678 THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



The principal mule-market in the United States is St. Louis, 

 where they are brought from Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, 

 and Illinois, and shipped to all parts of the Southern States, to 

 Cuba, and recently a European trade has sprung up. 



Breeding and Breaking Mules. In breeding mules the 

 same laws govern that lead to success in breeding horses. At- 

 tention must be had to the use for which they are intended. 

 Pack-mules for use on mountains and rough lands, sire bred from 

 fine, active, compact Spanish jacks. These mules are agile and 

 sure-footed. The plantation mules must be of medium size. 

 They are bred from ordinary mares by good jacks of good size. 

 Team and truck-mules, sought for city and farm use in the middle 

 States, come from large, roomy mares and the largest and 

 strongest jacks. They are liberally fed and ready to sell at 

 three years old, when a smooth, large, well-matched pair will 

 sell for POO to $600. 



The mares and foals are to be handled as described in our 

 chapter on brood-mares and colts. The mule responds to kind 

 treatment and liberal feed as promptly as a young horse. At 

 two years old the mule may be broken to work. Care should 

 be taken at first, not to frighten them with the harness. They 

 will not likely injure themselves by strains or over-work, as will 

 a spirited young horse, but their work should be light until 

 they are four years old, when they may safely be put to full 

 work. Their very meek appearance and patience under abuse, 

 seem to lead rough men to treat them cruelly. The mule is not 

 naturally vicious, yet he never forgets an injury, and when sub- 

 jected to a long course of ill-usage is likely to resent abuse. 

 He is resentful of injury, yet no other animal excels him in 

 faithfulness to a kind master. 



It is found that in breeding mules there is constant care 

 needed to guard against a sluggish, heavy nature. The best 

 mules come from high-bred mares and spirited jacks which are 

 from fifteen and a half to sixteen hands high. The better the 

 mare the better the mule, is a common belief among breeders. 



Experience in Breeding. E. F. Spencer, of Kentucky, 

 has had large experience in breeding mules, and we give the 



