THE MULE. 43 



nature must show. To produce a good, well-propor- 

 tioned mule, you must have a good, compact, and ser- 

 viceable mare. It is just as necessary as in the crossing 

 of any other animal. It certainly is more profitable 

 to raise good animals than poor ones ; and you can- 

 not raise good mules from bad mares, no matter what 

 the jack is. You invariably see the bad mare in the 

 flabby, long-legged mule. 



It has been held by some of our officers, that the 

 mule was a better animal for Government service, be- 

 cause he required less care and feed than the horse, and 

 would go longer without water. This, again, is a grave 

 mistake. The mule, if properly taken care of, requires 

 nearly as much forage as the horse, and should be 

 groomed and cared for just the same. I refer now to 

 team animals. Such statements do a great deal of in- 

 jury, inasmuch as they encourage *the men who have 

 charge of animals to neglect and abuse them. The 

 teamster who hears his superior talk in this way will 

 soon take advantage of it. Animals of all kinds, in a 

 wild and natural state, have a way of keeping them- 

 selves clean. If left wild, the mule would do it. But 

 when man deprives them of the privileges by tying them 

 up and domesticating them, he must assist them in the 

 most natural way to keep themselves clean. And this 

 assistance the animal appreciates to its fullest extent. 



How to Handle a Mule Colt. — Owners and raisers of 

 mules should pay more attention, to their habits when 

 young. And I would give them this advice : When 

 the colt is six months old, put a halter on him and let 

 the strap hang loose. Let your strap be about four feet 



