78 On the French mode of yoking Ozen.

The 0x Should only be employed from his fourth to his tenth year« But the principal object of this paper is to explain our engraying. It is in vain that we Select he most fit animal forthe-purpoze of labour, unless we avail ourgelves ofthe full extent of his powers, by attending to the mechanical laws concerned in tbeir application.

The vsual form of tbe yoke is a frame of wood fitted over the necks oſ the oxen, whereby they are coupled, and har- Dnessed to the plough. It consists of Several parts, as the yoke properly 8o called, which is a thick piece of wood, lying over hie neck; the bow, which compasses the neck about; the Stitehings and wreathings, which hold the bow fast in the yoke, and the yoke-ring and ox-chain.

This method is evidently founded on a total mistake in the afiatomy of the ox. We have imitated the gear used with the Hhotse, without:considering that the Strength and agility of the 0x is placed by nature in a different Situation. The neck of the ox is a tower of strength; if the Soil resist, he projects this Part of his form with that prodigious muscular force with which She has provided him for his own defence, but without attend- ing to-her operations, we impose a load of timber on his witbers; we lacerate his eSh, andpress him down to the earth.

|Alively traveller thus deseribes the yoke employed in France. The peasant“ passes a piece of wood,'of about one Sixth of the weight ofthe english yoke, across the forehead of his cattle, having previously neatly hollowed out the extremities of it to fit the mould of tbe head, and lined those hollows with a Plete 6f woolly Sheep-skin, to answer the purpose of a Soft pad, or'Cushion: This light and easy yoke, he braces to the horns with a Small thong of leather, atiaches the beam of his plough to te middle part of it, and the animal 15 completely equipped för his labour." We are indebted to the Same writer(he Rev. W. Hughes) for the plate, and we trust our readers will fid, on examination, thatit is'Suficiently accurate.

We Shall close our observations with Some cursory remarks ;0n the Syperiority of the foreign yoke. In therfirst place it i5 well known that the greatest Impediment to rustic Improve- ment, is the deficiehcy of capital: and the litile property of the fanner, 18 100 oſten consumed in' expensive Implements.-- Awongdhese the article of gear 15 an'oppressive annual charge from the perishable vature ofthe commodity employed. The tackle here recommended for twelve oxen wonld not amount törgix and thurty Shillings, whereas the leathern harness for the zame number of ammals according to t3e new method, would cost Six and thirty pounds, and the annual expence ot repairs, wontd.exceed thrice the original cost of the former.

By thi3 mode ofgyoking, at least one third more of the power of he animal is obtained. In the common way, tbe Shoulder