204 THE HORSE IN AMERICA 



hot be worked and is on good grass, and fed 

 lightly on grain, the colt will grow finely, if the 

 mare gives plenty of milk; if she does not the foal 

 should be taught to eat such feed as is most suit- 

 able. 



"The colt should be well cared for at all times, 

 and particularly while following its mother, for 

 the owner may want to sell at weaning time, 

 which is four months old, and its inches then will 

 fix the price. Good mules, at weaning time, usual- 

 ly bring from $75 to $90, and sometimes as high 

 as $100. 



"Feeders, dealers, and buyers prefer the mare 

 mule to the horse, and they sell more readily. 

 The females mature earlier, are plumper and 

 rounder of body, and fatten more readily than 

 the male. 



In weaning the colt, much is accomplished by 

 proper treatment preparatory to this trying event 

 in the mule's life. It should be taught to eat while 

 following its mother, so that when weaned it will 

 at once know how to subsist on that which is fed 

 to it. The best way to wean is to take several colts 

 and place them in a close barn, with plenty of 



