Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-11-23
Oxen VS.. Horses.

1 WIN OH CqudtlIullLy VI LSIuDcI
and strength which Providence has be-
slowed on no other dumb animal save
the camel of the desert; the OK has been,
in all times and in all climates. the
most faithful and indispensable ally OF
man in subduing and bringing under
cultivation the ruggedness of the earth.
The OK is not swift of foot, but on the
contrary, "slow and sure'' It is this
quality of his character which renders
him peculiarly valuable to the New
England farmer. His slowness of mo.
ton in comparison with the horse has
subjected him at times to some preju-
dice, and, by those who are anxious to
see everything move by the force of
steam, to depreciation of his value.
But believe generally that the farmers
OF Massachusetts on this subject have
adopted the proverb illustrated in
Esop's fable of the Tortoise and the
Hare"-''the greater haste, the less
speed;" and indeed it has been already
laid down as an axiom by a committee
of farmers of Massachusetts,, men who
best ought to know the value of this ami
NAL, that the interests of the farmer, for
most purposes, are best promoted by
substituting the OK for the horse, and
this for the following reasons: He is fed
with less expense, is more patient of Ia
Dor, and is more valuable when his SER
vices are ended.
The use of the moving machine, which
renders it necessary for the owner of one
to keep pair of horses, has diminished
the number of working cattle in Eastern
| Massachusetts,, and I am inclined to
think all over New England. am not
disposed, however, to give up oxen on
that account. The old proverb already
quoted tells US, "The greater haste, the
less speed" and there is certainly no
nobler sight than a row of teams of
working cattle at blowing match, NOV
ing to and fro with slow and measured
tread, obedient to the shaw" and "gee''
| of their drivers, as soldiers are to the
command of their officers, and looking
like the right arm of agricultural power
in tilling the earth.
The philosophical German writers,
who weigh arguments pro and con with
great scientific accuracy and practical
question whether horses or oxen are
most profitable on farm.
Thaer thus gives both sides of the
question:
"Horses have an undeniable prefer
ence in the following particulars:
They are suitable for all and every
kind of work of land -husbandry, in all
ways and in all weathers. One, there
fore, when he keeps only horses, is not
obliged to choose work for them, but
can use his whole team for any bust
ness that occurs, and leave no part of it
to stand still.
They accomplish every kind of work
more rapidly, and are more constant.
One can, therefore, not only complete
the work in the same time more prompt
ly, but also require longer days work
of them.
"In favor of oxen are the following:
"They perform the greater part of
the work on the farm, as blowing.
and the rear carrying of loads as well
as horses do; and one can, in a usual
days work, if they are we'll fed, expect
nearly as much from them.
"They cost considerably less; their
harness is much cheaper; their food
costs much less.
"N hat is an important particular is,
that if they are well taken care of, they
lessen not so much in value, but often
sell for more than they at first cost.
They are also subject to fewer hazards
and casualties.
"Flnally, they give greater quantity
of excrement, which affords q more
productive manure than that of horses
"There can, therefore, be no doubt
that those labors which can be proper
tionally well performed by oxen, will be
done cheaper with oxen than with
horses. But if according to recent ex-
periments another fodder than grain
can be introduced for horses, and thus
the expense be lessened, then the ques-
ton between horses and oxen would
probably stand differently
The principal argument of the advo-
Gates for horses in this country appears
to be the superiority of speed; yet the |
well-trained, quick-stepping yoke of
oxen will pillow an acre of ground much |
better, and in shorter time, than a |
pair of horses would do it, unless the |
horses are made to trot while blowing;
and they will get in ton of hay in as |
short time, if not quicker. Gov. Isaac
Hill, of New Hampshire, in a letter !
dated Dec. 8, 1S4S, said: 'sMy own ex-
perienoe in this matter is quite recent,
and of course limited. l have at this
time cattle of my own raising, which,
having been taught to step quickly and
having worked in the same team with
horses, will, side by side, travel as fast
and plow as much in day as the same
number of horses. A pair of these oxen
will turn over with pillow that carried
twelve inches of the last years corn or
potato ground, or easy stubble land,
from one and a half to two acres in a
day, working eight hours, four in the
forenoon and four in the afternoon.
Oxen well fed with hay and portion of
Indian corn or meal, will, in the heat of
summer, stand working daily from
eight to ten hours.''
In breeding horses the breeder has in
view the possession of strength and
speed in his animal, but true economy
compels the farmer who breeds cattle to
keep in view, and combine as far as he
can, cattle which make good oxen, good
cows, and which take on fat
readily: While the Devons may make
the understanding oxen. and Ayr
shires and Jerseys may give the most
and richest milk, and the Herefords
may take on fat the easiest, the Short