542 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
f December 20, 1883. 
female is emaciated both before and after gestation the less liable 
will she be to abortion. Now these prejudices which exist amongst 
the peasant farmers have a deteriorating effect upon the size and value 
of the mules bred by them. The young animals, both mules and 
donkeys, are weaned at nine months old. Those which are reared on 
the farms and intended for sale are fed at first upon mashes of bran 
and barleymeal, and afterwards on grain ; at about eighteen months 
old they are bought by the stud-masters ; at the age of four years they 
rank as full grown stallions. The best stallions cost from 3000 to 
4000 francs, and these prices will give some idea of the importance 
of the industry. It has indeed been asserted, whether the stud-masters 
gain or lose, it is very certain that the Poitevin farmers profit largely 
by rearing both mules and donkeys, and at the autumn fairs the young 
animals fetch from £20 to £30, and even more for large up-standing 
mules showing power and size. 
In any attempt to breed mules for farm work in this country we 
must not think merely of external matters, but also of docility and 
intelligence as well as size and strength, and these can be obtained 
and increased just as easily as can the others, for if we breed from 
obstinate and ill-tempered brutes what reason have we to expect that 
the progeny will be of a different disposition ? There is in fact a 
strong unlikeness in mules, some being vicious and stubborn, others 
are docile and easily managed. This, like the neglect of the 
Poitou breed we have alluded to, arises from the want of proper 
care first of all in breeding from none but docile parents, and 
those which have been selected for all the points which we 
require in the mule for farm work. We cannot fix a limit in 
size except that mules of fifteen or sixteen hands high, if stout 
in proportion, would, when kept in good condition, be equally 
powerful and useful if well trained to perform in pahs all the work 
on the land usually done by a pair of ordinary farm horses. 
For odd or light work on the farm, including horse-hoeing of roots, 
corn, &c., we have found these superior, and have known constantly 
at work in our district mules of about thirteen hands high capable of 
drawing singly 24 cwt. of corn to the railway station in light spring 
four-wheeled vehicles. We have already had donkey shows in 
various places, Let the committees of agricultural shows give prizes 
for the most powerful mules, and tve shall like our American cousins 
produce all that can be desired to render them capable of farm labour 
and other useful purposes to the exclusion to some extent of horses, 
especially for drawing tradesmen’s vans in both town and country. 
The most essential points in breeding and rearing as well as 
training animals must now be considered, also with sufficient care and 
condition to bring them out for show purposes. All these matters 
must bo made by a well-devised system, for animals cannot be allowed 
to run in the pastures and lead a life like the forest ponies, but must 
receive protection from bad weather, ill-usage in various ways, and 
also protection from blemishes and injuries through accidental causes, 
and also in that case whilst young we may find out their tempers, so 
that they may be disposed of if not likely to yield to careful training. 
To obtain all these necessaries our system which we adopt for the 
careful rearing of farm horses is exactly suitable in our humble 
opinion and long experience, which is as follows : It is by a plan of 
shed and yard accommodation. The sheds and yards are made to 
face the north or north-east, as we find the animals become more 
hardy, and also suffer less from flies in summer time when kept in 
yards of that aspect. The sheds are 12 feet wide and 0 feet high up 
to the eaves, the shed is partitioned off where numbers are required 
to be kept at 12 feet, thus giving accommodation under cover 12 feet 
by 12 feet. These are enclosed with open boards and door 5 feet 
wide. The yards in front are of the same width, 12 feet, surrounded by 
four rails 18 or 20 inches apart, but extend as may be convenient either 
15 or 20 feet, thus giving plenty of room for the young animals to 
take moderate exercise. The floors both of sheds and yards are 
covered with earth 9 or 10 inches in depth for absorption and 
removal, and the manure allowed to accumulate, straw being applied 
as cleanliness requires ; the droppings are spread daily before applying 
fresh litter, and either fine earth, damp ashes, or yellow sand is strewed 
over twice a week. This consolidates the dung during accumulation 
and prevents heating, which it is more liable to do than manure made 
under bullocks, as horses or mules do not void so much urine. 
The mares are allowed to work as usual until about a week or ten 
days before foaling, they are then put into the sheds and yards and 
shut up at night, and these are very safe places for them to foal in. 
A short time after foaling, say a fortnight, the mares go out 1o work, 
the foals being kept in the pens until the mares return from work ; 
here the foals learn to eat, and are weaned at the end of four or five 
months. Here the}' remain until they are fit for sale or work at two or 
three years old, in pairs up to a year old, then singly. These sheds 
have low racks and mangers for hay and fodder. The food, com¬ 
mencing with Trifolium and Clover, with bruised Beans or Maize, 
and bran, Oats, and chaff, is gone on with until the roots are ready, 
when a moderate quantity with hay and corn is the food given until 
green fodder comes in again. Under this system, with careful 
attention the colts become not only exceedingly docile, but are 
positively free from accidents or blemishes, and are easily broken in 
for work with little risk or trouble. It should not, however, be for¬ 
gotten that the manure made in this system is an important and 
valuable item. Having carried out this system for rearing horses 
with great success, we can recommend it for rearing mules. 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
Horse Labour .—There is still some Wheat to be sown in certain 
districts of the kingdom, and in fact more than u e ual, in consequence of 
the lateness of the harvest, and the change from fine weather to storms 
and heavy rains which occurred in the latter part of October and first 
fortnight in November, and on cold flat-lying land not so much Wheat 
has been sown as was intended ; in fact, even within the past week 
Wheat-sowing has been continued in certain districts with the land in 
drier condition than a few weeks previously. It should be remembered 
that, except in certain districts of the northern counties and Scotland, it 
may be advantageous to continue sowing Wheat at every opportunity in 
December and January, where in certain cases and by hindrance not to 
be avoided, for every day is an object gained if open weather occurs, so 
that the land will work fairly well, because it always grows more like 
Wheat sown in autumn, and in consequence will generally yield better 
than spring-sown crops. There are no doubt some instances in which the 
land may best be held over until spring, but the intelligence of the home 
farmer and the soil and climate of the district will generally go far to 
decide this point. Fallow ploughing will now be going on in the absence 
of frost or heavy rains, but we advocate rafter ploughing or stetching 
the land to lie the winter ; it should, however, be crossed with water- 
furrows if flat cold land, that water may not lie in puddles in certain 
parts. We have another idea also relating to the land lying fallow and 
uncropped during the winter months ; for although Sir J. B. Lawes is no 
doubt correct in saying that certain soils lose fertility through not being 
cropped in winter, yet we consider that this observation only applies to 
porous soils, and that strong soils may lose fertility likewise, but they 
gain more in amelioration and working condition than they lose by 
fertility being diminished ; in fact, it is for the most part and frequently 
the only opportunity that strong and flat soils can be ameliorated, 
especially when we get only wet and unfavourable summers. The 
carting of earth to heap, and when dry enough earthy composts with 
manure into the grass landand park pastures, should now be done, and 
whenever this application is given, 3 cwt. of dissolved bones or bone 
phosphates should be applied also in the months of February and March. 
When frosty weather occurs after Christmas it is a good time to do the 
threshing of corn in stack, either of Wheat or Barley, in order that when 
sold the delivery may employ the horses at the least busy time of the 
year. 
Doncaster Agricultural Society. —We are requested to state 
that the next Exhibition of this Society has been fixed to take place at 
Doncaster on Wednesday and Thursday, June 25th and 26th, 1881, 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Analysis of Soils (Anxious ).—This is not only very costly, but very 
unsatisfactory as far as the fields are concerned, because the soil varies so 
much, not only on the surface but also the subsoil. We therefore cannot 
recommend analysis of land as a prelude to manuring it. We advise you to 
try the effect of farmyard dung, nitrate of soda, bone superphosphate, Peru¬ 
vian not British guano, in patches side by side for various crops both of corn 
and roots. The result and teaching will prove lessons which cannot be 
learned in any other way with so little cost and trouble, taking care, how¬ 
ever, to secure the purchased manures of genuine quality and at fair prices. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
Camden Square, London. 
Lat. 51° 32 40' N.; Long. 0° 8 O’ W.; Altitude, 111 feet. 
DATE. 
9 A.M. 
IN THE DAY. 
3 
*5 
« 
1883. 
December. 
Barome¬ 
ter at 32« 
and Sea 
Level 
Hygrome¬ 
ter. 
Direction 
of Wind. 
| Temp, of 
Soil at 
1 Hoot. 
Shade Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperature. 
Dry. 
Wet. 
Max. 
Min. 
In 
snn. 
On 
grass. 
Inches. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
In. 
Sunday . 
. 0 
30.380 
37.1 
32.0 
W. 
37.8 
39 0 
32.6 
40.2 
31.5 
— 
Monday . 
. 10 
30.030 
44.3 
42.5 
S. w. 
38.2 
47.7 
33.1 
47.8 
30.3 
0.447 
Tuesday. 
. 11 
29.G >1 
43.3 
40.7 
W. N. \V 
40 ; 
49.3 
42.2 
72 3 
36.4 
0.076 
Wednesday . 
. 12 
29.738 
43.9 
38.2 
N. W. 
> 8 
49.3 
33.7 
58.7 
32.7 
0.010 
Thursday ... 
. 13 
20.0'.0 
40.7 
48.2 
W. 
'0.2 
54.9 
38 3 
71.5 
32.8 
— 
Friday. 
14 
29.885 
r, 2.7 
51.0 
s.w r . 
42.8 
5*.3 
4H.5 
56.3 
47.3 
9 03 0 
Saturday ... 
. 15 
29.S71 
38.5 
33.7 
N.W. 
42.7 
43.4 
33.7 
85.6 
31.3 
0.010 
29.895 
43.9 
41.3 
40.4 
48 7 
38.6 
68 8 
34.5 
0.573 
REMARKS. 
9th.—Overcast and misty throughout; sprinkle of rain 8.S0 r.M. 
10th.—Dull and damp, but milder; fine sunrise; rain in evening. 
lDh.—Fine and bright, gorgeous sunset; strong gale at night. 
12th.—Fine and windy. 
13th.—Fine and mild. 
14th.—Showery and windy morning ; fine afternoon and evening. 
16th.—Fine bright morning ; overca-t afternoon ; rain and wind in evening. 
Rather warmer than the previous week, but chiefly noticeable for strong win 1 on 11 h. 
—o. J. Symons. 
