MULE EAISING. 185 



be maintained on far inferior kind of food to that required by the horse. The 

 difficulty which presents itself in rearing him to the same perfection in the 

 colder regions as in the warmer is, that the male parent cannot be brought 

 to perfection in the formei^ This is a difficulty, however, which does not 

 apply to those extensive regions of our own favored land, Avhicli have been 

 largely given to the production of the mule. In the famous blue-grass region, 

 ■which spreads over a large portion of the great basin styled the valley of the 

 Mississippi, the well-selected jacks and jennies have been almost naturalized, 

 and, under the influence of abundant food and a suitable climate, with judicious 

 care and skill in their breeding, they have really improved upon our hands 

 since their introduction among us ; and the American mules, many of which 

 may claim high blood on the side of their dams, will compare most favorably 

 with those of any other portion of the world. In the mule we have the size 

 and activity of the horse, combined with the form and hardihood of the ass, 

 while he surpasses both his parents in sare-footedness and in longevity, and 

 has more endurance and greater power of recuperation from fitigne and ex- 

 haustion when excessively Avorked. Well-bred mules are as spirited, and 

 equally active, or even quicker than horses, if perfectly broken. They will 

 walk fast, and in the draught they pull even more steadily. Their intelligence 

 is so great that they may be trained very readily either to the line or to the 

 word, and many splendid, large teams are driven, even over rough ground 

 where there is scarcely any road, perfectly guided by the voice of the teamster, 

 aided only by the loud crack of his whip, Avhich they understand as a sound 

 of encouragement rather than as an intimation of impending torture. 



Since the commencement of the rebellion the routine of the mule trade has 

 been diverted from the usual course of former years, and the immense ex'ent 

 of the government transportation has directed attention to this branch of in- 

 dustry. Hence the value of this animal has become of such increased proper 

 tions, that the raising and feeding of mules has attracted much attention. 



In the procreation of these creatures the selection of the jack is of the first 

 importance. Great improvement has been made in the mule since the intro- 

 duction of the Spanish jack into this country, which has resulted in giving us 

 animals that come to maturity earlier than the old Maltese stock, besides 

 having more size and better action. In the production of mules for govern- 

 ment use the jack should be from fourteen to fifteen hands high, with a good 

 length of body, depth of chest, and with a round barrel, as indications of a 

 good constitution. He should have heavy, flat-boned limbs, a long, thin face, 

 with, fine, thin under jaw-bones. His ears should be carried upright, and they 

 must not be too thick. The animal should have a sprightly temper and ap- 

 pearance, as these qualities will almost alwa.ys be transmitted to his progeny. 



The jack must be fed Avith a view to the maintenance of the greatest physi- 

 cal vigor, so as to produce an even lot of colts, and to this end he should 

 rarely be allowed to serve more than fifty mares during the season of three 

 months. He should be provided with such food as will give him strength 

 without inducing feverishness. Natural exercise, Avitli the freedom of a grass 

 lot, should always be allowed, when practicable. Animals designed for cross- 

 ing with mares should be kept from any intercourse Avith their own kind, as 

 they often become entirely useless for cross-breeding Avhen alloAved contact 

 with their OAvn species. 



For the production of mules, mares should be selected that liaA-e large, 

 roomy bodies on short, strong limbs. They should have good, sprightly tem- 

 pers, and, Avhen attainable, the more they have of cross Avith the thorough-bred 

 horse, the better, if the above requisite of form and strength shall have been 

 preserA'ed. 



In the west the jack is generally owned by the mule-feeder, who places him 

 upon a stand sometimes having two or more stations, and moves him from one 



