The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-11-02
asritaltural.
WORKING CATTLE.

WORKING CATTLE.
The patience, meekness, and uncomplain-
ing toll Of The working OK ought, although
!, does not always, 10 endear him 10 his mas
ter, and ensure for him kind usage and pro
lection. The writer has very vivid recol-
lection Of the successive yokes OF oxen,
which, duIing The years Of his childhood Top
The valley of,he Genesee,) were owned and
worked by his father. The county a, that
time was comparatively new and much Of
il OF course covered with dense growth Of
wood and timber. These cattle had about
as disiinc, ard marked features ard charac.
ter, as diiferen, men bu, all Of them were
similar in one thing, aud Ina, was in doing
TO the bes, Of their ability tho labor required
Of them. Amid logs and s,umps, on side
bills and in swdmps, over rough roads aud
through bridgeless streams, we have seen
them plod, where horses could not, or wonld
no, 20. Some OF their drivers were kind.
others harsh and cruel. One IN particular
is remembered, who was e,ernal'y WELD
ius the whip, and seemed never 10 be hap
Py unless be!aboring his team. He was n
good ,eamsier in some respects, and took
good care Of his cattle. but this defect in his
Management, spelled all.
Working oAen, although Ear more palien,
and enduring under III irealmen, than the
horse, ye, are themselves susceptible 10 the
influences Of kindness, and respond quite
as readily 10 the encouraging efforts Of the
driver, as to the lash. One yoke Of beauti-
lul red cattle is now recOlleciej, which
scarcely knew wha, il was 10 be beaten, and
were so we'll trained rs to be driven side by
side around field, hawed and seed, and
hacked, wiihou, so much as tow string TO
coniine them together. These cattle were
subsequently, sold at auction, in order to
settle an estate, and lhei. admirable train
ing run them up full twenty-five dollars
above the market price.
Oxen are much better in many respects
ior working than horses some Of which
advantages may be summed up as follows
They cost much less in the frs; Instance,
and are therefore more within the reach oI
men Of moderate means. They are less H.
able TO disease, and il any acciden, occurs
which disables them from Labor, they may
be converted into food. If horse should
happen 10 break a leg, a bullet might as
we'll be put through his head at once, for
he is worthless ever alter; but il the same
aeciden, happens 10 an OK, he can DO con-
yeried into bel, provided he is sufficiently
in flesh; or il that is not tn, case, the
wound can generally be so far cured as to
enable the animal afterwards 10 fatteu.
The OK will ca, less food, and OF coaser
kind than the horse, and need, less aite n,ion
in order 10 thrive, He will work in local..
Ties impossible for the horse. and 90 forward
patiently with duties which would chalt
the other into utter in,rsctibiliiy.
No man who BIS ever noticed the two
kinds OF animals at work around saw mil
yard, Tor distance. can fail to have been
struck with this difference in their charac
Ter. Hitch a span Of horses to log which
is too heavy for them 10 start at once, anC
in nine cases out Of ten, after one or two
efloIts, they will either break their harness
splinter whfllelree, or balk, and refuse Il
draw at all. Now try il with yoke of wei
broken oxen, and they will lay on, their u,
most strength with the same geniieness an,
good will for the twentieth time, as they diC
, at first.
There are grea, variety Of duties 10 be
. performed upon the farm, where horses az,
Of superior advantage 1; and there are 9th
: ers in which working oxen are alloselhe
preferable. Where the business is sufi
! eisnt fOr the employment, Of both, ii is AL
vanlageous 10 combine them; but where
farmer can own bu, single team, espec
ially in new country, oxen ate usual,
much the best.
: A small farmer frequently makes up
! very efecliue team with yoke Of oxer
ant single horse. For many purpose
the oxen alone are sufficient, but in break
ing up and other heavy work, the aid Ofth
horse is all important. Besides, the seric
Of The single horse is invaluable on th
;Oad, for blowing out corn, &c, and he
! sure in these services 10 pay his way.
In this fast age, working oxen are 10
much ignored, by our farmers and ihei
: value as laborious and willing servants
, too much oyerlOoked.-WOoi Grorsr an
Sock Register.
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