JACKS, JENNETS AND MULES 107 



I could readily see how he could afford to use the 

 jack. Owning all the mules, twenty-five or thirty 

 dollars on the head, is an easy demonstration of how 

 a man can afford to use the best jack obtainable, re- 

 gardless of the money he costs. An easier query 

 would be how could he afford to use an inferior or 

 even an ordinary one, his capital enabling him to 

 obtain the best. 



The count also had some jennets, but because they 

 were of kin, or because he was afraid of their effect 

 on the jack, or because he thought he knew of one 

 that would nick better with them, he did not breed 

 to his own jacks but shipped them to M. Sago's, near 

 Niort, France, a distance of at least one hundred and 

 fifty miles. 



I mention these things only because I hope they 

 may be of value in teaching two important truths 

 and eliminate at least one popular error. One is, 

 that you cannot get a jack too good for mule breed- 

 ing. For this purpose many think that one jack, if 

 he is a fair looker, will do about as well as another 

 or a better one. But the true theory is, get the best 

 if you can, and in breeding mares the difference in 

 the value of the colt, between a good and a bad sire, 

 will be perhaps three or four times the difference in 

 price of service fees. 



Another lesson is, that in this country, where is 

 raised the finest and best jack stock on earth, or if 

 that is contradicted, it can be said without fear of 

 successful contradiction, the highest priced jack stock 

 on earth, the people do not hesitate to ship hundreds 

 of miles to breed their jennets to that animal that 

 suits them best, even though they may have good 



