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Provisions must of course be made for liis obtaining readily, and 

 at such times as the wants of nature may dictate, plenty of pure 

 water — the purer the better. 



Thus much as to food, drink, and shelter. Another point of 

 importance must not be omitted in his raising, that is, familiar 

 izing him with his master or with whomsoever has cliarge of 

 him. He should be handled sufficiently and in such a way as 

 thoroughly to overcome all shyness, and to lead him to feel that 

 man is his friend. This confidence once established, his training 

 — when the proper time comes for that — will be easily and suc- 

 cessfully accomplished ; his subsequent relations with his master 

 will be always pleasant, and his value thereby much enhanced. 



And this, indeed, touches a fundamental principle in the care 

 of all dumb beasts. Lead them to recognize that man is their 

 friend ; that they can depend on him to advance their comforts, 

 and to secure their welfare. 



XI. Mules. 



The breeding and rearing of mules, so common in many por- 

 tions of the United States, requires more than a passing consider- 

 ation. To obtain the best results in crossing with the ass demands 

 as much intelligent care as in the case of the horse; and the mule- 

 breeder will find it much to his advantage thoroughly to inform 

 himself as to how these results are to be obtained. 



Many mistaken impressions prevail as to the relative usefulness 

 of the mule, as compared with the cost of breeding and main- 

 tenance. 



It is thought by the inexperienced that he is almost equally 

 adapted to every kind of draft work to which the horse may be 

 put; that his power as a pack-animal is much greater than that 

 of the horse; that his endurance is greater; that he can subsist 

 on less food ; and that he demands every way less care. All these 

 things are set down to his advantage ; but in most instances the 

 impressions are wholly erroneous. As a general thing, he is not 

 well adapted to road or to city purposes at all. Especially are 

 hard roads and pavements destructive to him if he is large of 

 body and disproportionately small of leg. He is not so stout as 



