THE BREEDING OF MULES 193 



easily kept, very hardy, and no path is too pre- 

 cipitous or mountain trail too difficult for one of 

 them with its burden. The mule enjoys compara- 

 tive immunity from disease, and lives to a com- 

 paratively great age. The writer knows of a mule 

 in Middle Tennessee that, when young, was a 

 beautiful dapple gray, but is now thirty years old, 

 and is as white as snow. This mule is so faithful 

 and true, and has broken so many young things 

 to work by his side, that he bears the name of 

 ' Counsellor. ' The last time he was seen by the 

 writer he was in a team attached to a reaper, 

 drawing at a rate sufficient to cut fifteen acres of 

 grain per day. 



"Kentucky mules are showy, upheaded, fine- 

 haired animals, their extra qualities being attrib- 

 utable to the strong, Thoroughbred blood in the 

 greater part of their dams. The same may be said 

 of Tennessee, where it is thought the climactic in- 

 fluences produce a little better, smoother, and 

 finer hair, coupled with early maturity, which 

 qualities are much prized by an expert buyer. 



" The mules in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and 

 some of the so-called Northwestern states, have 



