CHAPTER XIII. 



THE POITOU MULE. 



The marked distinction between the different types of 

 ■mules that are used for heavy draught, and the lighter 

 varieties that are employed for riding and the army service, 

 renders it desirable that they should be considered in 

 different chapters. As an animal for agricultural use the 

 Poitou mule far exceeds in value any other breed, and it 

 would be desirable to consider it, and its progenitor the 

 Poitou ass, in the first instance. 



The old province of Poitou in the west of France has, 

 agriculturally speaking, for some centuries given itself up 

 in a great measure to the breeding of mules, chiefly for 

 the market. Extreme care has been taken in the breeding 

 of the asses, the sires of these mules ; and the Poitou mule 

 fairs — especially those held in the winter — are attended 

 by foreigners from all parts of the world for the purpose 

 of buying the great local production, the mules. It is 

 not an uncommon sight to see at a fair as many as 1000 

 mules, from one to four years old, offered for sale. 



There may be said to be two types of mules bred in the 

 Poitou, the light and the heavy, but the latter largely 

 predominate. The breeders find that heavy mules are 

 more in request, and bring more money as beasts of 

 draught than the lighter animals, and consequently they 



