THE ASS AND MULE. 679 



substance of his remarks on this subject. During the breeding 

 season, beginning here in March, the jack should have a lot 

 large enough to give him grass during the night, but in the 

 day-time he should be kept in a tight stable. No horse-stock 

 should be allowed to come near the fence, lest the jack become 

 fretful and vicious, and then will bite the horses and fret so 

 as to become thin in flesh and unserviceable. 



If permitted to run in the lot during the day, feed three 

 times a day four to six ears of sound corn, two bundles of sheaf- 

 oats cut up to the band. He commends this as a better plan. 

 If the breeder has no grass-lot, he advises a feed composed of 

 oats cut up and corn-meal ground fine; mix, and put in a little 

 salt. Feed little at first to avoid founder and colic. He may 

 go to one or two mares at two years of age, but must not be 

 bred to jennets before he has served at least a dozen mares. 

 He can serve one mare in the morning and one in the evening, 

 and should be limited to forty or sixty at most, the first year. 



During the season the jack must be securely haltered 

 through the day, for, though seemingly docile, he has known 

 them to seize the groom with bull-dog ferocity. Give him no 

 chance to do mischief. " The application of a good hickory 

 will soon cure his viciousness." 



A jennet will carry her foal twelve to thirteen months. The 

 young foals are more likely to be smothered than horse-foals, 

 and the owner should be present when the jennet foals. The 

 young, healthy jack will get his best foals the first season. If 

 the jack is fifteen to fifteen and one half hands high, and has size 

 by inheritance, one can, from mares of good size, confidently ex- 

 pect good-sized inules. The well-bred mule, if well cared for, 

 will grow six inches the first year and three the second, and 

 will have attained his full height at two years if well kept. If 

 poorly fed he will not mature until three years old. The stunt- 

 ing business does not pay, as it costs an extra year's keep. 



Breaking and Managing Mules. The nature of the 

 mule is not so different from that of its mother as to justify the 

 common view, that breaking a mule is simply force work. The 

 mule and even the ass are susceptible to training, and are more 



