(From the American Farmer.)
On the use of Oxen and deep ploughing in New England, by Josiah Quincy, Esq.
Boston, Nov. 2, 1817.
My dear Sir,
In reply to your inquiries in your last letter I answer:—Oxen are used almost wholly for plough and team work in this quarter of the country. A single horse is usually kept by our principal farmers, to go to mill, and to church, and for the convenience of the family. Occasionally he precedes the oxen at plough, or on the road. This is so universal as to be almost without exception, among mere farmers. They certainly answer all purposes, except perhaps speed; and in this, on a long journey, they are considered as quite equal to horses. But of this our farmers have not many opportunities of comparison, oxen are so universally used. They are "worked" with yokes, and "broken" when very young, pretty much as men break horses.—Our farmers are so satisfied with their utility and economy that no argument would induce them to change.
A very good yoke of oxen will cost when well broke, and about five years old, if well matched and of good size' from 80 to 100 dollars. They continue good, without accident, and with good usage, until ten years old; then they are usually fatted, and bring from the butcher according to their size and fatness from 100 to 120 dollars.
Whether oxen are not more susceptible of heat than horses, I am ignorant. My opinion is that they are. A circumstance in your climate to be ascertained in forming an opinion of their comparative utility.
With respect to "deep ploughing," a considerable change is producing in this state, in the opinion and practice of farmers in this respect. Deep ploughing begins to be more general than formerly. I should state five inches to be the most approved practice, on turning up the sord for corn. With respect to deepening it for other crops, after the sord is broken, it depends upon the nature of the crop and the resources of the farmer, and also the state of his soil. My own rule is never to lay down land to grass until it has been turned up to the depth of fourteen inches. But my practice is peculiar, as I carry a regular succession of, 1st corn, 2d potatoes, 3d carrots, 4th grain, 5th grass, over my whole farm; considering, as I do, that carrots is of all farm products the most profitable, and using them as the test of the actual state of the depth of tilth on my farm.
Undoubtedly when the depth of ploughing pass the old tilth, and enters upon the virgin soil, "manuring" must be in proportion to the depth of the virgin soil, which you turn, otherwise you sacrifice present crop to future crops;—a practice very discouraging to any farmer.
I enclose you the newspaper account of our last cattle show. A more detailed statement will appear in our Repository.
Respectfully,
I am your humble servant,
JOSIAH QUINCY.
Geo. W. Jeffries, Esq.