THE MULE. 57 



Territories cut all the collars when starting on a trip. 

 It takes less time afterward to iit them to the teams, 

 and to harness and unharness. 



When you find out where the collar has injured the 

 shoulder, cut it and take out enough of the stuffing 

 to prevent the leather from touching the sore. In this 

 way the animal will soon get sound-shouldered again. 

 Let the part of the leather you cut hang loose, so that 

 when you take the stuffing out you may put it back 

 and prevent any more than is actually necessary from 

 coming out. 



See that your hames fit well, for they are a matter 

 of great importance in a mule's drawing. Unless your 

 hames fit your collar well, you are sure to have trouble 

 with your harness, and your mule will work badly. 

 Some persons think, because a mule can be accustom- 

 ed to work with almost any thing for a harness, that 

 money is saved in letting him do it. This is a great 

 mistake. You serve the best economy when you har- 

 ness him well and make his working comfortable. 

 Indeed, a mule can do more work with a bad-fitting 

 collar and harness than a man can walk with a bad- 

 fitting boot. Try your hames on, and draw them tight 

 enough at the top of the mule's neck, so that they will 

 not work or roll round. They should be tight enough 

 to fit well without pinching the neck or shoulder, and, 

 in fine, fit as neatly as a man's shirt-collar. 



Do not get the bulge part of your collar down too 



low. If you do, you interfere with the machinery that 



propels the mule's fore legs. Again, if you raise it too 



high, you at once interfere with his wind. There is an 



3* 



