The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-01-11
MULES.

Mr. b. Monroe, of w oedtord county, KY, fur
nishes to an exchange an interesting article upon
the mule trade from which We make the following
extract ... r..s a.a-....... ... . ... p.
The mule trade is one of the largest of Ken
lucky and aferds of her chefsources of revenue
The increasing demand for them in the south,
among the the sugar and cotton planters (Which
is owing no doubt to the great number of farms
annually being opened) affords very easy sou-
tion for the eagerness and exteHt to which stock
growers launch into the trade, for it very
heavy business, requiring great deal of capital
The mule is led from weaving time (Which is gen.
orally at the age of five six months) to the full
extent of its capacity to eat and that too on oats
and corn, together with hay and fodder. In lieu
of the long food, soiling is usually adopted in tho
summer, as they are kept confined in a pound
paddock, containing an acre or two OF ground,
which is usually partially shaded, in herds of
hundred and fifty. In this way they are kept
until the fall after they two years old, receiv
ing sort of forcing, hot-house treatment. At
this age they are taken to the southern market,
not always by the feeder, but generally by
the speculator trader there they arc sold to
the planter entirely unbroken. The planters are
too cautious to buy broken mule, lest it should
prove to be an antiquated, broken-down beast,
fattened up, and sold for young onc-as 1t is
more difficult to tell their ages than that of horse.
The external mark of time and service is not gen
orally so apparent upon them. But it is small
job to break mule 1t is only necessary to have
a steady horse to work them with, and
second hand to drive them an hour or two to keep
him up after which he is considered ready for any
service that the farmer may require of him. He
may kick once or twice, but is unlike the spirited
horse, who, when he commences is apt to kick
himself out Of the harness before he stops. ts
There were in this county in the year of 1855,
20 900 mules; in 1856, there were 2,888; the num-
Der in the county at present have no means of
ascertaining, but suppose it is at least as great,
perhaps greater, than in any previous year. The
probabilities are that all of these, as many,
fed in this county each year. The counties i'm
mediatcly around, doubt fed equally as many,
some more. The counties of Bourbon, Fayette,
Clark, and Jessam:ne, are engaged quite as extern
sively in the trade as this. ...
Besides the great number of mules fed annually
in these counties, we supply New Orleans, New
York, and other cities, with an immense amount of
beef, mutton and bacon. These facts being
sdered, you may readily imagine that we must, of
necessity, be grain growing people. Such IS the
fact Yet 50 extensive is the mule business, and
so great the profits upon feeding, that those
engaged in the trade afford to give 40 cents
per bushel for corn, at least they say So and can
! not get it for less.
The average price of wcanings is about $75
No l from $50 to 500, and extra, often as high as
! S120. A lot will often change hands as often as
dozen times before they ready for market
Yearlings will average, suppose, about 500,
owing in great extent, however, to their quality
At two years old they will bring S125 or Sl3O, If
they are average select lots, more. Deighbor of
mine is feeding lot of one hundred, for which l
am told he has refused s175 round. But this is
an extra lot, no doubt the best lot in Kentucky
The same gentleman gave short time ago $500
for two year old to work to his sulky, and is
working lot at his farm, for which he paid
$500 each. Another gentleman of this county
sold short time ago, two year old mare mule
for S4OO. But these are fancy prices for fancy
mules There is small and inferior class of ami
mails that is considered sort of dead heads, and
which the feeder won't buy if offered alone, and
these are ones usually found in service on the farms