162 MULES, AND THEIR ADAPTABIIJTY 



any saving of time in this respect being 

 obviously of great and frequent importance 

 in campaigning. For this reason the Razza, 

 or Italian Jack, is more suitable for getting 

 pack or battery mules than the Catalan or 

 Poitevin, the latter also being apt to give 

 his offspring too thick a coat, which is 

 undesirable in a hot climate. 



With regard to the adaptability of mules 

 to agriculture, these are their chief qualifica- 

 tions. Their working life is longer, in the 

 ratio of five to three, than that of the British 

 cart horse. They will live and thrive and 

 do hard work upon food which would reduce 

 a cart horse of equal size to a skeleton. 

 They are indifferent to extremities of climate, 

 hot or cold. They are never sick or sorry 

 (this of itself should recommend them to 

 the British farmer, for the fatalities of a 

 large cart horse stable are often something 

 tremendous). They can, if required, work 

 much longer hours, and do not mind the 



