MANAGEMENT 263 



sugar farms of the South, where the work is done largely by 

 negro labor, and where it has to be done under intense heat. 



On the other hand, the horse is slightly less expensive to 

 rear. The cross between the mare and the jack shows a lower 

 percentage of fertility than that between the mare and the stal- 

 lion. Moreover, during the early period of infancy, the mule 

 col:; is more susceptible to injury and sickness than the horse 

 col 1 :, though afterwards the advantage is on the other side. An- 

 other advantage on the side of the horse, particularly in Northern 

 cities, is his greater size and capacity for drawing heavy loads 

 over paved streets. Again, his feet are believed by many to 

 stand the pounding on stone pavements better than those of 

 the mule. Still another advantage on the side of the horse is 

 the fact that the teamsters of the Northern cities are more accus- 

 tomed to the horse than the mule, and therefore will generally buy 

 him in preference. This is an important item for the farmer who 

 expects to sell his mature and seasoned animals to city buyers. 

 However, the market for mules in the South is a partial offset 

 to this ; but if there were as many mules grown as there are 

 horses, this market would soon be oversupplied. Were it not 

 for the larger market for the horse, it would seem that the pa- 

 tience and steady endurance of the mule would fit him so ad- 

 mirably for farm work, where there are fewer occasions than in 

 cities for short and sharp exertions of great strength, as to cause 

 a great increase of his numbers, particularly in the hay and 

 grain farms of the great central area of the United States. 



Mechanical power. As stated above, where stationary power 

 is needed, mechanical power is beyond all question more eco- 

 nomical and efficient than animal power. The use of mechan- 

 ical ' power for traction also is increasing, and will doubtless 

 continue to increase, but that it will ever completely displace 

 animal power is more than doubtful. Where a suitable road- 

 bed is prepared, mechanical is proving superior to animal power 



