144 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
April, 
Devon bull, the property of W. P. and C. S. Wain- 
wright, Rhinebeck, Dutchess county, N. Y.—received 
the first premium for Devon bulls over three years old, 
at the show of the N. Y. State Ag. Society, 1851. This 
animal, now owned by R. H. Van Rensselaer, Morris, 
Otsego county, N. Y., was bred in England by Mr. 
Qilartly, one of the most eminent breeders and im- 
provers of Devon stock. He is a bull of superior points 
—one of the best of the breed we have ever seen. The 
artist, unfortunately, has taken the animal in a position 
by which the figure does him injustice—failing to show 
the substance, and at the same time delicacy of points 
and general symmetry, which are united in a remarkable 
degree. 
Advantages of Mules over Horses. 
Eds. Cultivator —Having of late received several in¬ 
quiries respecting the advantage of mule labor over that 
of the horse, and thinking some communication on this 
subject might be interesting to your readers, I take the 
liberty of addressing to you my own experience. 
For nearly three years, I have made use of two pairs 
of mules, and most of the time of one span of horses. 
The present season, I have two heavy spans of horses, 
the one weighing about 2200 lbs., the other 2350—while 
the pairs of mules weigh only 1700 and 1900lbs., respec¬ 
tively. The horses and mules have both been used in 
hauling wood, the average load being a cord of green 
oak. The heaviest pair of mules can out draw either of 
the spans of horses, and are now in as good condition as 
in the fall, while the horses have fallen away very much. 
In the winter, when taxed to their utmost capacity, the 
mules are fed 12 quarts of oats each, per day, and the 
horses 20 quarts; the amount of hay consumed by each 
being in nearly the same proportion. When not in con- 
stant use, the mules are fed little or no grain, and in the 
summer may be allowed to go unshod without injury. 
They suffer less than horses from the heat; are not so 
easily teased by the flies, and are equally hardy to the 
cold. They are far less subject to disease, and will en. 
dure constant labor for a much longer time. As they 
walk so as to bring their feet almost in an exact line, they 
are superior for plowing and working between the rows 
of growing crops, being less liable to tread them down. 
When hitched to a load, their walk is more rapid than 
the horse, and I consider them preferable in almost every 
particular, except for quick or pleasure driving. The 
mule is not a gormandizer, and if fed sufficiently at night, 
and it is not convenient to feed again till the next, he ex¬ 
periences no inconvenience. 
The first cost of a good pair of mules, is more than a 
span of working horses; but the mule capital will last 
for thirty years, while the entire horse capital must be 
renewed, at least every ten years. My estimate for the 
relative expense of keeping a horse and mule team, in 
working order, is as follows: 
Span of horses, one year. 
20 quarts oats each, per day—451 bushels at 37£ cts.$171 00 
5 tons hay, at $8 per ton,. 40 00 
Shoeing once a month, half new,... 18 00 
Farrier’s bill, on an average,.. 5 00 
Depreciation each year 10 per cent on $200,. 20 00 
$254 00 
Pair of mules, one year. 
12 quarts oats, each per day—273 bushels,.$102 00 
3 tons of hay,. 24 00 
Shoeing once in six weeks, half new,. 12 00 
Depreciation 3 per cent on $350,. 10 50 
$148 50 
Making a balance in favor of mules of..$105 50 
A mule is no more likely to be vicious than the horse. 
Their vision and hearing seem to be better, and they 
never take fright—a danger from which you are never 
secure with the horse. 
The breeding of mules is an extensive business in some 
sections of the western states. They are mostly bought 
by New Haven shippers, and shipped at the age of three 
years. The market price of unbroken mules at New 
Haven, Ct., in large lots, is about $80 each. This is the 
best place to purchase, as they can then be selected from 
