CHAPTEE II. 



THE DISADVANTAGES OF WORKING MULES THAT AEE TOO 

 YOUNG. 



A GREAT many of the mules purchased by the Govern- 

 ment during the war were entirely too young for use. 

 This was particularly so in the West, where both con- 

 tractor and inspector seemed anxious only to get the 

 greatest number they could on the hands of the Govern- 

 ment, without respect to age or quality. I have 

 harnessed, or rather tried to harness, mules during the 

 war, that were so young and small that you could 

 not get collars small enough to fit them. As to the 

 harness, they were almost buried in it. A great many 

 of these small mules were but two years old. These 

 animals were of no nse to the Government for a long 

 time. Indeed, the inspector might just as well have 

 given his certificate for a lot of milk cows, so far as 

 they added to our force of transportation. Another 

 source of trouble has been caused through a mistaken 

 opinion as to what a young mule could do, and how he 

 ought to be fed. Employers and others, who had young 

 mules under their charge during the war, had, as a 

 general thing, surplus forage on hand. Wlien they 

 were in a place where nine pounds of grain could be 



