During the rude state, in which husbandry long re mained in this island, oxen were generally employed as beasts of labour ; but progressively were laid aside, and horses used in their room, almost in direct proportion as improvements were introduced. This is a fact which ought to go a great length in determining the question, whether oxen or horses are the most useful animals for carrying on farm labour ; because mankind are generally pretty sharp-sighted in every matter which affects their interest, and seldom lay aside an established practice, unless the one to be substituted is completely ascertained to be more profitable and advantageous. Independently of this fact, which is incontrovertible, practical agricul turists arc fully sensible, that the operations of plough ing and carting are more expeditiously performed with horses than with oxen ; and this of itself, in such a va riable climate as that of Great Britain, merits serious consideration. When despatch is to be used in finishing a field, or carting home corn in harvest, horses may be pushed at a good step, without doing them much injury ; but oxen, at least those of Great Britain, are unable to undergo such a measure of fatigue. They must be worked at a regular step ; for, if pushed beyond it, they will be completely disabled. On these accounts, we have always considered horses as the most suitable animals for farm-labour especially since farms were en larged, and work regularly executed. In small farms, where circumstances are different, where the plough man is employed in every thing, in the field to-day, and in the barn to-morrow, oxen may be employed with ad vantage ; because such an irregular system of working affords that rest from labour, which the animals confes sedly require : but in a large farm, where the plough man has little to do but to manage his team, and where nine or ten hours' labour must each clay be regularly per formed, the case is materially altered. Oxen will not suit with such a system of management, nor would it be possible to execute the same work as is clone by a pair of horses, without keeping three pair of oxen in their stead. Two pair are necessary at all events, so that they may get sufficient rest, and the other pair would be necessary to make up the deficiency of labour occasioned by their slow motion.
Most of these positions will be admitted by the sup porters of oxen ; but, under the admission, they contend, that the great superiority of oxen over horses consists in the difference betwixt their keep, when worked, and the difference of their values at the conclusion, when they are unfit for work. Oxen, it is said, can be worked without corn ; whereas one-eighth of the corn produced, is consumed upon every farm where horses are em ployed. Again, it is alleged, that oxen improve under the yoke, and, at the age of six or seven years, arc fitter for fattening than at an earlier period ; whereas horseA gradually decline, and at last are worth no more than can be got for their skins. \Ve have stated the argu ments fairly in support of oxen, and shall now olfer our opinion with as much brevity as possible.
In the first place, two horses may be supported through the season on the produce of six acres, viz. three acres of grass and hay, and the corn and straw of three acres of oats ; whereas six oxen will require four acres of grass, at least, through the summer months, with six acres of hay, and two acres of turnips for their winter support, amounting in all to twelve acres, leaving a balance of six acres on the side of horses. The value
of these six acres may be moderately estimated at thirty pounds per annum, which certainly gives a large sinking fund for defraying the tear and wear of the horses. Suppose a pair of horses to be worth one hum dred pounds, the tear and wear of them, at l21- per cent., the usual allowance, is only twelve pounds ten shillings Jeer annum, which leaves the sum of seventeen pounds ten shillings for profit. Perhaps this is a new state of the case, though it is a fair one, and will be realized in every situation, where the active and regular work is executed.
In the second place, the difference of value betwixt oxen and horses, at the end of their labour, does not in validate what we have stated in the slightest manner ; because we have shown, that the horse farmer has a sinking fund in his hand, out of which a total loss may be amply supplied. But, setting accidents aside, (and to these the ox farmer is equally liable with the other,) a total loss will rarely be sustained by a judicious farmer ; because, when he finds a horse failing, he will send him to market immediately, there being always a great de mand for half-wrought horses to supply carriers, higlers, and common carters, from whom full value may be ob tained. If we suppose three-fourths of the original pur chase money to be lost in general cases; that is, when horses are seasonably cast, we shall not be wide of the mark ; but in a comparative view, between oxen and horses, this loss is amply compensated by the difference of keep, when the animals arc employed, which we have in no shape exaggerated.
Upon the whole, it would seem, that oxen, in the natural course of things, ought to be fattened for the butcher as early as possible ; and that horses are the most useful and the cheapest animals for performing farm-labour. Were oxen to be universally employed,it is plain, the produce of the earth would, in a great measure, be consumed by the animals kept to work it, whilst mankind would suffer materially by adopting a system erroneously recommended by some well design ing men, as eminently conducive to their comfort and happiness.
On DRAINAGE CMI IRRIGATION.
The objects of this Chapter may, at first sight, ap pear to be at variance ; as by the one, superfluous mois ture is meant to be removed ; whereas, by the other, water is artificially thrown upon the surface of the earth, (ours( , a 10.op01 Lion thereof received into its bowels. The of the operations to be treated of W ill, however, ren ION the apparent incongruity', both being useful, though in different places and situations, .uid ensuring. important advantages to the husbandman.
? w Miro\ ements are attended iiiii more salutary . fleets, than those accomplished by the removal of SU • 14111011 s 1110i blUIV from arable land ; because, when :-uch moisture is suffered to remain, ploughing can only imperffctly performed, whilst the benefit of manure is in a great measure lost. To carry of superfluous water is, therefore, all important object in the sight of every good farmer, meriting at all times his most assi duous attention.