Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-07-10

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proof OF the importance of the practice
may refer Ia The fact which has been
stated, that IN the neishborhood OF Par.
| celona IN Spain, where a psri OF lie hand
is under irrigation, and part is not sus-
ceptible of it,, both b, ing otherwise oi
| equal fertility, the part irrigated is ol
double price IN The market. II is to he
noted indeed that the climate is dry
one, and that the article Culilvmtcd is Luz
cerne. But ih,s Is plant, Which though
much aided IN its growth bv niOisinfc,
! is at the same time remarkable Tor Tie
length of a tap root, and fitted by that
as well as by the absorbent quality OF as
leaves, TO flourish IN a thirsty soil, and
warm climate. Our particular district OF
| country, Astounding in springs, small
streams, and suitable decliviies, admits
greatll OF irriyaiion5' and being general
Is OF a thirsty nature, the more strongly
invites the use OF -.
I canuo, but consider il as an error in
our husbandry, that oxen are too little
uspd Ia place OF horses.
Every fair comparison Of the eSpence
of the two animals, iavors preference
OF the OK. But the circumstance parti-
cularly recommending him. is that he
can be supported when al work, by grass
and hay; whilst the horse requires grain
and much of IL; and the gram generally
given him, Indian corn, the crop which
requires most labor, and greatly eXhausts
the l:nd.
From the best estimate have been
enabled to form, more than one half OF
The corn crop is consumed by horses;
including The ungrown ones; and moi
less than one half, by other than pleasure
horses. BY getting free from this con
Sumption, one half the labor, aud of The
wear of the land, would be saved, or ra-
ther more than one half !; for OH most
farms, one half of the crop of corn grows
OIL not more than two iiiills, and some
lines a smaller proportion, ofile culiiva-
led fields; aud the more fertile fields
would of course be retained for culli,a-
ton. Every one can figure TO himself,
tie ease aud couveniency of "a revolution
which won'd so much rcduce,he extent of
his cornhelis; and substitute fort labor
bestowed on them, the more easy task
OF providing pas'urage and hay.
But will mot the OK himself when kept al
labor require grain foodas wellas The horst?
Certainly much less, if any. Judging
from my own observation. | should say,
that plenty ofgood grass, good hay,
viii sufEee uilhont grain, where the
labor is neither constant nor severe.
But feel entire coniidene in saying, that
a double set of oxen alternately AT work,
and therefore half the time at resi-, might
be kept III good plight without other food
than plenty OF good grass or good hay.
And as this double set would double The
supply of beef tallow and leather, sci
Oft Is found in that consideration for "a
double consumption of that kind of food.
The objections generaly made to the
OK, are--l. That he is less iractable than
the horse. 2. That he does moi bear heat
as vel. 8. That he docs not answer for
the single plough used in our corn fields.
4. That he Is slower III his movements.
5. That he is less fit for carrying The pro-
duce Of The farm TO market.
The FIRST objection is certainly founded
in mistake. OF tie two animals, the OK
is the more docie. In all countries where
The OK is The ordinary draught animal, his
dociiiiy is proverbial. His iniractabiii-
~, where ii exists, has arisen from an
occasional use Of him only with long and
irregular intervals; during which the ha-
bit OF discipline being broken, a new one
Is 10 be formed.
the I'd objection has as little founda-
ton. The constitution OF the OK accom-
modates itself, as readily as that of lie
horse 10 different cIimates--Not only IN
ancient Greece and Italy, but throughout
Asia, as presented TO us in ancient his,o-
re-, the OK and the plough are associated.
AT this day, in TIE warm parts of India
and China, the OK, not the horse is in The
draugiu service. In every part of India,
the OK always appears, even in the train
OF her armies. And in the hottest paris
ct the Wacf Irfitpc A
IN hauling the weighfy produce 10 the
sea ports. The mistake here, as in the
former case, has arisen, from The effect of
an occasional employment only, with no
other than green food. The fermentation
of this in the animal heated by The wea-
Their, and iretied by the discipline, will
readily account for his sinking under his
cXerilons f: when green food even, much
less dry, wilha sober habit of labor, would
have 10 such tendency.
The Sd objection also is not solid
one. The OK can by proper harness,
be used singly as well as tile horse, be-
tween the rows of Indian com; and e.
quaily so used for other purposes. Elk.
perience may be safely appealed 10 OIL this
point.
In the Alb place, it is aIledged that he
is slowerlH his movements. This is true,
butin less degree, thanis Oriental for
granted. Oxen that arewell chosen forlheir
form, are moi worked alierthe age of bout
Sycars, (the ageai which they.arc best fit
ted for beei,) are not worked too many
together, and are suitably matched, may
he kept 10 nearly as quick step as the
horse. May not say step quicker than
that of many oftheho wesee at work
who, oil account OF their age, or the lean.
ness occasioned by the cosiliness of the
food they require, lose This advantage,
where they might have once had it2
The last objection has most weight
lhrn nx l. ,,nt - t,nH a dn,,fnI l,hrrrn,