108 MULES AND MULE BREEDING. 



tit'teen pounds the season. K-oyal Gift is four years old, is 

 between 14 l-half and 15 hands high, and will grow, it is 

 said, till he is twenty or twenty-five years of age. He is very 

 bony and stout made, of a dark colour, with light belly and 

 legs. The advantages, which are many, to be derived from the 

 propagation of asses from this animal (the first of the kind 

 that ever was in North America), and the usefulness of mules 

 bred from a Jack of his size, either for the road or team, are 

 well known to those who are acquainted with this mongrel race. 

 For the information of those who are not, it may be enough to 

 add, that their great strength, longevity, hardiness, and chea2> 

 support, give them a preference of horses that is scarcely to be 

 imagined. As the Jack is young, and the General has many 

 mares of his own to put to him, a limited number only will be 

 received from others, and these entered in the order they are 

 offered. Letters directed to the subscriber, by the j)ost or 

 otherwise, under cover to the General, will be entered on the 

 day they are received, till the number is comjjleted, of which 

 the writers shall be informed, to prevent trouble or expense to 



^^^^^^' John Fairfax, Overseer." 



" February 23, 1786." 



This advertisement shows that the General was fully 

 aware of the advantages derived from the use of mules 

 and of the character of the jack from which they should 

 be bred. Washington continued the use of mules during 

 his life^ and amongst the stock mentioned in his will, 

 signed in 1799, appeared two covering jacks and three 

 young ones, ten she asses, forty-two working mules, and 

 fifteen younger ones. 



It is interesting, however, to know that Washington 

 appreciated thoroughly all the qualities which render mules 

 so valuable as agricultural animals, qualities which have 

 rendered them appreciated in almost all civilised countries, 

 except Great Britain. The General dilates on the stout 



