Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1859-02-18
PARIS. ME-,
rpm ,h. cnnuln G,n,lem,n.
A Few Words on Managing Team.

To have oxen under good discipline. is
the chief oljcct Of the ieamstcr. How can
this be done? Let few thoughts and Oh.
servations, gathered from experience. he
brought To bear upon this theme
In tho drst place, the tcams,cr should
know the disposition Of hi. oxen some are
quick and frry, others moderate and easy.
An OK with a fractions disposition, should
b uscd carefully and ste,dily; one naiur-
ally slow, may be worked with morc anima-
tion and spirit. The teamsicr should not
only know the mature Of his oxen, but he
should know hi, own disposition, and first
learn to govern himself
Steers should BE- used when youns-for
work i quite different thing from mere
training. They should be handled careful.
ly when fret used, and never loaded beyond
their strength twould BE- a good thing.
too, II they were broke not only to the
yoke, hut to the cart IL i no uncommon
thips to see oxen, who canno, or will not
hack a loaded cart, and farmers arr often
complaining because their oxen will not
hack a reasonable load. This error may be
the result partly OF a careless tcams,cr, and
partly from the manner in which they were
handled. Farmer. take great pains g. learn
their steers To draw lnIis. hut neglect 10
learn them 10 back IL and then complain
h'caus, their oxen are unhandy. Steers.
therefore, should be- learnt TO hack, and -,
a oart-aud this can bc accomplished IN q
very easy manner. " 'oon a. they arc
rsricc.ly used to the yoke. and know how
o. drW-gycn a hight load-thcn learn
them 20 hack, by beginning first with an
empty cart, or a pair OF light wheels. and
where the ground j. li,,lo descending.
The pitch oC the ground will easily draw
tie wheels hack, and hy making a slight
motion, they will step backward 10 the mo.
ton OF the wheels. This Grsi ciIir, perfect.
Is mastered, aud then try tile simc opera.
,ion on level ground. after which it will do
% add gradually, a load sulh,i'n, fur their
strength, aud Tor the amount II experience
they have had in backing Thus once ac-
couphshed. and with careful usigr, they
will back any reasonable load.
4 team should b. learned TO s,and-ior
an uneasy, irc,rul team is a real lo,her.
Il'rc then we may 90 back to steers, and
uy that they should b, made 10 stand,
when and where they are ordered. l, is
easy TO learn them, but oxen never can 30
learned. Tho whole idea i. whatever YOU
wish your team to b,, under whatever dis
cipline YOU want your oxen, make them
that, and give them iha, training, when
s,,crs They will never forget it,
In Rhode Island, Connecticut, aud somc
parts oc Massachusetts,, | have noticed
teams a, work. the oxen having li,,!s ba.-
ky,, or muul-. over their mouths. This
nav Do for some places, bu, {, would no, do
in Maine. flr q "Dlwn-eist tram,tcr
would laugh II he could not drive a yoke Of
oxen aud no, have them eating. have al.
- noticed. tia, in some places whip Is
uscd to drive oxen with, instead Of s,,ad.
For common farm us,, whip Is all that is
necessary; bat you cannot get 50 heavy a
lie ou; OF your team, a' though you drove
with gnai aud brad Oxen may often
get dull, and require something to enliycn
their ical;ns.-;hi. can b, done better with
a sharp brad. than with n whip.
Good care i, worth all thing, else, in the
management Of team. Oxen that have
poor teamsters. are as general thing poor
men to take care OF team aud that FAR.
mer who takes good care Of his team, 1t
will not be wanting ia good training.
Farmers should DC better transfers. for il
i, the part Of good farmer to have good
team, under goOl discipline.
) l.. BoARpN,N.
Brooldals,' mar 81. Norridgoeock, Ne.