Seo. 8.] HORSES AND MULES. Hi 



Tlie effects of this resistance are to force the heels together, creating pressure 

 ujion the sensitive parts within the liorny case; estabhsliiiig i'{;yer, by wliich 

 tlie moisture of tlie hoofs is rapidly absorl)ed, rendering the lioofs hard, 

 brittle, and liable to crack, and frequently causing corns, navicular joint 

 lameness, bony deposits to be thrown out from the lateral M-ings or processes 

 of the coffin bones, rendering the animal ]>ermanently lame or unsound. 

 These are but few of the bad effects arising from contraction — enough, how- 

 ever, to serve our purpose at present. 



*' liemcdy. — Preserve a level bearing by making the shoes perfectly flat 

 on the quarters, so as not to interfere with the expansion of the feet. 

 Should contraction already, exist to considerable extent, bevel the shoes 

 slightly outward at the heels, in order to facilitate expansion. Care should 

 be used not to bevel too much, or bulging of the lower part of the hoofs at 

 tlie quarters will be the result. The slioes should in all cases bo forged, and 

 not twisted, as is sometimes done to save trouble b}' the bungling smith. 

 Projjer applications, to soften the horny parts and promote elasticity, should 

 also be iised. Such preparatifms are put up in the form of hoof ointments.'' 



1G4. MulCSi — Few of the farmers of this country are aware what a debt of 

 gratitude they owe George Washington for the introduction of mules into 

 general use for farm purposes. 



Previous to 17S3 tliei'e were but very few, and those of such an inferior 

 order as to prejudice farmers against them as unfit to compete with horses in 

 work upon the road or farm. Consequently there were no good jacks, ar.d 

 no disposition to increase the stock ; but Washington became convinced that 

 the introduction of mules generally among Southern planters M^ould prove 

 to them a great blessing, as they are less liable to disease, and longer liveil, 

 and work u[)on shorter feed, and are much less liable to be injureil by care- 

 less servants than liorses. 



As soon as it became known abroad that the illustrious AVashington de- 

 sired to stock his Mount Vernon estate with mules, the King of Spain sent 

 him a jack and two jennies from the royal stables, and Lafayette sent another 

 jack and jennies from the island of Malta. 



The first was of a gray color, sixteen hands high, heavily made, and of a 

 sluggish Tiaturc. He was named the Royal Gift. The other was called the 

 Knigiit of Malta ; he was about as high, but lighter made, black color, and 

 litlie and fiery, even to ferocity. 



The two different sets of animals gave him the most favorable opportunity 

 of making ini]irovemcnts by cross-breeding, the result of which was a favor- 

 ite jack which he called Compound, because he jiartook of the best jioints in 

 b ith of the original jacks. The General bred his blooded mares to these 

 j:icks, even taking those from his family coach for that puqv-ise, and pro 

 duc(«d such suiicrb mules that the comitrv was all agog to breed some of the 

 same sort, and they soon became quite common. This was tiie origin of 

 improved mules in the United States; though over seventy years since, there 

 is no doubt there are now some of the third and fourth generations of 



