82 CONKEY'S STOCK BOOK 



bone, big barrel of the body, but not "paunched," and a foot as large as 

 possible; although of course the mule foot is narrower and longer than 

 the foot of the horse. 



THE JACK The native jack, which is really the product of a crossing 

 of all the imported breeds, the Poitou, Andalusian, Maltese, 

 Catalonian and Majorca, is considered the best by most mule breeders in 

 this country. The variable color of the native jack is a fault which more 

 careful breeding is correcting; so that black will be the fixed color. The 

 native jack is particularly healthy, and has larger legs and feet than any 

 imported breed, which accounts for its preference here. Whatever the 

 breed, remember the following points in selecting a jack: He must be at 

 least 15 hands high, not fat but heavy, with strong bones, a broad chest, 

 and good strong hips. Usually such a jack has a coarse head; but better 

 sacrifice quality of the head for the important elements of strength and 

 weight. Always select a dark color, because color plays an important part 

 in the market demand for mules. 



THE MARE The mare should be of good draft type, or a very good 

 grade from Percheron, Clydesdale or Belgian; she should 

 be a good individual, sound in health and without blemish. Look especially 

 for a fine clean head, broad chest, wide hips, and attractive style and 

 carriage. The mare should also be of dark color, on account of the market 

 discrimination against light-colored mules. Remember that the trade 

 demand is for a good draft type of body in the mule, and that the mule 

 tends to inherit body form from the dam. 



THE MULE This country is appreciative of the mule. The Span- 



HAS FRIENDS iards in 1591 first brought mules to America, most of 



these going to Mexico. But all through colonial times 



the mule was appreciated and George Washington, Henry Clay and other 

 early Americans made a specialty of breeding them. The mule exactly 

 suited the southern planters and was the animal relied on in working 

 southern plantations. In later years, the strength and hardiness of the mule 

 have put him in favor for city work and general hauling. In fact, wherever 

 there are hard conditions of work, or climate, or bad roads, you will find 

 the mule making the best of it. In general, preference is given the female 

 mule as the hardier and the better worker. 



Missouri, Texas and Tennessee are the chief mule raising States, but 

 Mississippi and Georgia are close followers. Alabama, Kentucky, Arkansas, 

 Louisiana and both the Carolinas are important in the mule industry. There 

 are now about 3,500,000 mules in this country, with an average value of $150 

 a higher average than that of the horse. There has never yet been enough 

 to meet the market demand, and the large numbers of mules offered in the 

 stockyards of Chicago, Kansas City, St. Louis and St. Paul go quickly and 

 always at good prices. In fact, enthusiastic breeders claim there is fully 

 twice as much money in raising mules, marketing them when five years 

 old, as is made in raising horses. It looks like a good proposition when you 

 consider the following comparisions, namely that mules, 



(1) Cost less than horses to breed and raise; 



(2) Are sooner prepared for market than colts; 



(3) Find readier sale, at any period; in any number; 



(4) Command more as colts than horse colts of equal quality; 



(5) Suffer fewer diseases and seem less liable to accidents. 



Is it any wonder, then, the mule has friends? 



