No. 133.] 257 



$700 a pair. We thank Prof. Mapes for having raised this sub- 

 ject for consideration, and hope that it may be discussed, and 

 cause a great increase in our stock of quadruped powers, which, 

 in spite of steam powers, will never be dispensed with for roillions 

 of persons and places. 



Prof. Mapes said that no animal had been so grossly slandered 

 as the mule, for although the appearance of his head and ears are 

 unsightly to all but himself, the symmetry of his bcdy and limbs 

 are far from objectionable. He is more untiring than the horse, 

 and capable of making greater exertion without loss of health. 

 Indeed a mule will perform one-third mole labor than a horse of 

 the same weight, during the same number of hours, in addition to 

 ■which he will work more hours, and is less aifected by heat or 

 cold, is more sure footed than most horses, and appears to be 

 alike insensible (while taking exercise) of the severity of mid-' 

 winter or the excessive heat of summer; whether at the Equator 

 or Temperate Zone, he is equally serviceable and etfective. He 

 will subsist on from one-half to two-thirds the amount of food 

 necessary for a horse while used for labor. Fodder of less 'ex- 

 pensive kind than that in ordinary use seems perfectly sufficient 

 for him. In the vicinity of the New-Jersey meadows, mules are 

 often fed on salt hay costing but three dollars per ton, and about 

 half the amount of ground feed usually given to horses. With 

 such keeping they are more efficient than the horse, costing less 

 than haif to sustain them. They require shoeing less often than 

 the horse, and are much longer lived. When treattd with kind- 

 ness the mule is no more stubborn than the horse ; indeed, be- 

 yond the unsightliness of his head, he has but one fault, and that 

 is, if left for a few weeks in the stable without work, he forgets 

 all his former training, and requires to be reinstructed ; with slight 

 use, however, he retains his habitudes as well as the horse . Who 

 ever heard of a dead mule 1 Dickens says that " a dead donkey 

 and a sailor in white top boots are not to be met with." 



Neither buyer or seller are apt to inquire closely into the age 

 of the mule. We now have a pair between thirty and forty years 

 of age, performing full labor on our farm, without showing the 

 slightest indication of having passed the prime of their mule- 



[Assembly No. 133.] 17 



