THE BREEDING OF MULES 207 



barn, with a nice smooth lot attached, and plenty 

 of pure water. A manger should be built in the lot, 

 four feet wide by four feet high, and long enough 

 to accommodate the number of mules it is de- 

 sired to feed. This should be covered over by a 

 shed high enough for the mule to stand under, to 

 prevent the clover from wilting. The clover 

 should be cut while the dew is on, as this pre- 

 serves Jhe aroma, and they like it better. While 

 this is going on in the lot, the troughs and racks 

 in the barns should be supplied with all the shell- 

 ed corn (maize) the mules will eat. * Why shell it ? ' 

 some one will ask. Because they eat more of 

 it, and relish it. A valuable addition at all times 

 consists of either short-cut sheaf oats, or shelled 

 oats, and bran, if not too expensive. 



"From this time the mule should be pressed 

 with all the richest of feed, if it is desired to make 

 it what is termed in mule parlance, 'hog fat.' 

 Ground barley, shelled oats, bran, and shelled 

 corn, should be given, not forgetting to salt regu- 

 larly all the while, nor omitting the hay and green 

 corn blades. While all those are essential, oats 

 and bran, although at some places expensive, are 



