104 MULES AND MULE BREEDING. 



eleven millions of francs^ equal to 440,000/.^ and the average 

 price, as then taken, was decidedly low in comparison with 

 tlie prices brought by the mules in the present day. 

 Altogether, mule breeding may be considered one of the 

 most remunerative industries of France, although little is 

 known of it outside its own immediate district. 



The following engraving represents a prize Poitou 

 cart mare and mule foal, the latter between two and three 

 months old. The mare may be taken as a fair specimen of the 

 race from which the mules are mostly bred. About sixteen 

 hands high, she possesses the chief qualifications looked 

 for by the French breeders, who make a great point of 

 plenty of hair about the pasterns and feet — a matter of 

 quite minor importance. 



For many years the Poitou race of horses and mares was 

 alone supposed to possess the qualifications for producing 

 fine mules. The mares were said to be specially adapted 

 for breeding with the ass ; in other words, they were 

 alone considered to be, according to Jacques Bujault, 

 intevieurement niulassieres. Naturally it was to the 

 interest of the Poitou breeders that this fallacy should 

 be maintained as long as possible, and for many years 

 it was kept up most successfully. In process of time, 

 however, means of communication improved, and mares 

 were introduced from Normandy and Brittany. Of late 

 years some of the more spirited breeders have imported 

 draught entire horses from England and Belgium, with the 

 view of improving the breed of horses. At first the old 

 breeders were of opinion that by these means the mule- 

 breeding business would be ruined ; but experience has 

 proved, as it naturally would prove, that finer mules than 

 ever are produced, owing to the judicious steps taken in the 

 matter. The Americans have perhaps more than any other 



