Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-05-05

use them no longer; he found, in fact,
that he would be lsbouripg Tor nothing
but the support of his horses, If be per.
sisted in their employment; and his
attention was at once turned towards
the mule, land oxen,) purchasing at
first some Of the smaller kind, which
were commonly known by the name of
the Yankee mules. He resolved TO do
the work Of his farm by their assistance,
and the use Of oxen.) until he could
procure such as would suit for the
draught. aud till then pay for the con-
veyance Of his produce TO market. At
ter having carried on the business Of
his plantation in this way for several
years, and noted the difference between
his expenditures when compared TO
former times, he found that the grain
saved by the substitution Of mules for
horses, in the drudgeries of his farm.
was more in value than double the a
mount necessary to pay for the carriage
OF his crop to market; in addition TO
this, he lost very little by disease or ac-
cident, his smiths bill was compare
lively trifling, and he was relieved If
the expense consequent OH the wear
and tear of road wagon; those Of his
nelghbors who have contrastcd the APP
pearanee OF his stack-yard and corn
loft at the present. with its former con-
dltion, can bear testimony to the truth
Ut these statements.
As there is prejudice prevailing in
this country against the use of the mule
for farming purposes. which car ONLY
De- done away by statements and calcn.
lations on facts, the following Is sub
mitted as the result Of the writer's IN.
dividual observation and experience {:
tie supposes, what he has found to be-
The case. that AK horses are necessary
Ia do the work Of common sized farm
the expense Of shooting and keeping
SIX horses for twelve months, will be.
on the most moderate calculation. 1894.
A Ike number Of mules for the same
time, SlS2. leaving in favor Of the
mules an annual balance OF SI32.-
This account will not appear exagge-
rated, II we present the details, by a
reference TO the difference between The
two animals IN their manner of step.
ping. and the consequent difference in
the expense Of keeping their feet pro-
perly protected. IL appears that a
horse requires shooting four times a
year; the expense Of which will
mount, in all, to S3 80. Now. the
mule, If properly managed, need not
be sbOd more than once in the same
time; in this one item. therefore, it
will be less expensive than the horse.
by 81 co. each, per year, making be-
tween the six horses aud six mules, the
sum of Sis -. The writer has been
accustomed tOhave his mules shod dur.
ing the ICY season. annually. We
next turn our attention 20 the differ
ence between the horse and the mule,
in regard to the quality and quantity
Of their food. The former animal must
be more or less supplied with grain
during the whole year, otherwise he
will grow thin and become unfit for
hard labor; this, however, is not the
case with the latter. When the pastures
are good. he can subsist on grass alone /:
and in the winter season, when he is
not worked, he can feed on hay; aud
in either case, he will lose nothing on
the score Of health and strength; when
employed 10 the labor Of the farm, the
writer has been accustomed to feed
them, either on cut straw aud chopped
rye. or Indian corn Of the former, he
generally allowed 60 each, one quart TO
about peck Of straw; Of the latter,
four TO eight cars at a meal; and a
horse doing the same work, will cat
nearly double a mule therefore NAV
be supplied with food and kept in good
condition, al less than half the expense
requisite for the horse. And if We a.
gain resort to figures, we shall see
clearly the great saving which might
be gained. by taking proper advantage
Of this difference between tho two ami
mails SIX hsrses, we have seen, can.
not be led and shod az less amount
per annum, than 1864 90
The same number Of mules
/ may be supplied for i32 90
Leaving a balance Of ST , 90
And Il now the comparative delica
cy of the constitution of the horse. his
liability 20 disease. and the greater a.
mount Of attention and psins which he
requires. are taken into the acrount. u
will appear, thar the above calculation,
instead of having been exaggerated.
exh'b'ts balance IT, favor of the mule.
rather lees than the feslity. We next
invite attention 90 the difference be
i~een the two animals. under cOnsi
defa'inn IN poiaf 81 longevity. A horse
- very rarely 81 ~ do effective ser
vice. after be shall have been employ
ed twelve years; mule. on the con