Lancaster Farming Saturday. Nov. 15, 1975 56 Colonial Farmers Used Oxen, Got More Power for Less Feed -—■ r ” - * * _ While oxen were the earlv beasts of burden, farmers and their Mixes performed the field work in grain harvesting Most of the labor on Colom al farms was provided b\ men Seeding cultivating harvesting and manv other (arm operations w ere perform ed with crude tools and the sweat and muscle ot the farm tamilv Oxen and horses were used onlv to plow and harrow and to haul hav and gram in from the fields And on most (arms oxen were much prelerred to horses As Benjamin hranklin observed in 17b9 The tar mers are more thnv mg m those parts of the countrv where cattle are used than in those where the labour is done bv horses The latter are said to require twice the quantitv of food to maintain them and after all are not good to eat At least we do not think so Unlike horses oxen could subsist without gram In the summer thev could graze on pasture and in the winter thev could live on hav and torn stalk fodder W hen thev were no longer strong enough to be used as draft animals thev could be fattened and slaughtered tor the table Oven were tough creatures much hardier than the horses of colonial America and could haul heat v loads over lon# distances without tiring Far mers in Pennsvhama used limestone to tmprov e the pro duttivilv of their fields And while thee could pick up the stones from their fields thee needed to transport the stone 4 to kilns where the\ were heat td until thev crumbled to a powdtrv dust Thejourntv to the kiln and back was often vtrv long Teams of oven although thev moved slowlv could be depended upon to make the journev to the kilns and back SERVICE IS OUR BUSINESS READY MIX CONCRETE FOR EVERY PURPOSE A DIVISION OF A G KURTZ & SONS INC •Crushed Stone •Ready Mixed Concrete •Asphalt Paving DENVER RDI PHONE 267-7591 One farmer who was also a comment al limestone dealer reported I find with m_v two oxen 1 tan do more work than I could with four horses and at halt the expense Mv oxen go to the lime kiln once a week twentv one milts in the morning and return the next dav in the torenoon After resting two hours thev go to work Horses cannot do this One Colonial observer re ported that in his area \l most all the work on farms was done with oxen «nd m driving bis cattle the old sett ler would halloo with all his might and swear profuselv 1 his protamtv and halloing Oven were driven without guidelines turning on shouted commands from the farmer — gee ’ meant right ' haw left were thought to be net es--arv \ettssarv or not tht ovtn ot tht dav were driven without guidelines a teat which would have been impossible with horse-* At the shouted tom mancl ot the driver the oven would get to tht right or haw to tht It ft or thev might also follow tht lead ot his long w hip In those davs the melh oils In which oven were hitch td to farm implements and vt hie Its wert as trudt* as tht implements themselves Traces and lines were ropes made ot hemp flax twisted dier skin and sometimes grape vines Haines were made ot crooked limbs or roots Too the ox voke was muih cheaper than harness another reason horses weren t found on too manv earlv \metic .i n (arms. Not until tanning became common was leather harness available al a reasonable price 1 hi slow and plane! ox was belter suited tor use on hdlv or roc kv land and on new ground that was full ot slumps than the more high strung horse Horses were used ex ttnsivelv though to travel the treacherous roads of the turn where the use ot vehicles was prattle all v impossible When roads were improved tspeuallv alter turnpikes wtie built horses began to grad uallv replace oven as draft animals The development ot horst drawn mathinerv he ginning about 1810 tom pleled the displacement ot ovtn although manv vokt of tank wire kept on hill side (arms on up to the time til the C iv >1 U ar g|B^99 Know Your Snow Thrower |>IIM I In till* 'MOM IIIM-VS SOU I Ills \V 11H •• I I < .1111 11' ll' l your Niloss I lirosvfi ssi'i'ls ,111(1 SVI-II ll\ lolloSSIIU! 111' I '* tested tip-. Hum \pi 1 1 1 - .it ill,. (luliioiM I’owei i ( pup m»*nt InsUtvih Mil 1 Kememhei alssiv- to read the ownei -> manual lest your machine .mcl he< onn familiar with it helore ,n tempting to throw the snow 2 Never direct discharge This product and other antmal health products available from vour local feed and (arm siipplv dealers serviced In ROY ERICKSON COMPANY Il.misonbtii U \*i JJSIII THE RIGHT QUESTIONS TO ASK US BEFORE YOU BUY A NEW TRACTOR: Is the tractor really new 7 The International® 1066 Turbo with 125* pto hp or any new 66 Series tractor offers really new tractor features New engines New quiet sound hydraulic couplers new styling new comfort What about power? IH big cu in displacement engines develop high torque extra pull power that means steady plowing less gear shifting What about comfort 7 Official tests show our new Deluxe Safety Cab is one of industry s quietest Solid protective frame provides built in rollover protection Air conditioning heater defroster available Two doors for easy access What about service? We have the know-how and that parts to give you fast dependable service What about price? You II find any 66 Series tractor when compar ably equipped like others in its hp class is priced right The proof of performance is in the field You owe it to yourself to try before you buy Mir tst rn ix hr, Hi Ask us about the 1066 or any of the new IH 66 Series tractors.-* • Check your IH dealer for details on a special works tour to Louisville in early 76. • Buy now - sure 10 percent Investment Credit. MESSICK FARM EQUIP. C. B. HOOBER & SON ELIZABETHTOWN COPE & WEAVER CO. NEW PROVIDENCE SWOPE & BASHORE, INC. MYERSTOWN RDI iFrystown) 717 933 4138 INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER Oakwood Lane at Rt 873 'Near Neffs (Schnecksville Pa) 215 767 3806 or 437 4813 .il liystanders or allow anyone 4. Keep machine > n in front ol the machine—de operating condition and in*,.., linn may be bidden m the safety devices in place snow Follow these tips Mm , ;i. Adjust height to clear you'll b* clearing a path i„ gravel or crushed rock surface snow thrower safety CEB TRAMISOL'fFgfI levarmsole HCI most effective swine wormer ,=S3a tut m you can use I 1 <d> • V y wmuii V- «n ».i. ii ✓ MKCTIMS CONTROLS LUNGWORMS, LARGE ROUNDWORMS. AND NODULAR WORMS. NO OTHER WORMER GETS ALL THREE. AVAILABLE FROM YOUR FAVORITE ANIMAL HEALTH SUPPLIER 717 367 1319 HERITAGE INTERNATIONAL, INC. 717 786 7351 1054 S Stalest 717 733 2283 lAMB'S FARM MACHINERY INTERCOURSE R. S. BOLLINGER & SON MOUNTVILLE ERB & HENRY EQUIP. INC. 22 26 Henry Ave New Berlmville PA I Mite North of Boyertown Phone 215 367 2169 (f n 717 786 8231 Ephrata Pft 717 285 4538
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