Mig“) THE UTILITY OF OXEN IN: AGRICULTURE, Far the Commercial and Agricultural Magazine.

T has been repeatedly aſſerted by a writer, thoroughly prai- cal on the ſubje&,

1/4, That certain breeds of oxen in this country, are equally capable with horſes of the utmoſt degree of ſpeed that is uſually exerted, either at plough and cart, in the farmer’s ſervice, or in that of the ſtage waggons upon the roads.

24, That the true and only reaſon of that inferiority in the endurance of labour, charged upon the ox, in compariſon with the horſe, ſubſiſts merely in the irrational and mean ſpirited folly of thoſe œconomifſts, who expe ſuch a conveniént anomaly in nature, as that one animal ſháll perform the ſame labour, with the moſt flight, worthleſs, and flimſy ſuſtenance, for the per- formance of which another animal, of nearly a ſimilar ſpecies, requires the moſt ſubſtantial.

3d, That the opponents of the revival of the good old cuſtom of uſing oxen for draught, are, to a man, either a@uated by prejudice, deceived by mere ſpeculative and groundleſs calcula- tions of private advantage, or draw their concluſions from an acquaintance with the labours of the ſlow, thick hided, long horned câttle of the middle counties only.

4th, That in various parts of the continent of Europe, and in the united fates of America, oxen perform all the labour of ſlow draught, and in certain diſtri&s of this country, all the agricultural part of it, equally well, to all intents, as horſes ever did, or ever could perform it.

Now, Mr. Editor, T think this moſt important national queſ- tion is brought to a point, and indeed a very narrow and tan< gible one, and I hereby ſubmit it to the inſtant diſcuſſion and determination of your country friends, who are well known to be amongſt the moſt eminent for agricultural ſcience and prac- tice in the three kingdoms. May your magazine, celebrated. as it is for an extenſive circulation throughout the country, have the credit of deciding this intereſting queſtion. 1 hereby call upon all your experienced correſpondents for their impartial de- ciſion,

Suppofing, in the interim, the niain point undecided, it is well worth while to contemplate the imrnenſe Concernment of the œconomical reform, at which we aim, that we may be the more ânimated, and refólved to conquer thoſe obſtacies which impede our courſe. The comparative ſtate of our conſumption, and our growth of the firſt neceſlaries of human ſubſiſtence, is too feelingly known, norare our. fears for the future much leſs impreſſive. Under ſuch circumſtances, can there be a moment’s heſitation about the gradual exchange of ſome hundreds of thouſands 6f devouring cart horſes, each of which conſume