THE MULE 171 



the soft ground through the heat of the day and be sure- 

 footed, so as not to tramp plants in cultivating. The mule 

 for this service is more rangy and snappy than the draft 

 mule, characters derived from more hot blood in the dams 

 and therefore associated with less size and substance in the 

 mules. Representatives of this type (Fig. 86) weigh from 

 950 to 1200 pounds and stand fourteen hands two inches to 

 sixteen hands two inches. They are built more on the 

 rapid draft order, conforming somewhat to the shape of 

 an express horse, and should have especially good legs 

 and feet, a high degree of refinement, an active, nervous 

 temperament and be straight, free, snappy movers. 



Mules of the plantation type are classified as sugar, 

 cotton and farm. 



The sugar mule is for the use of the Southern planter. 

 He is the best representative of this type, rangy, smooth, 

 with great quality and breediness, yet ample bone. 



The cotton mule is a smaller, somewhat plainer planta- 

 tion mule of the same general type as the sugar mule. 



The farm mule class comprises the poorer grades of the 

 other two classes, or thin mules that might feed into either 

 of the other classes which are purchased by the farm 

 trade. 



Mare mules are usually preferred as being smoother, 

 better shaped and easier keepers. Seal brown is the color 

 most desired, then bay, chestnut and gray. 



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