AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 



249 



cumstance that would of itself be sufficient to account for the 

 overweaning attachment to this animal. But identified as 

 his services have been, for a long period, with the conve- 

 nience, sports, and recreations, of all ranks and classes, and 

 the science of breeding, and training forming a characteris- 

 tic feature, it could not excite surprise, if the approach of 

 that terrible spectre, famine, should produce little or no 

 effect in the reduction of the number. And although some 

 of the most distinguished characters in the nation, eminent 

 for their practical knowledge in rural economy, have been 

 for half a century advocating the substitution of the ox for 

 the purposes of agriculture, and demonstrating the feasi- 

 bility, economy, and vast saving of food, yet it is said the 

 number of labouring oxen have lately diminished and horses 

 increased. Five millions of the latter are now supposed to 

 subsist in the United Kingdom, and two-thirds employed in 

 husbandry — consuming, at a moderate estimate, the product 

 of twenty millions of highly cultivated acres! And what 

 is the consequence? consumption follows so close upon 

 supply, that at every season of harvest, let the preceding 

 one be never so abundant, fast sailing vessels are found in 

 the various ports, with their anchors atrip, to convey intel- 

 ligence of the result, to all parts of the world, where a sur- 

 plus of bread corn is grown — exciting such an interest in 

 our own country, that the farmer on the shores of Erie and 

 Ontario, and on the banks of the Ohio, may be seen reading 

 bulletins of British weather — the rain and sunshine of every 

 day in August and the two following months — often within 

 thirty days after the time of their publication in London or 

 Liverpool. Can it be supposed, that in a country where an 

 attachment to the horse borders so nearly upon infatuation, 

 that the question of the utility of the Mule as a substitute, 

 would be seriously agitated, or engage scarce a momentarj'' 

 investigation ? 



In no country is the Mule better adapted to all the pur- 

 poses of husbandr}', for which the horse is used, than in 

 every section of our own. And it would bs highly desira- 

 ble to be able to exhibit a calculation of the actual saving, 

 in dollars and cents, by his employment — but unfortunately 

 no correct data can be had. And as I consider such calcu- 

 lations, unless founded upon experimental facts, and those 

 multiplied, to be as "tinkling cymbals," I shall merely sub- 

 mit a desultory comparison between the Mule and the Horse, 

 derived from such facts as my own experience, and in- 

 formation from authentic sources, will justify the assump- 

 tion of. 



From what has been stated respecting the longevity of 

 the Mule, I think it may be fairly assumed, that he does not 

 deteriorate more rapidly after twenty years of age, than the 

 horse after ten, allowing the same extent of work and simi- 

 lar treatment to each. The contrast in the Mule's freedom 

 3 R 



from malady or disease, compared with the horse, is not less 

 striking. Arthur Young, during his tour in Ireland, was 

 informed that a gentleman had lost several fine Mules by 

 feeding them on wheat straw ct<^/ and I have been informed 

 that a Mule dealer, in the western part of New York, attri- 

 buted the loss of a number of young Mules, in a severe win- 

 ter, when his hay was exhausted, to feeding them exclu- 

 sivel}'' on cut straw and Indian corn meal. In no other 

 instance havel ever heard or known of a Mule being attacked 

 with any disorder or complaint, except two or three cases 

 of inflammation of the intestines, caused by gross neglect in 

 permitting them to remain exposed to cold and wet, when 

 in a high state of perspiration after severe labour, and drink- 

 ing to excess of cold water. From his light frame and more • 

 cautious movements, the mule is less subject to casualties 

 than the horse. Indeed, it is not improbable, but a farmer 

 may work the same team of Mules above twenty years and 

 never be presented with a farrier's bill, or find it necessary 

 to exercise the art himself. 



Sir John Sinclair, in his "Reports on the Agriculture of 

 Scotland," remarks that "if the whole period of a horse's 

 labour be fifteen years, the first six ma}- be equal in value to 

 that of the remaining nine: therefore, a horse of ten years 

 old, after working six years, may be worth half his original 

 value." He estimates the annual decline of a horse to be 

 equal to fifty per cent, on his price every six years, and sup- 

 poses one out of twenty-five that are regularly employed in 

 agriculture, to die every year: constituting a charge of four 

 per cent, per annum for insurance against diseases and acci- 

 dents. He considers five acres of land, of m.edium quality, 

 necessary for the maintenance of each horse, and the annual 

 expense, including harness, shoeing, farriery, insurance and 

 decline in value, allowing him to cost two hundred dollars, 

 to exceed that sum about five per cent., which is the only 

 difference between the estimate of this illustrious and accu- 

 rate agriculturalist, and that of a respectable committee of 

 the Farmers' Society of Barnwell district. South Carolina, 

 who, in a report published in the Charleston Courier, of 23d 

 of February last, state, that "the annual expense of keeping 

 a horse is equal to his value!" The same committee also 

 state, that "at four years old a horse will seldom sell for 

 more than the expense of rearing him." That "the supe- 

 riority of the Mule over the horse, had long been appreci- 

 ated by some of their most judicious planters — that two 

 Mules could be raised at less expense than one horse — that 

 a Mule is fit for service at an earlier period, if of sufiicient 

 size — will perform as much labour, and if attended to when 

 first put to work, his gait and habits ma}^ be formed to suit 

 the taste of the owner." This report may be considered a 

 most valuable document, emanating as it does, from en- 

 lightened practical farmers and planters, in a section of 



