MULES AND JACKS 183 
Chicago market calls for a somewhat higher animal. 
The cotton or sugar mule that stands sixteen hands should 
weigh 1050 to 1350 pounds. The class of mules that 
is used on the sugar plantations is of the best quality, 
owing to the fact that the sugar plantations are worked by 
wealthy syndicates that could not afford to use poor mules. 
They show a very smooth finish, a marked refinement 
about the head and neck and a fine quality of bone. In 
fact, no class is superior to the sugar mule in smoothness 
and finish. The sugar class of mules shows also greater 
uniformity in quality, height and weight than do those 
used for any other purpose. Cotton 
mules, as a rule, are poorly graded, 
and lack the uniformity observed in 
the sugarclass. Both cotton and sugar 
mules begin service, usually, at three or 
four years of age, although some at five 
years; but they are at their best when 
six to nine or ten years of age. 
(2) Lumber mules. — For the neces- 
sities of the woods, where mules are 
used in great numbers for purposes of 
lumbering, a very heavy, strong and 
rugged animal is needed; hence, we 
find the lumber mules extremely tall 
and large, usually fifteen to seventeen 
or more hands in height. Quality is 
not of so much importance as the Fre. 31.—A good rep- 
ability to do hard and rough work,  [{Seeye. ee 
and much of it; therefore, weight 
is especially essential. There is great variation in 
this class of mules, everything being sacrificed except- 
ing capacity to do hard work, ruggedness to endure 
