Delaware journal., 1828-11-07
From the Baltimore Patriot.

From the Baltimore Patriot.
Mn. MuNRoE-On reading the reports Of the
several committees appointed to award the premi-
ums at the late Cattle Show near Baltimore, OBJ
serve that the committee on ASSES and Mt LES |
express regret that neither Jennies nor AIuic4
were exhibited for premiums have hastily thrown
together my ideas o the valuable properties OF the
Mule for agricultural employment. if you lh,nk
them worthy insertion in your useful and wide
ly circulating paper you will please 10 insert them,
and oblige FARMER.
THE MULE,
When compared with the horse for the general
purposes of agriculture (n Maryand) has certainly
many advantages. FrSt, they are much longer y-
ed, think am justified III say ing double. when put
10 hard service and exposed. The late Col. JOHN
Z. HOWARD had a pair that worked thirty years,
al the expiration Of which time he sold them 10 a
carter in Baltimore, then in good health, and they
performed we'll for many years after. There are
several Mules now in Baltimore county that were
twenty five years old last spring, some the farm
of GEORGE HARRY MAN, esq. and some are on
the farm Of Esq. Micajah Merryman--there are now
many that are twenty years old, and have been at
hard work eighteen years, two of that age sold
at public sale but few weeks ago at fifty three dol
lars each BESIDES these, there are many that have
been at hard work tor from twelve TO fifteen wears
that would sell for hundred dollars each.
Secondly. the great saving of food which on fair
calculation, consider to be one third or in Other
words six ears of corn is as great feed for mule
as eight tor horse; in confirmation Of this, have
the opinion of Mr.. Green late manager at Hampton
and many others in Baltimore county who have long
used the mule in agricultural pursuis.--Upon thi,
principle. nine pounds Of chopped rye for mul,
is equal 10 twelve pounds for a horse. Agreeabl,
to this CONCLUSION will attemptt0 shoq what is say
ed in the article of food alone If chopped rye b.
used the saving will be three pounds per day. AM
in year 1903 lb>.; calculating chopped rye at on
dollar per hundred the saving in year
Will be $40 95
IIay in proportion at dollars per ion rs
Making saving in one year of SIS 90
and ~ ten years Si53 80. Thus it appear that
zen years which may in propriety be considered +
short of the average tuie OF mules SERVICE il WI
save its first cost in the article OF food atone, and
good mule then. And furthermore. they are NJ
liable TO many diseases which frequently allic
horses wv, the colts aiiaen the giuaderS. heaue
vslfocp-,cater and clolc, and they seldom are aic
Cd with the spaVls, ringbone or botts and they
not founder. Admitting what have stated 10 b
correct there can be no doubt of the superior a,
vantage TO be derived from the employ Of til
mule in agricultural! pursuits instead OF the hors
And the queslion naturally arises. how are we
procure stock of good mules. | will give my OPT
gon as bret as possible; do away the preclude
which prevails in Maryland, and in almost evei
place where mules have not been bred, g that
mare will bring but one mule, and that after havi
had IA mule she will never have colt" howe,
aosurd this may appear tc gentlemen OF general /
formation it is nevertheless cherished by many pc
sons who have not made the experiment, and is Il
principal reason why those who have kept Jacks
Maryland have not found it profitable. As nothi
but actual experiment will overcome this prejudic
would suggest the propricty of offering premu
oftwo dollars for every mule two years old rails
in Maryland and ten dollars for the best two Yea
old mule and ten dol!ars for the Jack which shot
sire the most foals in season. the runber TO exec
twenty Should this method be adopted and CO
tnued three years, think much goPd would res
from it, and after that am confdept that the f
mers would find sufficient inducepent 10 ra
mules instead Of horscs and am cdpfident, t
from the large mares Of Maryland and |eunsylvan
a larger and better stock Of mules cam be produc
than was ever raised in France or Spain.
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