608 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



increased. A combination of apparently trivial things like this serves 

 to increase the ultimate profits. A mule is merely a hybrid animal and as 

 such does not breed, but there are good hybrids as well as poor ones, 

 and poor, undersized, stubborn and weedy mules are even more worthless 

 than are horses of the same order, unsalable as well as unprofitable. 



To head the breeding stud, no little attention is needed in the selec- 

 tion of a fine, healthy, good-natured and well-developed jack. Some 

 years ago it was a difficult and expensive matter to secure such an ani- 

 mal, or even his services, but now there are numerous firms and indi- 

 viduals who make a business, and a large one, of breeding as well as 

 importing high-class jacks, from whom fine ones can be bought at a 

 reasonable price. If the string of mares you start with is small, you can 

 usually make a good interest on your investment in the jack by per- 

 mitting him to serve others' mares in the neighborhood, or you can have 

 one or two neighbors join in the purchase and use; but permit one who 

 has tried both methods to advise the former, else there may be cause, 

 ere long, for dissatisfaction, dissension, and trouble, while the jack may 

 and no doubt will suffer through the separated ownership. Better own 

 him yourself and then charge a moderate fee for service, thus absolutely 

 controlling matters yourself. 



To many it may seem strange to say that at one time, the ass pos- 

 sessed extraordinary speed and also endurance in an unequaled degree, 

 which latter he still has rightful claim to. In Mesopotamia, large herds 

 of wild asses abounded and were eagerly hunted by the nobility and con- 

 sidered fine sport. It required the services of fleet-footed greyhounds to 

 run them down, and even these animals often failed to do so, running one 

 down being considered an extraordinary feat. Near Bassorah, a town of 

 Asiatic Turkey, not far from the Persian gulf, there now exists a famous 

 breed of white asses whose lineage dates back to the Kings of Judah. 

 These are bred there with the most careful methods, and as much pains 

 is taken to breed them pure and of great individual excellence as is given 

 by our noted horse-breeders in this country to their thoroughbreds. In 

 their particular line, they compare with the famous Arabian horses. Why 

 some of our enterprising breeders have not secured some of these remark- 

 able Bassorah animals is rather strange. 



The jack possesses unusual sexual vigor, and is capable of reproduc- 

 tion at the age of two years, though it is best not to permit him to 

 serve many mares before he is from two and one-half to three years of 

 age, when he is capable of serving nearly or quite twice as many marea 

 as is a stallion without any injury to his pro-creative powers or to his 

 ability to produce first-class colts. Unlike a stallion, he is gentle and not 

 at all or at any time dangerous to handle or be with, and if kindly 

 treated can be fondled and handled even during the breeding season, 

 which is in the spring, as May and June colts are usually considered the 

 best. 



While there are many small and undersized mules, the average size Is 

 gradually and steadily increasing, due to better care in breeding and to 

 better food and housing when they are young and growing. If stunted 

 early in life, no amount of after care and food will remedy the neglect 

 or inattention. There are many instances of large size in mules, one 



