld then
speak sharp and determined to my team,
and ply the goad pretty freely, if neces.
sary; this treatment, so unusual, would
be fuly APPRECIATED every one of them
would tuN as for his life, and the hill
would be quickly surnoun'ed; while
The driver who has Arrays been speak
ing harshly, and always been plying his
rosd, could not here make use of any.
new argument, to stimulate his cattle to
the exigeDce Of the moment: the con-
sequence was, he would often have to
!" call upon Hercules" when by proper
management itwould have been unne.
cessary.
Drivers should acquaint themselves
with the strength Of their oxen, and
should never load them beyond it; it
tiscourages and hurts them. Because
oxen are pery strong, many unthinking
.ask.masters appear to believe them ON.
nNotent. When properly taken care Of,
they are not apt to be sparing of 9their
strength; they are sometimes profuse
with it I@have often been beset with
difficulties, when al work clone in the
wood with yoke or two of oxen, and
have then, Thought / could percei'e
something more than symfathy--some-
ding like reason in them; for in pro-
portion to my anxiety and exertions to
sxtricate myself, bare seen theirs spon-
tancous increase.
There arc several ways in which oxen
may be geared far work they are will
IN, "a earn their bread apy yay: they