518 



Missouri Agricultural Report. 



ganization does something to encourage the few men who are 

 now striving for better draft horses. 



You know Missouri has long been noted for her beautiful 

 saddle horses and good mules, and that is all right, but the time 

 is coming when we must give more attention to the heavier 

 breeds or lose our prestige as a mule-producing State. 



Good property on any farm. 



While we have been fussing with Kentucky as to who had 

 the best saddle horses, and have been raising mules with only 

 Kentucky and Tennessee as competitors, other states have been 

 growing rich raising big dependable drafters. But things are 

 changing gradually, and Iowa, Illinois and Kansas realize what 

 kind of mules they can produce with their splendid draft mares, 

 and they are doing it. 



Ira G. Sharp, Sharpsburg, 111., who showed the grand cham- 

 pion mule this year at many state fairs, including our own, told 

 me that that mule was out of a 1,900-pound Percheron mare. 

 He didn't say, but I am sure the sire was a big Missouri jack. 



I am having double the inquiries for jacks from Illinois men 

 that I had three years ago. They can buy a jack in Missouri 

 that is standing for $10 and get $15 for his services. Why? 

 Because the farmers are well stocked with grand, big mares; 

 therefore are able to pay, and then the mule from that class of 



