Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-07-23
AGRICUL TURAl,
From The Plough. Loom and Anvil.
ON BREAKING OXEN.
BY ELISHA wHITTLEsEY. Esq

BY ELISHA wHITTLESEY. Esq.
John $. Skinner. rs o. Dear SRI have read The
conclusion of your article 1.-THE advantage to be de-
rived from extended use of oxen" inthe De
cember number of The Plough the Loom. and
Inc Anvil" In regard TO learning steers t. work. per
nat me TO relate the mode adopted by my father, (who
was one of the best agrcuuris5 in the northwestern
part OF Connecticut, and in which served somewhat of
an apprenticeship As far practicable he not on
y endesvored to match his steers in color size and
strength but IN temper; cattle like men, are more
irritable nervous Obstinate than others and will
never work we'll together, if they are about the
same strength An agrIcultur>t should raise his own
stock and knowing the disposition Of his COW as every
man and boy WILL who is Among them and milks them
ne is able TO match his steers 10 be alike in temper as
well as In the other qualities nleniioned.
The best age to break animals t, the yoke is when
they are calves. Snail yokes with bows staples and
rings, well finished should be prepared and the calves
yoked and drove about every day for several weeks
commencing when they three or four mon his Old
After they are used to the yoke and auah to haw'
and gee" small chain may be attached to very
ight burdens for them to move such as small stick Of
wood. or hsndsled. The practice may be advantage
ously prosecuted at and years old but thew do
not forget heir knowledge when calves and are easily
subdued at three wears oil
When Steers, two or three years old are first taken in
hand 1t requires three four resoute men to connect
them by the yoke, which should be small and oht but
as well finished if Of size sufficient for old oy
to rghten the The harvard fence should no,
permit any bullock to break it down or leap overi-
The steers 10 be yoked should be driven into it ,hev
should be secured in corner. by the men closinG IN
on item, and the man selected catch the steers should
advance by the side Of the which to work on the
CfSde and sezing the left horn with his RIGHT hand
ne should hastily place his left hand under the steers
Jaw; anu move 1t forward until or three fingers enter
the right, and the thumb the left nostr the 0tt e men
al the same time pressing close as to prevent
Acr,e ,,to<r H., 6
and frighen man not skilled III the business of break
lng steers. When The animal stands stlll the v,ke
without bows 10 BE carried by man on his left arm
and by his side, who having bow in his rioh hand he
passes II under the neck, and enters the bow into III.
yoke and pins IT, Ii there Is a sufficient number ia
prevent the steer from escaping while he is heino
caught, chain should secure The woke 10 most drawn
CLOSE up The steer to wek on the near side to be
caught IN The same manner, and ynked with his fellow
song steady yoke OF oxen is TO be connected behind
'he steers with chain. and another yoke of oxen unde
good command is to be connected forward and the chair
being loosed from the post the three woke are dr;ve
round the yard, or elsewhere and after ue ever
else OF ths kind, a wagon may be attached i,
The yoke OF the old oxen, and the team pat upon tn,
road f Wv
The steers should he ,reated with great kindness
even If iheyare obstinate and su len Tynu tails To-
gether should not be tolerated. nrr is there any use
combining their bodies together by passing rope rounc
them, as recommended in he article referred to.
ii one OF them fails down, and will not get M by mod
crate efforts, lllce over him sufficient number of mer
to keep him down, and having removed the woke from
ms neck and being prepared with small 81 rong rope lie
stiighy round his hind-leg nearest the ground. Their
bring back the fore leg the same SIDE and lie that
'he o'her and the other secured in the same way
and the steer left to his nlediiatons After hie
ile viii attempt to rise, and viii put forth his Whole
strength to exieate his legs which viii not avail him
At the trying is thorough aud skllfuy DONE The rupe
Is TO De removed after all Efforts cease and the animal
'hns subdued will never fall down again in the woke af
forwards. to CRAFTY sulen temper.
Ifcaives are regularly curried in the winter and
handed, they are easily managed afterwards The gen
era position Of the eamster is on the left or Side
opposite The yoke Of the hind Dec sionaly he ma,
advance Opposite to the middle II the second woke of OK
en-. IT the team consists Of three yoke If he canno
manage three yoke in team, he should Law down h
whip, and perm one more skllful Than himself 10 talk,
it.
ienirely depart from Mr. Gilman o. 357, } in his di
seclIon to use "a goad TO drive with' teamster tt
drive three yoke oxen, should have whipstock o
beach, hickory, hazel from eight to ten feet long
from haifto three fourths ofan inch in diameter at thu
but end, with So true temper at the small end as 4
spring evenly. near two-thrds of the length Fo
two % one yoke Of oxen the stock may be less and short