SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
253 
qua«tity I have handled, in different ways, I may con- 
sider myself a judge. Never before have I heard the 
superiority of the Tennessee jacks and mules claimed 
over the Kentucky stock of that kind. 
Mr. Cockerill says that we force our jacks and mules, 
by a hot-bed growth, to be large animals — that we take 
size only into consideration, and, owing to our treatment 
we have large, coarse animals, without spirit, action, or 
stamina : hence, according to Mr. C., the Tennessee jacks 
and mules are more valuable and serviceable than the pro- 
duce of Kentucky, under her present system. Now, it is 
well known all over the United States, where mules are 
I used and sold, and the stock of Tennessee as well as 
other States comes in competition with Kentucky, that 
the Kentucky mules always command the highest prices, 
for their superior size, symmetry, style, and. action. It is 
also known that Tennessee drovers, when in the Southern 
markets, frequently say that their mules were purchased 
in Kentucky, for the purpose of giving them reputation. 
So much for the Kentucky name. It is also well known 
that the best jacks they have in Tennessee were raised in 
Kentucky, and we never sell our best jacks out of the 
State; and, as far as our brood mares are concerned, their 
superiority is so generally acknowledged that it is not 
necessary for me to proclaim their merits. 
I know very well that many years ago, when we first 
began to raise mules, an error prev ailed here as regarded 
the qualities necessary for a good mule. Then they were 
generally judged by their size, und the largest mule com- 
manded the highest price ; but we have learned by ex- 
perience that style, symmetry, action, and stamina are 
now taken more into considera tion than size, although we j 
still have in Kentucky mules from 16 to 17 hands high 
with as much style and action as a small mule can have; 
and, as a sample of what Kentucky can do in that line, a 
pair of mules may now beseen in New York, w'hich were 
sold to a gentleman of that city by Mr. Gabriel ^alter, of 
Garrard county, for 51,000. They are over 17 hands high, 
and have all the style and action of fine horses. 
1 suppose that Mr. Cockerill never was in Kentucky, 
for otherwise, from the experience and judgment he says 
he has in that kind of stock, I think he never would have 
underrated our stock in the manner he has. If he wishes 
to be undeceived in relation to our jacks and mules, if he 
will visit Kentucky in the fall and attend some of our 
county fairs, I believe he will not only reverse his opinion, 
but consider himself amply repaid for his trotdjle. 
It is well known that in the heavy lowlands of the 
South, experience has proved that they require large 
mules that can throw weight in the collar, to till their 
lands, provided they have the action to sustain their 
weight. Large mules are also required to* work on the 
canals -in the North, they being fourKi more serviceable 
than horses. They are also required for tiie^drays in the 
city. 
In fact, all over the South the planters have now dis- 
covered by experience that the large njules'are the most 
serviceable ;«'and it is difficult at present for our diovers to 
sell small mules anywhere. 
Cattle, horses, mules, and all other stock are gerferally 
well treated in Kentucky. Without good treatment’ ^we j 
cannot expect to have good stock. We are enabled to [ 
treat our stock so well, owing to the lu.xuriance of our i 
bluegrass pastures— the best grass for stock — which, from 
our latitude, soil, and climate, has so far done better here ! 
than in any othgr State. This species of grass has been i 
tried in Tennessee, but it is too far south for it to do well ^ 
— it does not sod there as it does here, and it always burns 
up during their long, dry, hot summer days. 
SUGGESnONS ABOUT STATE FAIRS. 
As the season is approaching when the various State 
Agricultural Societies are to hold their Annual Exhibi- 
tions, the attention of officers and members, and of the 
agricultural community generally, is very properly direct- 
ed to the subject of the proposed or anticipated manage- 
ment and display on such occasions. The times And 
places of holding the principal Fairs having been desig- 
nated and announced, those chiefly interested — the Farm- 
ers, Horticulturists and Mechanics who purpose attending 
either as exhibitors or spectators — naturally desire to as- 
certain as to the prominent features, and what new attrac- 
tions, if any, are to be introduced. Hence, not only the 
Premium Lists and Regulations will be examined careful- 
ly, but many will look’ confidently for novelties and 
improvements in the detailed programme of each exhibi- 
tion, and that Society which shall combine the desired 
items and elements in the best manner, will, other things 
being auspicious, render its show the most attractive and 
successful. 
But, says the reader, novelties and attractions are not 
indispensable; for people who desire to make money, se- 
cure premiums, or advertise, or procure animals, ma- 
chinery, &c., need no such inducewtent. Aye, the class 
mentioned will be there — but, unfortunately for the suc- 
cess of the Society, and the cause of improvement, it is 
limited in number, though quite influential. The great 
mass — the upper ten hundred thousand, if you please — are 
prompted to attend by other and very different motives. 
Many, perhaps the great majority, are induced to attend 
State Fairs from the promptings of fancy — a desire to see 
and hear new, strange and curious things — and hence the 
more attractive the programme, the greater the interest 
manifested in advance of the show, and the larger the at- 
tendance. The apparent disposition of many to seek 
amusement, and make simply holiday affairs of our large 
shows, is not over-commendable we are aware, yet there 
seems to be a necessity for it in the tastes and inclinations 
of the American people. Not but what we are sufficient- 
ly practical and utilitarian, for the contrary is proved by 
our most prominent national characteristics. But there is 
at least one cogent reason why our State Exhibition are,, 
and wilf continue to be, resorted to by thousands for 
amusement and recreation. We have too few holidays. 
With the exceplion.of Independence-^the ever-glorious 4th 
— we, as a nation, have scarcely a day which is univer- 
sally celebrated as a holiday. True, Christinas and New- 
Year are holidays in our ainxanac, but tliiey aretiot appro- 
priately or generally celebrated by the great mass of the 
community.* 
Now, we may mistake the public inclination and senti- 
ment, y|t the experience of the past indicates the nece^ 
sity of adding nSyelties and improvements, each year,, to 
tl'e programme of our own State Society’s Exhibition. 
True, we' cannot make a holiday which shall be univA'sai 
throughout tlwe State — foroqly tens qf thousarfid.s, iiiStead of 
hundreds of thousand,s, will be particypqjtts. The county 
and town Fai;^ will, however, afford the toasses who cAinot 
attend the State Show a convenieyt opportunity for u?efuT 
andpleasurable recreation. We are convinced that the moi<j 
novelty and amusement can be united w^th the useful and 
instructive features of all our Fairs — State, County end 
Town — the gremer will be their success, and the more 
universal the benefit and satisfaction to corfinAinity. Let 
us, thei^efore, have a holiday, or Rural Jubilee, oh the oc- 
casion of every State Fair — appropriately celebrating and 
commemorating the bountiful harvests gathered, and re- 
ioicing in the jjrogress of Ruralists in wealth ami intelli- 
* ^ • * This is only true of the Northern and Eastern States. 
Forty poles of 30.25 square yards each is a rood, j Amongusof the South, the C^rixfjjias holidays are “high 
And a pole is 5 yards and a half each way. [ carnival” for both white and black.— Eds.” 
