The Russellville Democrat., 1883-04-05
Oxen vs.. Horses.


Patient OF cold and Of heat, enduring
the rigor of Writer and the fervor Of
summer. with an equanimi,y Of temper
and strength which Providence has be-
slowed OH no other dumb animal save
the camel Of the desert; the OK has been,
in all times and in all climate. the
most faithful and indispensable ally OF
nm in suhduing and bringing under
cultivation he ruggclness 1T the earth.
The OK is no swift Of foot, but IN tire
contrary, ssslow and surc." II is this
quality Of his CHI ,racter which renders
him j, ci,l;arIy valuable to The New
England farmer. His sowncss of mo-
ton IN comparison with the horse has
subec.e ed him ut times to some preju-
s q (, and, bv those who are anxious to
see everything move by the force Of
steam. 10 Il depreciation of his value.
But believe generally that the fa nIers
of Ma sachusefts on this subject have
adopted the proverb illustrated in
.Esop's fable of the Tortoise and the
IIare''--ssthc greater haste, the less
speed ~ and indeed it has been already
laid down us an axiom by a committee
OF farmers Of Massachusetts, men who
ht6t ought TO know the value of this ami
-1al, that the interests of the farmer, for
n,st purposes, are best promoted by
bsiiiuting the OK for the horse, and
This for the following reasons He is led
with lc cxpen G, is more patient of la
Dor, and is M ire valuable when his SER
vices are ended.
The use Of the moving machins. which
renders j. ncccs. ary for the owner of orc
10 keep pair OF horses, has diminished
the number Of working cattle in Eastern
Massa chusetts, aud | am inclined to
think ali 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
l,ss speed.' and there is certainly no
nobler sight than row of teams of
working cattle at a blowing match, NOV
ing to and fro with slow and measured
tread, obedient to the shaw and 'sgee''
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 writer's,
who weigh arguments pro and con with
great scientific accuracy and practical
skill, have discussed at great length the
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 lSd -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
10 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
~, but also require longer days work
Of them.
In favor Of oxen are the following
"They perform the greater part OF
HE work on the farm, as blowing,
md the near carrying of loads as we'll
rs horses do; and one can, in usual
day 5 work, If they are well fed, expect
nearly rs much II m them.
"They cost considerably less; their
harness il mach cheaper; their food
costs much less
s.N hat is an important particular is,
that il they are well taken care OF, they
lessen not so mach in valne, but often
ell for more than they Mt first cost.
They are also subject TO fewer hazards
and casualties.
"FlnaIy, they give grea'er quantity
Of excrement, which affords more
productive manure than that of horses.
There can, therefore, be no doubt
/ hat 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-
lion between horses and oxen would
probably 5 and 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
air 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, il not quicker. Gov. Isaac
Hill, of New Hampshire, in a letter
dated Dec. 3, 1S43, said: "My own ex-
perience in this matter is quite recent,
and of course limited. have at this
lime 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
ard plow as much in day as the same
number of horses. A pair OF these oxen
will turn over with plow that carried
twelve inches of the last years corn or
p0izto ground, or easy stubble land,
from one and half to two acres in
day, woi king eight hours, four in the
forenoon ard 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
milking cows, and which take on fat
readily. While the Deyons may make
The quickest stepping oxen, and Ayr
shires and Jerseys may give the most
and richest milk, and the Herefords
may take on fat the easiest, the Short
horns combine all these qualities. One
reason why | have raised Shorthorns