CHAPTER VI 



MULES AND JACKS 



By Charles Wm. Burkett 



THE MULE is a hybrid, a cross between the horse 

 and the ass. An offspring of the male ass or jack and the 

 mare is known as a mule, 

 while the progeny of a stal- 

 lion and a female ass is 

 designated as a hinny. 



213. History. The mule 

 has been known from the 

 earliest times, some of the 

 old Roman writers having 

 discussed it in their descrip- 

 tions of Roman agriculture. 



In America, the mule has 

 been in use from colonial 

 days. As early as 1591, 

 jacks were brought to this 

 country by the Spaniards. 

 The first of the kind, no 

 doubt, went to Mexico. 

 One of the first men to en- 

 gage in the production of 

 mules was General Washington. The superior qualities 

 of the mule were early recognized by southern planters. 



214. Description. The mule is more valuable than 

 the hinny, since it has greater size, more style, finish 



181 



'v 



FIG. 30. Pair of sugar mules. 



