MULE RAISING. 



189 



mule to a suitable size than a horse ; that less time is required to prepare a 

 lot of mules than a lot of colts for the market ; that young mules may be sold 

 readily at any period and in any amount ; and more than this, that they uni- 

 formly command a higher price than a drove of horse colts of similar relative 

 quality and value. Moreover, it may have become apparent that mules are 

 subject to fewer diseases, that they are less liable to serious accidents, and 

 that they are altogether more certain of producing satisfactory results from 

 their production than horses. All of which may be set down as well-estab- 

 lished axioms. The fact remains, (whether explained or not, is immaterial, ) 

 that the mules of the United States have greatly increased in numbers during 

 the decade between the census returns, as will appear by a comparison of the 

 tables furnished by the Census Bureau ; and we have every reason to believe 

 that at present the siipply is keeping up with the demand, notwithstanding the 

 terrible exhaustion, both of men and mules, consequent upon the fearful war 

 that has consigned so many of both to early graves. The census tables show 

 that the number of mules produced has increased in a greater ratio than those 

 of any other kind of farm stock, and that from 1850 to 1860 the total number 

 of these animals had more than doubled. 



The comparative figures below are extracted from the preliminary report of 

 the eighth census. They show at a glance the great increase of mules during 

 the ten years from 1850 to 1860 in some of the States where they are most 

 extensively employed in agricultural labors. Asses are included, but their 

 numbers are comparatively so small as not materially to aflfect the result. 



Table sJiowing the number of mules and asses in the United States. 



Alabama 



Arkansas 



California 



Delaware 



Florida 



Georgia 



Kentucky 



Louisiana 



Maryland - 



Mississippi 



Missouri 



North Carolina 



South Carolina 



Tennessee 



Texas 



Virginia 



The grand total in the whole United States at the 

 same period 



1850. 



59, 895 

 11,559 



1,666 

 791 



5,002 

 57,379 

 Qo, 609 

 44, 849 



5,644 

 54,547 

 41,667 

 25, 259 

 37, 483 

 75, 303 

 12, 463 

 21,483 



1860. 



108,701 



44, 158 



13, 744 



2,294 



10, 909 



101,069 



117,639 



92, 259 



9,829 



112, 488 

 80,941 

 51,388 

 66, 456 



119,221 

 63, 000 

 41,014 



1, 129, 553 



Increase of mules in ten years, 570,222. 



In drawing the consideration of this subject to a conclusion, it is to be re- 

 gretted that it has been found impossible to collect reliable data upon some 

 points of great interest to the farmers and economists of the country in regard 

 to these animals. The absolute cost of breeding and rearing a mule to a sale- 

 able age could not be ascertained, nor could the comparative expense of rear- 

 ing a horse colt be learned with any better success. 



