THE ASS AND THE MULE. 427 



from the combination of sufficient size, form and action, and not from any one of tliose nuuli 

 ties. — Tlie same as to mules. 



Jacks have sold in Kentucky as high as $5000. Their value ;it this time (April, 1S42) is 

 nominal — sixteen hands is the largest size — fifteen is quite common — inuk-s of scvenleen 

 hands are sometimes to be met with. The quality of the mule is improved hij the Iduod of 

 the mare. It is quite common to work mares while going to the Jack, while in lo.il, and 

 while suckling. Mules should be weaned at about five months old — we feed our mulus on 

 grain, corn, oats, or rye, the latter in the form of chop, from season to season until sold. I 

 mean during the winter, our blue-grass being all-sufficient during the rest of tlie year. It is 

 necessary, however, to grain feed them on the grass through the summer they arc fattened 

 for market — we sell the majority of our stock the fall after they are two — mostly to the cotton 

 planters — a few of late to the Pennsylvania iron works, and a tew to Cuba; tiie remainder 

 we sell at a year older. The present prices at a given age are as variant as that of iiorses, 

 cattle, or any thing else whose value depends upon its quality, and the demands and mone- 

 tary condition of the country — sales were effi:cted last fall at from $3.5 to $1:^5. I have known 

 mules sell at weaning-time for $150, and when grown as high as $300. They should be 

 broke at the age you would break a horse ; and, according to my observation, by the same 

 system. They eat as much as horses, and reward a liberal allowance as well, though he 

 may, when unavoidable, be able to witlistand priviition bettor. I have known mules to travel 

 ten miles within the hour in light harness. I drove a pair from Lexington to the Blue Lick 

 in six hours, stopping one hour by the way — the distance is forty miles. What may be the 

 precise difference in " the age of the mule as compared with the horse, under the same treat- 

 ment, on a plantation," I cannot say ; the advantage, however, would be on the side of the 

 former — I know of no particular inconvenience in using them in a carriage. 



The mule trade in Kentucky is of about forty years' standing. For the first twenty years 

 the number increased gradually, to about eiglit l)undrcd ; during the next fifteen or sixteen 

 years, it went up to four or five thousand ; since when, it has gone hack to where it was 

 twenty years ago. Our farmers who breed mules, prefer to sell them when they put their ' 

 mares to the Jack, or at weaning time. The price rose gradually from twenty to fifty 

 dollars for colts. My last lot cost me in 1838 fifty dollars, and the season of my Jack given 

 in. The mares were selected, and the colts bargained for in the season of 1837. When the 

 price went dowr\ with everything else a few years back, they discontinued, in a great degree, 

 the breeding of them ; so that our present prices result from a greatly insufficient supply for 

 the ordinary demand. I sold my stock of three year olds, (seventy-three head) last fall at 

 $70. I was anxious to retain two or three pair (not the largest) at $250 a pair, but the 

 purchaser objected — but he was equally anxious to select for me some twenty head (and not 

 the least) at thirty-five dollars. I declined taking them. The number of mules annually 

 exported from Kentucky, may be set down at the whole number raised — as the small number 

 broke to service in this state, are sure, at last, to find their way to a foreign market — at a 

 rough guess, I would fix the nett average value, in market, of our mules, at about $70. 



The reason why mules have been raised in such numbers in Kentucky more than in other 

 states, is the better adaptation of our soil and climate to the production of grain and grass 

 than any other state, and for which we can obtain a market only in the form of live stock. 

 The " cost of raising a mule to be three years old, when corn is twenty-five cents per bushel," 

 charging from the usual time of weaning, 25th of September, may be computed at about 

 thirty dollars, including a fair equivalent for grazing and salting. I have not known of a 

 case of a female nmle breeding — I wish you would tell me on what testimony the Norfolk 

 case rests [it shall be done] I am a sceptic. — Our Jacks are doing but little this season. — 

 They stand at about five dollars to mares, and from that to fifty dollars for Jennies. — The 

 proportion of foals from a Jack and a horse, does not vary materially, in a given number of 

 mares." 



So much for the views and opinions of one who has, perhaps, bought and sold a greater 

 number of mules than any individual in the United States. We now present, in like man- 

 ner, without leave of the writer, in so many words, and without any studied formality of 

 diction, a letter from Mr. Hambleton, which the reader will agree needs no higher 

 polish of the pen, or greater amplification, to give it interest and value. 



"I am now, March 5th, 1842, raising three mules, and their ration is four ears of corn a 

 day, each, and straw a, discretion. This from the 1st of October, to the 30th of April, when 

 they will go to grass, would be about one and a quarter barrels each of corn, allowmg seven 

 hundred ears to the barrel. At $3 per barrel, one and aquarter barrels are S3. 75 the first yeai ; 

 .second year add one third, $5 ; the third year add one tliiid, $G.62=$]4.37, the cost lor corn 

 at three years old. As our farmers never sell straw, and consider it a favour for any animal 

 to work it up into manure, the expense of that is not counted. When two years old, the 

 ration should be augmented one-third — you may smile at my statistics, but I can assure you 

 these colts keep in good order on this allowance. Eight years ago, I bought two three-year 



