TEE AMERICAN MULE. 117 



mule is so faithful and true, and has broken so many young 

 things to work by his side, that he bears the name of 

 ' Counsellor.' The last time he was seen by the writer he was 

 in a team attached to a reaper, drawing at a rate sufficient to 

 cut fifteen acres of grain per day. 



" At this day mules are used extensively in nearly all parts 

 of the country where agricultural pursuits are carried on, as well 

 as in the mining regions, the cotton belt, and all sugar-growing 

 countries, where they have largely supplanted the horse, and 

 are prized highly for their gentleness and faithfulness. 



" In the United States the principal States in which mules 

 are raised are as follows, in their ' order as to numbers foaled in 

 1889 viz., Missouri, 34,500 ; Texas, 25,300 ; Tennessee, 19,500 

 Kentucky, 18,200; Kansas, 8200; Arkansas, 6600; Illinois, 

 6400; California, 5000; Indiana, 4400; Mississippi, 4200 

 Alabama, 3500 ; North Carolina, 3300 ; Iowa, 2300 ; Nebraska, 

 2300; Georgia, 2000; Virginia, 2000; Louisiana, 1300 

 ' Oregon, 1300 ; Ohio, 900 ; South Carolina, 700 ; and Pennsyl- 

 vania, 600. Many other States raised mules, making the 

 number foaled, in 1889, 157,000. 



" Kentucky mules are showy, upheaded, fine-haired animals, 

 their extra qualities being attributable to the strong, thorough- 

 bred blood in the greater part of their dams. The same may 

 be said of Tennessee, where it is thought the climatic influences 

 produce a little better, smoother, and finer hair, coupled with 

 early maturity, which qualities are much prized by an expert 

 buyer. 



" The mules in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and some other of 

 the so-called North-western States, have large bone, foot, body, 

 and substance, and possess great strength, but they are wanting 

 in that high style, finish, and fine hair that characterise the 

 produce of some of the States further south, and are longer in 

 maturing. Mule breeding in these States is one of the most 

 important branches of industry, and is supposed to date back 

 prior to 1787. 



" There is no kind of labour to which a horse can be put for 

 which a mule may not be made to answer, while there are many 



