The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-10-08
,.EHBG HNARNaEEe.

the Genesee Farmer contains some valuable re
marks and the estimate of expense, though no
correct in every item for this section of the coun
try, will set the farmer to thinking and lead
him to make more exact estimate suited
10 his section Farmers should often use figures
and calculate the loss and gain in the several
branches of business they are pursuing and the
expense of their operations.
One great advantage in favor of the OK is
that he retains his value as he grows old while
the horse is becoming less valuable every year
shortly after he is in his prime; and one advan.
tage in favor of the horse is that he can be used
for riding, or for the carriage, when he is not
wanted for the common operations of the farm.
HORSES VS.. OXEN.
Mr. TUCKER-In looking over, recently an odd
number of the New York Farmer, met with
the following extract, from the pen Of the Hon.
Levi Lincoln, in letter to John Hare Powell,
Esq. of Philadelphia, on the training of oxen
for work; and the comparison between horses
and oxen, for agricultural purposes On the
latter point he remarks-
In respect to what oxen are made to do in a
short time, or an experiment upon their strength
must refer you to our ploughing matches
With us, (New England) they are but little
used upon the road, except in the rnnsporta-
ton Of heavy loads for short distances, in the
town, nj between neighborlng towns. One rea-
son why horses are preferred for wagoning OH the
road, may he that thoy can be made 10 travel
quicker, and that from the construction of the
hoof, they are less liable to Iameness than the
eleven footed OK by becoming foot sore.
On the other hand the patient and stea-
dy labor of the OK, finds no substitute in the
horse for the service OF the farm, and the latter
ortne OK team. or with the light plough between
the rows OF corn. The value of yoke OF OK
en- or a pair of horses for use in all the business
of farm, admits of no comparison. 30 deci
lied is the preference for the former, that DO
not believe a single farmer can be found in this
extensive agricultural countrywide performs his
labor by horses, without oxen, while there are
hundreds, had almost said thousands, who
make no other use of horses in husbandry, than
10 furrow of planting, and plough among their
corn for hoeng
Our oxen are kept in n cheaper and less ex-
pensive manner than horses"
I beg YOU will excuse me, if you think have
been extrav agunt in my quotation Tie subject
is certainly an important one, when we remem-
Der, that an almost indiscribable amount OF Ia
Dor is necessary to he performed by one or the
other, for farming purposes. would Ike here
had time 10 notice some of the reasons assign
ed by farmers, for substituting the horse which
has become so generally for the OK, for their
business. "Their ancapacity to labor in warm
weather. If the weather is excessively warm,
;ply it yonld bp 81 nlIpctiOD 4 leaSt while
it continued. If oxen were property man
aged, even then they might be made to per-
form quite as much the horse. But, Mr.
Tucker, will imagine the weather is no warm
err and the days no longer than they were ~ or
more years since. The fault, reckon, is not
with the oxen, that they are less servlceable noiC
than they were IN the settlement of this country
or for many centuries, but with the age. l mean
'n,e1 and things We all becoming quite
too furious, in all we attempt. Farmers and
others, are too much inclined TO keep pace with
rail road cars, our beautiful steamboats,, &c
1 beg leave to submit the following estimate, o.
the expense OF keeping both horses and oxen
with the original cost together with the neces
sary utensils for each.
Cost of oxen, say, $1,000
Interest the same, 7,5(
Cart, yoke and chain 5000
Shooting co.
Feed FOR a months, half bushel each per pay,
worth 30 cents per bushel, consisting of bran,
shorts, potatoes, and corn, 24,O
Three tous Of hay each, per year, Sc 800
$685.
Cost ofhorses, 800 each 1905
Interest on the same, 1910
Cost of harness, 1870
Wagon, Completely 65,O
Shooting, SO
Feed for S months, Is quarts each, per day,
at 81 cents per bushel, on
Ditto for months, quarts each per day,
81 cents per bushel, a.
Two tons of hay each, So, l~'
1885,
If the above estimate is correct, we find d
ference Of about 1923 in the expense of keepli
single team, for the year-quite too large