MULES AND JACKS 183 



Chicago market calls for a somewhat higher animal. 

 The cotton or sugar mule that stands sixteen hands should 

 weigh 1050 to 1350 pounds. The class of mules that 

 is used on the sugar plantations is of the best quality, 

 owing to the fact that the sugar plantations are worked by 

 wealthy syndicates that could not afford to use poor mules. 

 They show a very smooth finish, a marked refinement 

 about the head and neck and a fine quality of bone. In 

 fact, no class is superior to the sugar mule in smoothness 

 and finish. The sugar class of mules shows also greater 

 uniformity in quality, height and weight than do those 

 used for any other purpose. Cotton 

 mules, as a rule, are poorly graded, 

 and lack the uniformity observed in 

 the sugar class. Both cotton and sugar 

 mules begin service, usually, at three or 

 four years of age, although some at five 

 years ; but they are at their best when 

 six to nine or ten years of age. 



(2) Lumber mules. For the neces- 

 sities of the woods, where mules are 

 used in great numbers for purposes of 

 lumbering, a very heavy, strong and 

 rugged animal is needed; hence, we 

 find the lumber mules extremely tall 

 and large, usually fifteen to seventeen 

 or more hands in height. Quality is 

 not of so much importance as the FIG. 31. A good rep- 

 ability to do hard and rough work, 

 and much of it; therefore, weight 

 is especially essential. There is great variation in 

 this class of mules, everything being sacrificed except- 

 ing capacity to do hard work, ruggedness to endure 



