ASSES AND MULES. * 153 



CHAPTER IX. 

 ASSES AND MULES. 



ALTHOUGH in this country asses and mules do not occupy 

 so important a place as they do elsewhere, their numbers 

 are not inconsiderable, and as a good many mules are used for 

 light draught, we may give a few notes here in reference to 

 both varieties. The services of the ass are with us chiefly 

 utilised by costermongers, gipsies, small tradesmen and 

 hawkers ; they are also used for carrying young children, and 

 for seashore riding ; but the animals employed for these pur- 

 poses are, comparatively, of a small type. Very different are 

 the asses of France, Tuscany, Spain, Persia, Asia Minor, 

 Arabia and Egypt, which are of large size, and a big variety 

 is also maintained in the United States of America, and in 

 South America, for mule-breeding, which in various parts of 

 the world is an important industry. 



One of the best breeds of asses is to be found in the 

 Poitou district of France, and of these an excellent description 

 was given by Mr. Charles L. Sutherland, in his report to the 

 Richmond Commission on Agriculture. From this we quote 

 the following : " Poitou is the French breeding ground and 

 nursery of the heavy draught mule. The Poitevin mule is 

 the best mule for farm work, and a good specimen is very 

 nearly as big and as heavy as an ordinary cart-horse. His 

 peculiarities are that he is short-legged, short-jointed, and 

 big barrelled, with great knees and hocks, and plenty of bone 

 below the knee, while his feet are comparatively large, and 



