The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1828-12-08
Ill
LIE MULE.

WIN
When compared with the horse for the gene
raj purposes OF agriculture lin Maryland) has
certainly ma'ly advantages. FIRsr, they nre
much longer lived. ! think am justified in say.
| ing double when put 10 hard service and expo
sed The late Col. JoI4s Il. HowARp, bad a
pair TINT worked thirty vpais, at the expiration
of which time he sold them 10 q carter in Balti.
more, then ia good health, and they perfcr med
well for many years after. There are several
Mules now in Baltimore county that were TWEEN
ty-hyc wears old last spring. some on the farm Of
GEoReE MEREYMAs, Esq. and some ARE on The
farm OF MIcAJ,H MERRysAN. Esq. they are now
IN good order and perform wrll--there are ma
ny that are twenty years old, and have been ut
bard work since they were eighteen years
of age, that were sold nt public sale n
few weeks ngo AZ fifty three dollars each,
besides these there are many rat have
been 1T hard work from twelve TO fifteen
years that would now sell for one hundred dol
lars ench.-SEcoEpLy, she great saving of food,
which on a fair calculation. | consider TO he one
third, n IN Other words, sir ems of corn is rs
great feed for \ mule as Gig hi for II horse IN
confirmation Of this have the opinion Of Mr..
Green late manager Mt Hampton, and many 9th
ers IN Baltimore county who lnve long used the
mule 10 agricultural pursuits. Upon .hi. prmci-
pie nine pounds oil chopped rye for a mul" iss
DUAL TO twelve pounds for a horse. Agrresbly
to this conclusion, I will attempt 10 show what
is saved IN the article of food alone. lfchop-
ped rye be Wed the saving will he hue pounds
per dav, and in II year 1885 lbs. ; celebrating
chopped rye nj one dollar PR hundred the saw
ne in q year will lie $50 "
Hay in proportion At frye dollars per ION : %
Making u saving in one year uf STA 3S
and in ten yegrs of Sl33 81. Thus it appears
tina, in ten years which may with p~roprie'y he
considered far short Of the average time of a
mules service, il will save its fest cost in the ar
tiGle OF food alone and he q good mule then. And
furthermore they are mol liable to so many dis
eases which Frequently aflict horses. Niz colts
~aiinscnf the giarfers, heapes. gsiioiy rrnier and
chOiic, and they seldom are afflicted with the spa.
wins, ringbone or bolts, and they will not foUn-
der. Admitting what ! have stated to he cor
rect, there can be no doubt of the superior ad.
vantage TO be derived from the employ mcnt of
the mule in agricultural pursuits instead of the
horse. And the question naturally arises. how
are we to procure a stock of good mules. viii
give my opinion az brief rs possible do away
the prejudice which prevails in Maryland. and
in almost every place where mules have not
beenibrrd, TINT a mare will bring but one mule,
and that after having had n mule she will never
bring n colt however absurd this may appear
to gentleman of general Information, II Is never
theless cherished by mnny persons who have
not made the experiment. and is the principal
reason why those who have kept Jacks IN Mary
land have not found it profitable. A, nothing
but actual experiment will overcome this pre-
iudice, J would suggest the propriety of offering
a premium Of two dollars for every mule
,wo years Old rrispd in Elary iaud and ten
dollars for the best Jack which should sure
the most foals in a season, the number to
exceed twenty Should this method be- adopted
aud continued three years. | think much good
would resui, from u, sai after that ! AN conf
dent that the farmers you'd find a sufficient IN
dnceu,enf 10 raise mules instead OF horses, and
am confident TIA, from r'lc hargc mares Of Mary