The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1867-12-05
Farmers Department.
How Mules Came i'm FasbioD

rev OF thet farmers Ofthis county are
aware what depth of gratitude they
owe George Washington for the intro
duction of mules into general use for
farm purposes,
Previous to 1888 there were but
very few, and those of such inferior
order as TO prejudice farmers against
them, as unit to compete with horses
IN work upon the road or farm
Consequently there were no GOOD
Jacks, and no disposition to increase
the stock; but Washington became
convinced that the introduction of
mules generally among Southern
planters would prove to them a great
blessing, as they are less liable TO
disease, and longer lived, and work |
upon shorter feed, and much less liza |
BILE to be injured by careless servants
than horses.
As soon as it became known abroad
that the illustriOus Washington desir-
ed to stock his Mount Vernon estate
with mules the King Of Spain sent
him a jack and two iennies from the
royal stables. and Lafayette sent an
otherjack and jennies from the Island
of Malta.
The first was of Il gray color, six
teen hands high, heavily ma,lr, and
ota sluggish nature. He was named
the Royal Gift. The other was called
the Knight of Malta; and was about
as high, but lighter made, black color :,
and 1.-THE and fiery, even TO fcrocity. a.
The two different sets Of animals !,
gave him the most favorable oppOrtu P.
nifty Of making improvements bv N
cross-breeding, the result Of which
was a favorite jack which he called
Compound, because he partook of c.
the best points in both the original ;,
jacks. The General bred his blooded u
mares to these jacks, even taking those =
from his family coach for that pur
pose, and produced such superb !;
mules, that the country was all agog .
TO breed some of the same sort, and
they soon became quite common. q
This was the origin of improved n
mules in the United States; though =
over seventy years since. there is no 4
doubt there is some of the third and
fourth generation Of Knight Of Malta sa ia
and Royal Gift to be found in Virgin of
ia, and the great benefits arising %i@o
from their Introduction to the coun- te
try are to be seen upon almost every St
cultivated acre in the Southern States. -
Notwithstanding tho enormous in !
crease Of late years, arising from So Sc
systematic course Of bi eeding in the sy.
Northern States for the Southern mar -
zet, mules were never more valuable y
han at present, or more ready Of sale ne
At high prices. ist s5T
LONGEVITY OF MULEs.-We have DO,
numerous reports Of mules attaining Sen
he age Of forty, fifty or sixty years, -
nd Col Middleton, of South Caro-. W
ina, stated some years ago that he cast
ad one at work on his plantation New
ighty years old; and we have seen -
n account Of mule in ireland corti- SO
ed TO have been at work since 1907, BsW BsSl
laking him over one hundred and dres
fly years old. This is, Of course, a
cry uncommon age, but we are
ltisfed that, with proper usage,
lules would commonly attain to and
bout forty years, being serviceable -
} The last, and this should be count
as. one Of their elements Of value.
r Facts for Farmers