Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-01-30
WORKING OXEN

Pi1'''''s 'Oi o. tHe working OK, ought,
although it does not always, to endear
him TO his MASTER and ensure for him
kind usage and protection. The writer
has very vivid recollection of the sue
cesstul yokes ofoxen which, during the
years Of childhood, Up the valley Of the
Genesee,) were owned and worked bv his
father The couQry at that time was
comparatively new and much OF it of
course covered with a dense growth Of
wood timber. These cattle had about as
distinct and marked features and charac-
ter as different mems bat all of them
were similar in one thing, and that was
IN doing to the best 5f their abiIitv tho
labor required ofthem. Amid logs and
stumps, on side hills and inswamps, over
rough reads and through bridgless streams
we have seen them plod, where horses
could not, or would not go. some of
their drivers were kind. others harsh and
cruel One in particular, is remembered.
who was eternally welding the whip, and
seemed never happy unless belaborine
his team He was a good teamster in
some respects, and took good care of his
cattle, but this defect in lis management
spoiled all.
Working oxen, although far more pa
tient and enduring under i'll treatment
than the horse, yet are themselves sus.
ceptible to the influence Of kindness. and
respond quite as readily 10 the encourage
ing efforts Of the driver, as to the lash.
One yoke Of Beautiful red cattle is recoi-
lected, which scarcely knew what it was
to be beaten, and were so thoroughly
trained, as to be driven side by side
around a field, hawed and gced, and back
cd without as much as a tow string to
confine them together, These cattle were
subsequently sold at auction, in order to
settle an estate and their admirable train
ing run up full s25 above the market
price.
Oxen are much better in many re-
spects for working than horses, some Of
which advantages may be summed up
as follows: They cost much less in the
first instance, and are therefore more
within the reach Of men with moderate
means. They are less liable TO disease,
and If an accident occurs which disables
them for labor, they may be converted
INTO food. lfa horse should happen TO
break his leg, a bullet might as well be
put through his head at once, for he is
worthless ever after; but II the same ae-
cident happens to an OK, he can be con-
verted into beef provided he is sufIiaient-
/ y IN flesh or if tllis is not the case, the
wound can generally be so far cured as
to enable the animal afterwards to fatten.
The OK will cat less food and of a
eoarser kind than the horse, and needs
less attention in order TO live. lie win
work in localities impossible for the
horse and goforward patiently with labors
which would chafe the other into inlracti-
bility
no man syho has Witnessed the two
kinds Of animals 10 work around a saw
mill yard, for instance, can fail 10 have
been struck with ibis difference in their
character Hitch team of horses to a
log which is too heavy for them to start
al cnee, AID 8 cases out Of 10 after one
Or two efforts they will either break their
harness, splinter whifletree, or baulk
and refuse to draw at all. Now try il
with yoke Of well broken oxen, and they
viii lay out their utmost strength with
the same geEtlenezs and good viii for
the twentieth time as they did ihe fret.
There arc a great variety OF duties TO
be performed upon the farm, where hor-
ses are Of superior advantage; and there
are others in which oxen are altogether
preferable. Where the business Is ad-
yantageous to combine them; but @here
a farmer can own but a single team, es-
pecially in a new country, oxen are usual
1 ly much the best.
A small farmer frequently makes up
a very effective team with a yoke of oxen
and one horse. For many purposes oxen
alone are sufficient, but in breaking Up
and other heavy work, the aid Of the
horse is important Besides the service
Of the horse is invaluable Oh the road, for
plowing ont corn, &c, and be is sure in
his services 10 pay his way.
IN this fast age, oxen are too much
ignored by cur farmers and their value
as laborious and willing servants is too
much overl0oked--.Sto Register.