CHAPTER XXIV 



THE MULE 



The mule is not a true breed, as ordinarily considered, but is 

 a hybrid. Its importance is so great, however, in certain sections 

 of America that it is worthy of consideration as an important 

 draft animal. 



The mule is a hybrid, having for sire a jackass, commonly 

 termed a jack, and a mare for dam. If, however, a stallion be 

 bred to a female ass, the result is a hybrid, known as a hinny. 

 This last union produces an offspring inferior to the mule in size, 

 and in those qualities desired in a draft animal. The mule is 

 sterile and will not breed, although several cases are on record 

 of mare mules getting in foal and producing to a stallion. 



The mule in history has been known many centuries. No 

 doubt it has been used more or less in Europe since the days 

 before Christ. In the days of ancient Rome and Greece mules 

 served various purposes. Varro, who wrote in the first century 

 B.C., refers to mules in Roman agriculture, as does also Columella. 



The geographical distribution of the mule is widespread. He 

 is especially bred in great perfection in Spain, France, Portugal, 

 Italy, and certain sections of the United States and South 

 America. Great Britain has never looked with favor on the 

 mule. Sessions has recently written in The Live Stock Journal : 



The mule line extends north from the equator, and includes Africa and 

 Europe up to 45 degrees of latitude and Asia and North America as far 

 as the 35 degrees. On the south side of the equator we can include most 

 of Africa, the northern half of Australia, and South America as far south 

 as the 35 degrees. Within this vast radius hundreds of thousands of mules 

 are bred each year. Many of the mules are big, heavy animals, with great 

 power and bone and stand 16 and 17 hands high. 



Mule raising in the United States began in colonial times. 

 About 1787 George Washington was presented by the King of 



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