The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-09-02
From the Abbcvillc Banner.
THE EVIL OF RAISING MULES.


The reader WILL if he has not already asked
the.qucstion, ask where lies the evil of rails
ing mules! Are they not more easily raised
than horses, more durable, more lasting, and
more particularly adapted to rough negro
service! Therefore, where lies the evil of
raising them in preference to horses!
But let us look ut the subject. in refer
cnce to the future, well as the past and
present, and l think it will appear to re-
hecting mind as one of the greatest of evils
and indeed one of the greatest Of curses to
the country. While the tendency of the
latter is to increase the number and render
them cheap, that of the latter gradually is
To lessen the number and enhance the price.
When we remember that unlike horses, they
ure hybrid, and incapable of propagating
their species, it requires no great stretch
of the imagination to see, that if the mule
mania continues a few years longer, the
most disastrous consequences will be the
result. Brood mares will become scarcer
every year, until we shall be entirely at the
mercy of Kentucky, and such prices de-
manded for mules as will open our eyes to
the real cause, and force us oack to the good
old practice of raising horses. There are
not now one-fourth Us many brood mares
in this District as there were ten years ago.
But that does not here stop, nor will it do
otherwise than grow more enormous every
year, unless the system itself is abolished.
II, e
Kentucky to raise mules, brood mares are
there becoming scarce, and it is not uncom-
mon for stock raiscrs in that State. eyon
now, to procure them from adjoining States.
If the system were carried on without him
drance, if there were not a prohibtory
price, beyond which we could not be re-
Enumerated TO go, the time would come-and
at no very distant day either. when we con-
slider the ordinary life time of Il horse
when the whole race of horses would be ex-
tinct.
Under the system rs now carried on, we
see nothing in the future but high prices
In five years, they would be worth four hum
dred dollars, and in ten years, not less than
five or six hundred; by which time, we shall
. be forced-if we do not voluntarily before
to r turn to the old custom.
1t is to be hoped, however, that new
era is about to draw upon US, that the State
Agricultural Society, combining as it will,
the wisdom and foresight of the State, will
take this subject into serious consideration.
There is involved in it an interest of i'm
menSe Importance, and the sooner the tide
in favor of mules is checked, the better for
all classes of our people. If that Society
applies its funds to the encouragement of
mule raising, former Societies have done,
it will never be able to compensate the
State for the injury inflicted. There is a
bout rs much sense in bestowing premiums
on mules, as there would be on hermaphro-
dites, or on emasculatcd sows and fllies. or
on a cross of any two opposite species of
animal which could not propagate its kind.
1t would be more to the interest of the State
to offer premiums on the scalps of jacks
than to encourage their progeny.
Mules are raising in price every wear,
and they will continue to rise; let Us not
tlatter ourselves that this is attributable to
some temporary cause, that will be removed
sooner or later. No, it Is the natural result
of a most unnatural system, and will mag
Nifty in Importance, if the proper remedy is
not applied, until our people will be forced
to resort to some other than horse power
for the cultivation of their farms.
Let Us, then, at once begin to replenish
our stock of brood mares, drive all jacks
from the land, and return to the good old
natural system of raising bona fde horses.
SALUDA.