204 PROFITABLE STOCK RAISING 



a great extent, upon the markets of Kansas City, 

 and other western points. In spite of the wonder- 

 ful development of motor-driven vehicles in the 

 cities, good horses and mules for street use have 

 never been so scarce, and have never commanded 

 such prices. It is difficult to imagine how, for 

 many years to come, this country can pos- 

 sibly produce good mules enough to oversupply 

 the market. The opportunities for assured profits 

 in this industry were never so great, and the out- 

 look was never so good as at present. 



RANGE OF VALUES 



If the statistics of the comparative average 

 values of horses and mules for any period of years 

 since the civil war be examined, it will be found 

 that the average price for mules has always been 

 $5 to $15 per head greater than that of horses. 

 In spite of the great advance in the values of both 

 classes of animals during more recent years, the 

 difference has gradually increased, and the average 

 value of the mule has constantly become greater. 



TYPES AND BREEDS 



The beginning of mule breeding in the United States 

 dates back to an early period in the history of the 

 country, when Spanish jacks were sent by certain 

 European rulers as presents to George Washington. 

 They were used by him on his farm at Mt. Vernon. 

 Later, Henry Clay imported several of the best 

 jacks from southern Europe into Kentucky, and 

 thus laid the foundation for the development of 

 mule breeding in this country, and also for the 

 development of an American type of jack. There 

 are several types or breeds of jacks known in- 



