68 DOMESTIC ANIMALS, DAIRYING, ETC. 



parison still further, a yield of 150 bushels of sweet potatoes per acre 

 would have a feeding value of 50 bushels of corn. (Fla. B. 72.) 



Cassava was substituted for a part of this corn ration in a feed- 

 ing experiment, but was not relished by the horses while sweet pota- 

 toes were readily eaten. 



In some feeding tests ground rough rice seemed to be a very 

 satisfactory substitute for corn wholly or in part when fed to work- 

 ing mules. The conclusions being drawn that a daily ration con- 

 taining at least eight pounds of ground rough rice per 1,000 pounds 

 of live weight for horses and mules doing heavy work. (La. 

 B. 122.) 



Millet as a Forage. The feeding of millet to horses was not at- 

 tended with favorable results at the North Dakota Experiment Sta- 

 tion. The results of the trial may be summed up as follows: 1. 

 Millet produced an increased action of the kidneys. 2. It caused 

 lameness and swelling of the joints. 3. It produced an infusion of 

 blood into the joints. 4. It destroyed the texture of the bone, ren- 

 dering it soft so that traction caused the ligaments and muscles to 

 be torn loose. (N. Dak. B. 26.) 



Publications on horses quoted from and consulted: Wis. Circ. 

 of Information 17, 21, 28; 111. B. 122; Fla. B. 72; Wis. B. 127; Dep. 

 Agr. Bu. An. Ind. Circ. 137, 178, 163, 113; Wis. B. 158, 141, 169; 

 Mo. Circ. Inf. 27; Wis. B. 188, 155; Agr. Dep. F. B. 170, 145; N. 

 Dak. B. 45; La. B. 122; Ohio B. 195; Agr. Dep. Bu. Au. Ind. Circ. 

 124, 1'68; Tenn. B. Vol. XVIII. No. 3; N. Dak. 26, 20; N. H. B. 82; 

 Ind. B. 97; 111. B. 150, 141; Mich. B. 254. 



THE MULE. 



BREEDING AND FEEDING. 



There are two kinds or classes of mules ; one the produce of the 

 male ass or jack and the mare, the other the offspring of the female 

 ass or jennet and the stallion. The cross between the jack and the 

 mare is properly called the mule, while the other, the produce of the 

 stallion and the jennet, is called a hinny. 



The mule is the more valuable animal of the two, having 

 greater size and more finish and bone ; in fact he has those qualities 

 which make that animal so much prized as a useful burden bearing 

 animal. The hinny is small in size and is lacjdng in the qualities 

 requisite to a draft animal. 



This hybrid is supposed not to breed, as no instance is known 

 in which a stallion mule has been prolific, although he seems to be 

 physically perfect. He shows great fondness for the female and 

 serves readily. There are supposed instances on record where the 

 female mule has produced a foal, but these are extremely rare. 



Characteristics. The mule partakes of the several characteris- 

 tics of both its parents, having the head, ear, foot and bone of the 

 jack, while in height and body it follows the mare. It has the voice 

 of neither, but is between the two, and more nearly resembles the 

 jack. It possesses the patience, endurance and sure-footedness of 

 the jack, and the vigor, strength and courage of the horse. It is 

 easily kept, very hardy, and no path is too precipitous or mountain 



