Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1859-12-23
How to Drive Oxen.

the important subject of driving oxen.
lie says that a good whip is the only
proper thing to drive oxen with, and
that neither a cudgel. hand-spile, nor
a pitchfork. should ever be used. The
stock Of the whip he wants not less than
seven or eight feet long. with small
light lash Of not more than two feet in
length. Such whip can only be used
to guide the oxen by its light touches
and skilfull motions and never to fisgel-
late them. The following minute direc-
tons contain the philosophy of driving,
and may be adopted in practice with dc.
cided benefit
When driving a yoke of oxen straight
forward, let the driver stand by the side
of the near OK. say three or sour feet
( from him, with his whip eject, 20 that
both the oxen can see. Now. as the
word come along is given, in plain. open
+ sound, Just touch them both with the
lash. on their rump.. Touch the Slow
est OK first. Now. keep the whip erect.
as soldier caties his muskei whea
marching When thr word uho1 is an
nounccd, 1t the diver stop short and
speak distinctly, ioaoa. II iels not sbls
to bring ont tine iankeeism. in a round.
full tone. let sim spe the liter o,with
an open. founl auad-n0t drawl u ont,
nor snap it off, ike the yep Of a wolf
ANA at the same time ra - MS whip and
let the lash fail en- lne forehead Of the
OK that : least inclined 10 stoP. IT. may
be necessary. III some instances, 10 rive
an OK how with the lash. 50 that i,
viii smart little: bat it is much the
best o try light touch with the lash
first. Never keep the whip swinging
over the oxen, aud around their heads.
when they arr moving forward. In dri-
wing oxen that are very spirited. when
they are inclined t. 20 too rapidly. the
driver should stan! about even with tie
yoke, and put his whip forward Of the
heads, touch them lightly, and try to
check their rapid pace with light blows.
If they become too impctuous. give the
W ri whoa, and stop, and tnen start on
ward again for a short distance. But
spare all the hard blows with the lash
until there seems to be no efficacy in
ntie touches with it. Never keep up
an incessant 7cfoa, whoa, whca, in order
70 maze any team walk more s'eadiiy'
and with less rapility.
When it is desired to have oxen gee
around, let the lash drop on the buttock
of the near OK, Immediately after the
word IS given to 2 C aroon'' ana let the
0fiNef s'eP forward near 'he heaa OF the
"e"f e. OK ana ttie', nuke d motioh 10 the
on OK u oae@. II 'ae Gil OK Is not IN
0''nt" 10 - '24'H MN win the whip'
'' '"e i5it 9'lou'''er. II 'ne Oh OK dash-
','7'u 'oo ih0el' 'otch Hia H9htiy on
u Sn' ,'9"i 4h1 1oaeh up 'ne near OK De.
I''''e', VIA 'ts 1asa' 10 "''0 '"em aroma
II. s4o atisef Sep oack opposite the
'a''a 81 tae oxen ana give them one
" u ~ 4'fo a1o41et' ana al tne same tin
20 AGA 'ae near OK with the 'asA on the
= 'V''+a ai,' ''1 0H oA oh his Fuilp' IL
'uo near OK aoe2 lo' La" as n,ucn as ne
''5sl 10 oy to4caAa9 on 'ne heaa' give
,.''' d oio" VIA NJ '"si over 'ne shoui-
'.o's - laat lis tas.i VIII S'flNe on inc
i'5h' s"2ui"e'' ~ soon d" oxen nave
mani and t5h6hs ii u ld hae w MqpaS 5ey q c"m 1-
obey very promptly, with onlv the mo-
ton of the whip, without touching
them. Oxen will notice the motions
and words Of the driver; and if they are
always m4da intall gently and under
standingr, oxen will soon learn to step