AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 
249 
cumstance that would of itself be sufficient to account for the 
overweaning attachment to this animal. But identified as 
his services have been, for a long period, with the conve- 
nience, sports, and recreations, of all ranks and classes, and 
the science of breeding, and training forming a characteris- 
tic feature, it could not excite surprise, if the approach of 
that terrible spectre, famine, should produce little or no 
effect in the reduction of the number. And although some 
of the most distinguished characters in the nation, eminent 
for their practical knowledge in rural economy, have been 
for half a century advocating the substitution of the ox for 
the purposes of agriculture, and demonstrating the feasi- 
bility, economy, and vast saving of food, yet it is said the 
number of labouring oxen have lately diminished and horses 
increased. Five millions of the latter are now supposed to 
subsist in the United Kingdom, and two-thirds employed in 
husbandry — consuming, at a moderate estimate, the product 
of twenty millions of highly cultivated acres! And what 
is the consequence? consumption follows so close upon 
supply, that at every season of harvest, let the preceding 
one be never so abundant, fast sailing vessels are found in 
the various ports, with their anchors atrip , to convey intel- 
ligence of the result, to all parts of the world, where a sur- 
plus of bread corn is grown — exciting such an interest in 
our own country, that the farmer on the shores of Erie and 
Ontario, and on the banks of the Ohio, may be seen reading 
bulletins of British weather — the rain and sunshine of every 
day in August and the two following months — often within 
thirty days after the time of their publication in London or 
Liverpool. . Can it be supposed, that in a country where an 
attachment to the horse borders so nearly upon infatuation, 
that the question of the utility of the Mule as a substitute, 
would be seriously agitated, or engage scarce a momentary 
investigation ? 
In no country is the Mule better adapted to all the pur- 
poses of husbandry, for which the horse is used, than in 
every section of our own. And it would be highly desira- 
ble to be able to exhibit a calculation of the actual saving, 
in dollars and cents, by his employment — but unfortunately 
no correct data can be had. And as I consider such calcu- 
lations, unless founded upon experimental facts, and those 
multiplied, to be as “tinkling cymbals,” I shall merely sub- 
mit a desultory comparison between the Mule and the Horse, 
derived from such facts as my own experience, and in- 
formation from authentic sources, will justify the assump- 
tion of. 
From what has been stated respecting the longevity of 
the Mule, I think it may be fairly assumed, that he does not 
deteriorate more rapidly after twenty years of age, than the 
horse after ten, allowing the same extent of work and simi- 
lar treatment to each. The contrast in the Mule’s freedom 
3 R 
from malady or disease, compared with the horse, is not less 
striking. Arthur Young, during his tour in Ireland, was 
informed that a gentleman had lost several fine Mules by 
feeding them on wheat straw cut; and I have been informed 
that a Mule dealer, in the western part of New York, attri- 
buted the loss of a number of young Mules, in a severe win- 
ter, when his hay was exhausted, to feeding them exclu- 
sively on cut straw and Indian corn meal. In no other 
instance havel ever heard or known of a Mule being attacked 
with any disorder or complaint, except two or three cases 
of inflammation of the intestines, caused by gross neglect in 
permitting them to remain exposed to cold and wet, when 
in a high state of perspiration after severe labour, and drink- 
ing to excess of cold water. From his light frame and more 
cautious movements, the mule is less subject to casualties 
than the horse. Indeed, it is not improbable, but a farmer 
may work the same team of Mules above twenty years and 
never be presented with a farrier’s bill, or find it necessary 
to exercise the art himself. 
Sir John Sinclair, in his “Reports on the Agriculture of 
Scotland,” remarks that “if the whole period of a horse’s 
labour be fifteen years, the first six may be equal in value to 
that of the remaining nine: therefore, a horse of ten years 
old, after working six years, may be worth half his original 
value.” He estimates the annual decline of a horse to be 
equal to fifty percent, on his price every six years, and sup- 
poses one out of twenty-five that are regularly employed in 
agriculture, to die every year: constituting a charge of four 
per cent, per annum for insurance against diseases and acci- 
dents. Fie considers five acres of land, of medium quality, 
necessary for the maintenance of each horse, and the annual 
expense, including harness, shoeing, farriery, insurance and 
decline in value, allowing him to cost two hundred dollars, 
to exceed that sum about five per cent., which is the only 
difference between the estimate of this illustrious and accu- 
rate agriculturalist, and that of a respectable committee of 
the Farmers’ Society of Barnwell district, South Carolina, 
who, in a report published in the Charleston Courier, of 23d 
of February last, state, that “the annual expense of keeping 
a horse is equal to his value!” The same committee also 
state, that “at four years old a horse will seldom sell for 
more than the expense of rearing him.” That “the supe- 
riority of the Mule over the horse, had long been appreci- 
ated by .some of their most judicious planters — that two 
Mules could be raised at less expense than one horse — that 
a Mule is fit for service at an earlier period, if of sufficient 
size — will perform as much labour, and if attended to when 
first put to work, his gait and habits may be formed to suit 
the taste of the owner.” This report may be considered a 
most valuable document, emanating as it does, from en- 
lightened practical farmers and planters, in a section of 
