The Osceola times., 1876-12-02
American Live Stock.

| Ic HIli aiilnui -tscibh VI tN h"
tional agricultural congress was held
in Philadelphia. ON Tuesday Sept. y,
and continued for two days. A num-
ber of addresses were delivered by
prominent agricultIrists from the diff.
ferent portions Of the country, ON va
rious subjects. The address of Mr..
l.. +. Allen ON American live stock,
is of peculiar interest, and at the re-
quest of the commissioner of agricul-
ture has been published in the October
report of the department Of agricul-
lure.
The following extracts posses, in-
terest. IA they touch upon two animals
of great value to the agricultural in.
terests of the western and southern
states.
"This useful and indispensable ami
mal--useful in mule-brceding as well
as in the propagation of his own spe-
cies--is among the most important
items of our iarm-stock, and worthy
of a discriminating notice. On the
eastern continent their utility is Of as
ancient date as that of the horse, and
among many nations and peoples their
labor is indispensable. They were
early brought into our American colo
mics, and from their first introduction
until some years of the present CEN
tury were widely used in the Atlantic,
northern and middle states for the
propagation of mules for the West In
dies and our southern domestic mar
kets. Since about the year 1890, mule
breeding and rearing in the eastern
states being superseded by the cheaper
facilities for producing them in several
Of the more western states, the ass has
ceased TO be either IN article Of breed
ing or commerce where they were first
imported, and is now rarely known
within their boundaries. Yet in the
localities where now most used, he has
been improved, both in size andquali.y.
Numerous importations have been
made during the last seventy years
from Spain, Malta, and other adjacent
countries, of the hest blood of his race,
and their produce, bred on the females
of American stock, have so improved
them that we can now exhibit the do
mestic ass as equal, ii not superior, to
those of any other country. Would
time permit, we might even go into
particulars TO prove our assertion, hut
it must now suffice to state the fact in
general terms. With us he is rarely
used Us a laboring beast, his services
Icing superseded by the mule, as eur
country is happily free from that low
class of labor in which his drudgery is
needed.
THE MULE.
The origin aud history of this pecu.
liza. animal is almost as ancient as that
of his progenitors, the ass and the
horse. He has ever been useful in
the industries of the people of many
nations, both ancient and modern, and
To the development of certain branches
OF our American agriculture, traffic,
and commerce he is widely appropri-
a,ed and indispensable. The early
mules of the eastern states were small
in size, seldom attaining height of
more than fifteen hands, and usually
less. vet of great strength in labor,
endurance, and longevity; hut the west
ern mule has far exceeded him in size,
weight, and adaptation to the heavier
work demanded of him. Ii Is now
not uncommon to find him sixteen,
even seventeen hands high, with II
body in proportion, and frequently a
comeliness in form exciting the admi-
ration of those who are partial to his
employment. His uses in the various
labors demanded of him are 80 well
known that it is unnecessary to name
them; and in comparing him with the
mules of other countries, il may he
truthfully said that the American
mule has no superior, and but few
equals, and thus constitutes an impor-
tant staple of our agricultural wealth.
A proper history OF the progress and
present condition of either the Amer
lean ass or mule has never yet been
written for publication other than in
detached scraps or pamphlets, yet they
are subjects well worthy the employ
ment of an able pen, and it is hoped
that such labor will he undertaken
by some one fully competent to its