The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-09-29
Agricultural.
Com paratiVc Value of OK and
Horse Labor.

The question Of tic comparative value of
oX-labor and Of horSc-labor, is very
IMPLICATED and difficult one : and has been
kccnly discussed by some OF the ablcst CONT
Mental writer's on rural economy: and, even
when thoroughly understood and perspica-
ciously investigated, must be tariouSly de-
tcrmined according to circumstances. Bur-
gar says, ave must take into consideration
the amount of labor which horses and oxen
can perform, in given period, if We would
decide respecting the one or the other. Be-
cause horses perform more in the same time
than oxen. and arc better adapted for many
kinds of work SO it not rarely happens that
labor is carried on cheaper with horses :: a
person gains more in the less number OF the
horse-tcams and the men regtlircd for them,
compared with the greater number of the OK
teams. than the cost of their keeping. and the
interest Of the outlying capital. If the OK
team IN given time performed as much work
as the forsc-cam, it would unqucstional'ly
be cheapest to use them for all the work of
the farm, and quit the the Use Of horses
wholly; but because oxen are much slower in
drawing. and a yoke of them, if they arc
strong and well trained, will accomplish in
favorable circumstances only or of what
a good span of farin-horScs will: therefore if
on account of the increased number of teams
and of men required to take care Of them.
there will he greater expense with oxen than
with horses" Thacr says. "horscS have an
undcniablc preference in the following par
ticulars:
|. They are suitable for all and every
kind of work of land husbandry, in all ways
and in all wcathers. One therefore, when he
keeps only horses. is not obliged to choose out
work for them, but can use his whole team
for any business that occurs, and leave no
part of it to stand still.
.. They accomplish every kind of work
more rapidly, aud are more constant. One
can, therefore, not only complete the work in
the same time more promptly, but ALTO re-
quirc longer days work of them. Thus
the wagon will accomplish more with an
equal number of horses thsn with oxen: al
though with the usual draught of a load they
exert not more power than oxen. yet they
overcome BY their rapidity of motion and
energy, many a short resistance before which
oxen stand still.
In favor of oxen are the following:
l. They perform the greater part Of the
works OIL Il farm as plowing, and the near
carrying of loads, as horses do: and one can
in usual days work, if they are well fed.
expect nearly as much from them. They
perform the work of blowing in a certain de-
gree better than horses.
.. The cost of them is considerably less.
Their purchase on an average, is not near so
high their harness is much chcapcr; their
food costs much less, and consists in such
things as, on account Of its transportation,
arc not SO marketable as the grain, on which
horses are kept.
3. What is an important particular is, that
if they are well taken care of, and not too
long kept at work, they lesson not as much
in value but improve for the most part: 50
that they often sell for more than they at first
COST and thereby soon pay the interest on the
standing capital, whereas, ON the other hand.
the value of the horse soon sinks to nothing.
and the capital is wholly exhausted. They
are also subject to fowcr hazards and casual
ties.
4. They demand less attention, as ono OK
herd can take care Of 80 oxen, if others work
with them by change. Finally. they give
greater quantity of excrcment. which in gen
cral affords more productive manure than
that of horses. Such horses and oxen must
be compared the relation Of Which in respect
to Their condition and care, are not unlike.
&c. There can. therefore, he no doubt. that
those labors which can he proportionally well
,hsn HS Sos ws r ha o "nv
such work to he done as is convenient for on
en-, and it could be executed with allowing
time to rest &C., thcn oxen should be used.
But if. according to recent experiments, an
other fodder can be introduced for horses
than corn, and thus the expense be leSscncd,
then the question between horses and oxen
would probably stand differently. "-Roy@
Cyclopedia.