Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-09-24
NO. 23O.
Mistellaneous.
WORKING OXEN.

Working oxen formerly filled most inn
portant position in the agriculture of New
England for the heavy work of clearing
the forest and preparing the land for the
nice operations of field culture Of the pres
ent day-a work the magnitude of which
is hardly appreciated by the present gen.
Grafton of farmers. who know nothing Of
this kind of labor-could not have been
performed without the aid of the patient,
enduring oxen. In whatever place the
faithful yoke of oxen was placed, it never
failed of doing the work required-in the
field, the logging swamp, at the cart, and
when through with work, II was always
sure to bring value upon the butchers
block. With the change which has, how.
evr, come to our agriculture, the sturdy
oxen have been displaced as a farm team.
There was demand for more rapid work,
and on the road with the loaded wagon
for quicker transportation; and SO horses
came to be used for most of the purposes
for which oxen had been SO largely en-
pl0yed. For time they held their su-
premacy in the logging swamps in winter,
for which large, heavy animals were
wanted, but finally their service here was
displaced by that of horses. and now all
through the lumber regions Of northern
New England the work is done by heavy
but rather cheap class of horses it being
the plan in many localities to employ for
this winter work those that have become
somewhat used up in city teaming, and
after season in the logging swamps to
give them the freedom Of an entire sum-
mer at pasture.
With tl,;a rrororo1 ,,co rC horcou In EhV4n
work there came. as y consequence, = neg
lect on the part Of farmers in rearing and
keeping steers and oxen. And there are
many good reasons for this. and many Id
vantages of horses over oxen a. farm
ment, ard adapted to any and all kinds Of
work (even to many kinds for which oxen
are not titted), have great endurance. are
long lived. and although it costs more to
keep them and more to fit them for work
Gin harness). yet the greater amount Of
labor they perform more than over!al-
ances this extra cost and expense. But
notwithstanding all this, we still believe
the working steer and OK yet has place
on the farms Of New England, and II y
question il that place might not be some-
what enlarged to the benefit Of our sgri.
culture.
Not that we would suggest or recom-
mend any backward steps. any plan which
would render our farm work any slower OF
performance, or be attended with any
more expense. Nor would we recommend
complete substitution Of oxen for horse
labor but this much is sure, steers and
oxen are never out Of place on . New
England farm there are many kinds Of
work they can do better than horses, and
they are always source of advantage
and profit. At all our fairs. the we'll
matched. large. well-disciplined oxen and
steers are always an object Of admiration
and pride, and we have seldom known .
New England farmer who had q ''likely'
yoke of oxen or steers for sale for which
he could not get good price. and always
find purchaser, They may not again
assume their former importance as farm
team, but on the farm, as animals for
work part of the time, for sale as work.
ers or for beef. they are sure Of . coming
high rank. Crosses Of Herefords with
our better class of grades make superior
working and an excellent beef animal,
while the grade Devons are also esteemed
Us workers or beeves, and the excellence
OF our Shorthorns is well known.
The main question OF farm labor aside
for the moment. we would much like TO
see revival Of the interest in steers and
oxen in New England. If their number
were greater we believe our agriculture
would rank higher. for the more cattle we
can keep the higher will be the condition
Of our agriculture, and the greater crops
OF grass and the cereals We may be en-
abled to grow. Besides there is always
quick market at = good price for the we'll
grown and well -fattened steer, and where
the hay is consumed and animals fed upon
the farm, there is profit to such husban-
| dry which cannot be argued out Of sight.
A pair of good steers on every farm in
New England this Fall would not be
bad sight. and every one which the owner
wished to part with could find good mar.
ket at Waterfowl, in preference to West
ern steers,