160 THE HORSE, ASS, AND MULE 



Imported jacks and jennets, the produce of unrecorded sire or dam, 15 

 hands. 



Native jacks, the produce of unrecorded sire or dam, 151 hands. 



The introduction of the ass to America is said to date back to 

 colonial times, when, soon after the Revolutionary War, the King 

 of Spain sent as a gift to General George Washington, a Span- 

 ish jack and jennet. In Washington's time some early interest 

 was shown in breeding mules, as a result of this gift. Henry Clay 

 is said to have imported some very fine Spanish jacks to Kentucky. 

 From the Clay stock Kentucky obtained the start which has 

 resulted in such fame for that state in mule breeding. One of 

 the first imported jacks taken to Tennessee was imported about 

 1840, and was taken to Maury County by a Mr. Thomas. About 

 1867 or 1868 Messrs. A. C. Franklin and Tul Craig of Sumner 

 County, Tennessee, imported some Catalonian jacks. About 

 1882 Mr. Lyle of Kentucky imported some Andalusians from 

 near Seville, and the same year Leonard Brothers of Missouri 

 made a similar importation. Many importations from Spain, 

 France, and the Balearic and Malta islands have been brought 

 to America since 1884. 



High prices for jacks prevail to an extent not generally sup- 

 posed. In France the Poitou ass brings a large figure, common 

 ones selling close up to $1000 and the better class from $1500 

 to $2000. At a recent Paris exposition one is reported selling 

 at $3200. Paragon 63, imported from Catalonia in 1886, was 

 sold for $2000. This same year an importation of Catalonian 

 jacks was made to Tennessee, from which Jumbo sold for $2000, 

 Peacock for $1500, Boyd's Monarch for $1500, and the Douglas 

 jack for $11 50. From another importation the jack King James 

 sold for $2000. 



The American Breeders' Association of Jacks and Jennets was 

 organized as a stock company at Springfield, Illinois, in 1888. 

 Five volumes of studbooks have been issued to 1906. The 

 headquarters of the association are in Tennessee. In France an 

 association for registering jacks and jennets also exists. 



