THE MULE. S31 



their full worth on the farm, have entirely discarded horses for farm-work, knowing from 

 actual experience, that mules make a far more economical farm team than do horses.&quot; 



Although mules will thrive on coarser and considerably less fare than horses, yet it is 

 always the most economical and pays best to give either horses or mules, or in fact any kind 

 of stock, a plenty of good food without overfeeding them. We believe the mule should be 

 fed with as good food as horses, and that they require as much in proportion to their size. 



Breeding Mules. The breeding of mules in America began with much spirit in the 

 New England States, soon after the Revolutionary war. They were then bred as an article 

 of commerce, being at first shipped exclusively to the West Indies, but afterwards to the 

 South and West, for use in the sugar-mills, and other plantation work. At first the breeding 

 animals were very inferior, both sires and dams, the stock produced being held in derision 

 where they were bred, but in those days anything blessed with long ears, and called a mule, 

 commanded a remunerative price and ready sale. As a natural consequence, a prejudice 

 was established against the whole mule family, which has to this period never been entirely 

 removed in certain localities. 



The improved mule, an American production and superior animal, has been largely 

 introduced in the West, and to some extent all over the country, besides being imported to 

 Europe quite extensively. The size of the mule most profitable to raise for use in the West 

 and South is from fourteen and a half to fifteen and a half or sixteen hands in height, since, 

 other conditions being equal, size is the measure of strength. It is found in mule-breeding 

 that the jack should be a spirited animal, and not less than fifteen hands high, and that the 

 best mules result from crossing such with improved blooded mares. The noted jacks, Mam- 

 mouth and Warrior, which have so improved the stock of this country, were imported to 

 Kentucky from Spain about the year 1837, at a cost of $5,000 each. These animals were 

 sixteen hands high, of fine quality, and greatly improved the size of the jack stock by their 

 crossing with the common jennets of the State. They were the result of crossing the jacks 

 of Malta with jennets of Spain. 



In breeding mules, it is highly important that the jack be of the height previously men 

 tioned, in order that the progeny be of good size; also that they be intelligent, active, and 

 spirited animals, that these other good qualities be also perpetuated. It is likewise of equal 

 importance that the best mares be used, blooded mares, and, as a general rule, the finer 

 the mare the better the mule product, unless too small. 



Mr. E. F. Spencer of Kentucky, a gentleman of large and successful experience in mule- 

 breeding, gives the result of his observation and experience in this department as follows: 



&quot; During the breeding season, beginning here in March, the jack should have a lot suffi 

 ciently large to supply him with grass at night; but in the day he should be kept in a tight 

 stable. The lot should be located, if possible, where no horse stock can come to the fence; 

 for if they do, a vigorous jack will fret through the night and may become vicious, and some 

 times will bite horses through the fence. 



They frequently fret from this cause till they get poor in flesh and unserviceable. If 

 permitted to run in the lot during the day, you may feed him, three times a day, four to six 

 ears of good sound corn, and two bundles of sheaf oats, cut up to the band. I have found 

 by experience this to be the better plan. If the breeder has no grass lot, he should feed corn 

 and oats, the latter cut fine enough to make chop feed. This is a feed composed of oats cut 

 up and corn-meal ground fine fine enough for family purposes. Put a little salt, if not 

 every time it is fed, at least frequently; and don t feed too much at first, to avoid founder 

 or the new meal may cause colic. 



A jack should be permitted to serve one or two mares at two years of age; but be care 

 ful not to breed the jack intended for mares to jennets before you have bred him to at least 

 half a dozen mares; and, in breeding, do not let him serve more than two a day, one in the 



