THE AMEBIGAN MULE. 123 



worked, but if worked she should be well fed on good feed. The 

 foal will be due in about 333 days. As the time approaches for 

 foaling the mare should be put in a quiet place, away from 

 other stock, imtil the foal is dropped. She will not need any 

 extra attention, as a i-ule, but should be looked after to see that 

 everything goes right. 



" After the foal comes it will not hurt the mare or colt for the 

 dam to do light work, provided she is well fed on good, 

 nutritious food. Should she not be worked and is on good 

 grass, and fed lightly on grain, the colt will grow finely, if the 

 mare gives plenty of milk ; if she does not the foal should be 

 taught to eat such feed as is most suitable. 



"The colt should be well cared for at all times, and par- 

 ticularly while following its mother, for the owner may want 

 to sell at weaning time, which is foui* months old, and its inches 

 then will fix the j)rice. Good mules at weaning time usually 

 bring from $75 to $90, and sometimes as high as $100 (18?. 



to 25Z.). 



" Feeders, dealers, and buyers prefer the mare mule to the 

 horse, and they sell more readily. The females mature earlier, 

 are plumper and rounder of body, and fatten more readily than 

 the male. 



" In weaning the colt, much is accompHshed by proper 

 treatment preparatoiy to this trying event in the mule's life. 

 It should be taught to eat while following its mother, so that 

 when weaned it will at once know how to subsist on that which 

 is fed to it. The best way to wean is to take several colts and 

 place them in a close barn, with plenty of good, soft feed, such 

 as bran and oats mixed, plenty of sound, sweet hay, and, in 

 season, cut- grass, remembering at all times that nothing can 

 make up for want of pure water in the stable. Many may be 

 weaned together properly. After they have remained in the 

 stable for several days they may be turned on good, rich 

 pasture. Do not forget to feed, as this is a trying time. The 

 change from a milk to a diy diet is severe on the colt. They 

 may all be huddled in a barn together, as they seldom hurt each 

 other. Good, rich clover pastures are fine for mules at this 



