Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-08-13
Mules for Farm Labor.

The mule is usually considered to
be stubborn, stolid animal, vicious
and only fit for the merest drudgery.
The reverse has been the case where
they are used with the kindness that
is bestowed OH the horse by the more
careful drivers, or where an intelli-
gent and humane owner takes care
that the drivers properly do their
duty by them.
Some years ago an individual took
possession, as superintendent, OF one
Of the largest estates in Illinois for
the culture Of special crops for manu-
featuring purposes. On the estate
there were thirty-nine teams OF mules
and four teams of horses, beside sad
die horses. These mules were, at the
time they were bought, an extra lot
of government mules, purchased at
the close of the war, and from having
been knocked about, and other i'll
usage had, many of them, become SO
vicious as to be dangerous to strang-
ers, and not seldom to their drivers.
Upon taking possession of the farm,
one of the first acts Of the new super
intendent was to look carefully over
the teams. They were sorted and
matched together according to dis
position, aptitude, and ability to work
together; and those of the worst dis
position were given to the most intel
iigent and careful drivers, with orders
as to how they were to be handled to
bring them back to a state of docllity.
They were fed by their drivers oc-
casionally with choice bits. Gentle
ness was always displayed, but the
management at tbs same time was
firm. The other drivers were also
instructed how TO handle their teams,
with the added admonition that if
their mules did not improve i'll dis
position they would be held RESPONSE
BILE, and if found derelict, they would
be discharged.
What was the result? Within
three months there was not mule
on the place that was not perfectly
safe in any place, or for any person
to handle.
There is no animal about \ farm
that, once they know what is wanted
of them, will do their work better
than mules. All that Is necessary is
that when put to new work, patience
and care must be exercised for an
hour, that the mules come to under
stand what is wanted of them, thence
forward they require but little driving,
and if not overworkcd, but little urg-
ing. Three mules may be kept Il
year at about the same cost rs two
horses.
Three mules will work abreast rs
easily as two horses, and far more
kindly than three. An ordinary mule
will accomplish as much farm work
as an ordinary horse, and will work
chcerfully and easily III weather so
hot as seriously to distress horse
Indeed, as a rule, mules enjoy them
selves lying in the sun where horses
will seek the shade. For any of the
ordinary labor Of the farm they are
fully equal to horses, and for blowing
and cultivating they are far superior
to horses.
In winter, mules require to be kept
sheltered from cold and storms. If
not, they soon become stiff, suffer
from rheumatism and other disorders
incident to want of care in this direc
ton. If well cared for they are just
in their prime for labor, after a horse
at the same age has become totally
unfit for work. In fact they will last
about as long as man. 1t is true
their first cost is something more than
that of ordinary horses, but since one
mule will wear out two or three horses
this is soon compensated for. Be
sides this, they are subject to but few
diseases. For heavy blowing there
is no better team than three mules
abreast. They follow the furrow al
most without driving, and come
about quicker at the end OF the fur
row and with less danger Of stepping
on each other than horses.
We believe that every farmer in the
West south of 43 degrees would find
it to his advantage to substitute the
breeding and labor OF mules on the
farm for that Of horses. They will
do good work from the time they are
three years old, and from four years
until sold at say from six to nine or
ten years of age they will do full
work, and that easy for the driver
When ready for sale, there is no diff
ticulty in finding purchasers. Not 50
with horses, unless superior, they
never sell at prices to leave much
if any profit to the owner Western