AGKICULTURE. 229 



apiece. The Clydesdale and Flemish are considered the most 

 valuable for crossing with the Californian mares, the offspring 

 being lai'ge, strong farm-horses, worth twice as much in the 

 market as the pure Californian. The thoroughbred horses in 

 California are of the purest blood, and some of them have few 

 superiors in speed in any country. 



§ 168. 3£ules. — Nearly all the farm work of California, 

 where draught animals are necessary, is done with horses. 

 Mules are too dear and oxen are too slow. A great number 

 of mules and horses are used in packing merchandise in those 

 districts where there are no good wagon-roads. For the or- 

 dinary uses of the farm the mule is preferable to the horse, 

 being longer-lived, more healthy, not so much injured physi- 

 cally or morally by ill-treatment, and contented Avith much 

 cheaper and simpler food. But the mule is not considered 

 handsome, and the small farmer wants a horse which he can 

 ride, and with which he can take his fixmily out, so he never 

 gets a mule. Mules are now used on very few farms, but I 

 think they will gradually gain in fovor. Few mules are bred 

 in the state at present, but there are some excellent jacks in 

 Contra Costa county and in the San Joaquin valley. 



§ 169. Camels. — Some camels have been introduced into 

 California, but they are as yet few in number, and have been 

 here but a short time. Our experience with them is therefore 

 small, and we do not know what value they are to have in the 

 future. They a^-e healthy, increase, thrive on our wild pas- 

 tures, are strong and active, climb our rugged mountains as 

 well as horses or mules, carry loads of one thousand pounds 

 each, go three or four days at a time without water, and are 

 readily managed ; but they have not been tried in a regular 

 business way, and such trial is necessary before we can tell 

 what they are to be. 



§ 170. Sheep. — The climate of California is peculinrly favor- 

 able to the growth, increase, and health of the sheep. Our 

 mild winters permit them to grow throughout tlie year; and 

 it is an accepted principle : mong those familiar with the sub- 



