256 THE HANDBOOK FOR PRACTICAL FARMERS 



sibly the form of the Shire is more massive and more powerfully 

 built, hut it lacks the action of the Clydesdale. The Shire is not 

 as popular in America though a number have been imported 

 from time to time. 



Suffolk. — This breed is a native of England and though vary- 

 ing in uniformity, possesses many desirable qualties. Formerly 

 there were several tribes of Suffolks, such as the Blake tribe, 

 Wright tribe, and the Boxer tribe. In more recent years there 

 has been cooperation in the improvement so these strains have 

 merged. 



In conformation the Suffolk is somewhat smaller than the 

 other draft breeds, the w^eight varying from 1600 to 2000 pounds, 

 the height from sixteen hands to seventeen hands. However, 

 the body is characterized by good depth. Chestnut and bay are 

 the characteristic colors. The Suffolk is the least known of the 

 draft breeds in America. 



Breeds of ponies. — The breeds of ponies are characterized by 

 their small size, though there is wide variation in both size and 

 conformation. The Shetland pony, a native of the Shetland 

 Islands, is the smallest and in some respects, the most important. 

 In form this pony resembles a small draft horse. The weight 

 varies from two hundred and fifty to five hundred pounds and 

 the height from thirty- two to forty-four inches. All colors are 

 found, but black, brown and spotted are most common. The 

 Shetland is popular in America. 



The Welsh pony is a native of Wales. In form this pony 

 resembles the Thoroughbred, but is much smaller, weighing four 

 hundred to seven hundred and fifty pounds and ranging in height 

 from fort3"-eight to fifty-six inches. This breed is of active tem- 

 perament and not so popular in America. 



Arabian and hackney ponies are similar to the Arabian and 

 hackney breeds already described, with the exception of the size, 

 the weight varying from six hundred to eight hundred pounds 

 and the height under fifty-six inches. 



The mule. — This is not a breed, but is a hybrid, the result of a 

 cross between a jack and a mare. In view of the fact that the 

 older countries of the earth have been propagating mules for 

 centuries, it seems strange that it should be left for the United 

 States to prove this animal's economic usefulness. This recog- 

 nition of the mule 's value is very largely due to the intelligence 

 of our southerners who were the first to adapt it to general pur- 

 poses. 



Being a cross between a jack and a mare, the mule differs from 



