Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-09-26

Working oxen formerly filed a most impor-
tant position in the agriculture of New Eng
land for the heavy work Of clearing the for
ests and preparing the land for the nice oper
atoms Of field culture Of the present day-a
work the magnitude of which is hardly APP
precated by the present generation of farm
ers, who know nothing of this kind of labor
could not have been performed without the
aid Of the patient, enduring oxen. In what
ever place the faithful yoke of oxen was
placed, it never failed Of doing the work re-
quired-in the field the logging swamp, at
the cart, and when through with work, it was
always sure to bring n value upon the butch
ers block With the change which has how
ever 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 employed For a time
they held their supremacy in the logging
swamps in winter, for which large heavy
animals were wanted, but finally their ser
vice here was displaced 10y that of horses, and
now all through the lumber regions of north
ern New England the work is done by heavy
but rather cheap class of horses il being the
plan in many localities to employ for this
winter work those that have become some
what used up in city toamiug, and after
season in the logging swamps to give them
the freedom Of an entire summer at pasture.
With this general use of horses in farm
work there came, as a consequence, II neg
lect on the part of farmers in rearing and
keeping steers and oxen. And there are many
good reasons for this, and many advantages
OF horses over oxen as farm team. They
are much more rapid in movement, are
adapted to any and all kinds Of work leven to
many kinds for which oxen are not fitted
have great endurance, are long lived, and al
though it costs more to fit them for work On
harness, yet the greater amount of labor
they perform more than overbalances this
extra cost and expense. But notwithstanding
all this, we still believe the working steer and
OK vet has a place on the farms of New Eng
land and it is Il question if that place might
not be somewhat enlarged to the benefit Of
our agriculture Not that We would suggest
or recommend any backward steps. any plan
which would render our farm work any slow
er of performance, or be attended with any
more expense. Nor would We recommend a
complete substitution of oxen for horse la
Dor 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 a
source Of advantage and profit At all our
fairs, the well matched large, wcll-dscip lined
oxen and steers art always an object of adlni-
ration and pride. aud We have seldom known
IA New England farmer who had a likely"
yoke of oxen or steers for sale for which he
could not get good price, and always find a
purchaser. They may not again assume their
former importance Us a farm team. but on
the farm, as animals for work a part of the
time, for sale Us workers or for beef, they are
sure Of coming high rank. Crosses of
Herefords with our better class Of grades
make a superior working and an excellent
| beef animal while the grade Devous are also
esteemed as workers or beevos, and the oX-
! ceilcnce Of our Shurthorus is well known.
The main question of farm labor aside for
the moment, We would much like to see a re-
vjval 81 the interest il 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 enabled to grow. Besides there is al
ways a quick market at a good price for the
| well grown and well-fRttened steer and
| where the hay is consumed and animals fed
! upon the farm, there is profit to such hus-
bRndry 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 market at Water
| town in preference to Western steers i'm.
| Cu2tiUdtOy.