154 MULES AND MULE BREEDING. 



teaser is retained for the purpose of fartlier teasing the 

 mares on arrival. A haras with^ say, eight jacks will often 

 have a clientele of 600 mares. It is thought that the above 

 reasons are sufficient to warrant the recommendation that 

 the jacks be retained at the haras, and only in special cases 

 allowed to travel round the country. 



Exercise or Work. — Each jack should have a separate 

 box, and should have daily exercise, either led or loose, in 

 a. well-secured paddock. They can be more readily broken 

 to harness and worked in carts than is generally supposed. 



Food. — The feeding of all breeding animals requires 

 special attention. All grain which is inordinately rich in 

 fat-forming constituents, as, for instance, Indian cornj 

 should be given sparingly. Taken together, perhaps oats 

 are the best staple food, to which a moderate amount of 

 the leguminous seeds, peas, beans, and vetches, may be 

 added. 



Bock Salt. — A lump of rock salt should be placed in 

 each jack's manger; it adds very greatly to the general 

 well-being of the animal. 



So-called Vicious Jacks. — There is no jack that is so 

 vicious that he cannot be managed by an expert. Instead 

 of vicious it is better to use the term lively. Some are 

 very lively and frighten people not used to these animals. 

 They will attack and savage a stranger, and take any 

 amount of punishment on the head and body. The 

 Americans have a saying that the "mule is very private 

 and particular about his ears." The same remark applies 

 to the jack. A small twig smartly applied to a jack's ears 

 will keep him off a man better than a thick stick applied 

 to his head or body. No jack will face a birch broom. 

 At the sight of it he will retire to the further corner of his 

 box. To lead a lively jack, get a twitch with a good 



