Eastern times., 1855-12-06
w Working Cows.

Working Cows.
Were the question submitted to us,-says
the New England Farmer, why should not
the cow be submitted to the yoke, as well as
the oxP the only reply, probably, we should
be able to make, would be the insufficient one,
that popular custom is averse to, and would
not sanction ii. Prejudice often goes great
way, in such matters, even with the best in
formed. In this country the COW has rarely
been subjected to labor of any kind yet in
other countries the case is different In Spain
and Great Britain, she is made to labor, both
on the farm and on the road, and is said 10 be
not only quicker but more tractable than the
OK. One of our writers, who appears TO have
investigated the subject with considerable in
dustry, remarks -.
We have no doubt that many farmers who
DO not want cattle for travelling much on the
road, will find an advantage in working cows.
AS this custom is not common with US, it
would at once be opposed by many as incon-
oiSfShs oHu uutCuSOuauiCs HI ihie lCcfCSb II
would be like many other improvements
There was time when many farmers thought
the only method to dispose Of large quantity
Of apples, was to work hard in the fall and fill
up their cellars with cider, and then work
hard in the winter to drink it up. They would
have laughed at the thought of wintering hogs
in thriving condition, or fattening them most
ly On apples; but experience has taught them
that apples are valuable for making pork. and
that much cider-drinking is attended with
trouble and expense, and is injurious 10
health and had we time, we would show
that many other improvements, when first in
troduced, were regarded as changes for the
worse"
Another, adopting the same views, says
why cannot cows work as well as mares that
are with foal, or have to ncurish offspring E
Mares, without injury TO themselves or theil
young, perform considerable labor till within
month or two of their foaling: and they
again labor within few weeks after that time
and with kind and gentle treatment, and good
keeping, they and their colts are better than
they would be if they were entirely idle
Look at animals through the wide creation
and see how few among them are idle mothers
Exercise is conducive to health and strength
and every animal, four-legged as well as two
legged, ought to take, at least, moderate ex
ercise, as it is conducive 10 their comfort
In this connection we present the following
account OF an experiment made some years
since, by an intelligent Yankee Farmer, who
had found the expense of keeping a yoke o
oxen on small farm somewhat more debihta-
ting, in pecuniary sense, than his conceptions
of strict economy induced him 10 regard ad
visable. He commenced working his cows in
1886, in the spring, using pair of cows thai
had calved the previous January. He did al
his blowing and other spring work with them
working them almost every day. During this
time they had continued 10 give a good mess
of milk, and he was unable to discover thai
their labor occasioned any skrimpage excep
on couple of days when young col
under process of '6reaking,' was worked be-
fore them, and occasioDed them unusual ia
tigue. In the. summer he hauled his hay with
them, and was not aware that they failed ir
any respect to do as well as oxen. During
the winter, which was remarkable for its Sc
verify, and the depth of the frequent SHOWS
they were used for breaking roads, and no
unfrequently got so deeply into the drifts as tc
render it necessary to relieve them by shovel
ing. They were not, however, in the slight
est degree injured, and calved the following
April.
| The subsequent autumn, he worked an ad
ditional yoke, making team of four cows
With these he did all his blowing, breaking
green-sward, during thirteen or fourteen days
besides blowing his corn and potato lands.
His hay was again housed by them, and il
the fall they harvested his crops, and were
employed very constantly till late period, il
hauling wood, rocks, SC. Their food wa!
straw, turnips, and hay. 1t is in his opinion
that cows, properly subjected to the yoke, arr
quicker and smarter than oxen, and will per
form more labor, according to their size, i
kept in good condition.
They are also less difficult to break, he says
than steers, as all except one were perfectly
mild and kind after the third day. In thi.
case, the keeping was no doubt good, as j
should always be when these useful animal,
are subjected to the yoke.
When cows are made TO labor, care anc
kindness are of the greatest importance. Oh
this subject, writer very truly remarks
Every animal should be treated with kind
ness, but harsh treatment of oxen would no
be attended with SO much injury as il woult
with cows. One of these COWS is partly, ans
if recollect right, mostly Of the Durham
| short-horned breed she is an excellent work