The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1882-1884, 1883-03-08
MERITS OF THE MULE.

We re gard the lnule as an animal
of such value as to be entitled to
zreater consideration than it gene, al
~ receives. In economical point OF
view its merits are conspicuous. To
say that the animal is tough express.
es a prominent characteristic most
fully. 1t will live and work under
positive abuse. aud while it certain.
~ does die, it seems to die as seldom.
as ANYTHING we know of. The very
appearance of the mule shows it to
be possessed Of staying qualities. and
it does stay wherever and at whatever
YOU choose to put it. 1t eats less and
does more work proportlonately than
a horse will do, Or course there il
difference in mules, as there is q diff
ference in horses. We have seen
mules that we're Of weak con stitutlon
and could stand but little, but we
never saw many such. We have seen
those, too, that wOnld eat more than
a large horse, but they were excep-
tions to the rule. Our observation,
and what little experience We have
had with the aI.......lls leads Us to very
different conclusions to .,lose which
most people arrive at. The general
opinion is that the mule is stubborn,
ill-natured, spiteful creature that
kicks for the fun OF the thing, and
usually prefers going backward to
going forward when the driver is in
a special hurry On the contrary we
have found the animal to be patient
AMI willing, and not half go inclined
to kick as it is given credit for. 1t is
rather slow in its movements, but it
is quite rs rapid as hundreds of our
farm horses are 1t is devoid Of beau
ty, but that same Indictment can be
made against entirely too many o.
our horses. We have not arrived at
that point where we can say with
truth that beauty is very much Of q
general consideration in selecting
our horses. 1t ought to be q great
consideration. There is no use in
having a horse so ugly that he is -
sight to beholl," when by the exer
else of little care we can have good
looking stock. But the mule makes
up in other qualities what he lacks in
heauty, an If we have him at all We
must take him as he is There is not
much opportunity to improve his
looks. tie will always be mule.
We do believe, however, that its
manners can be considerably improv.
ed. when they need improving. Like
the naive COW ami hog the mule has
not had much inducement to be diff
ferent from what it is. 1t receives
no special training and there is rot
much kindness wasted upon it. 1t is
ottener struck than it is petted, and
we have known some naturally excel
lent mules to be spoil ed in handling,
especially at time of breaking. We
recall to mini mule that was made
q mos, wicked kicker through bad
management, but the owner thoug ht
it was the result Of natural mulish-
ness. Generation after generation
OF bad management and positive
abuse, will leave It's marks upon the
character OF any animal; and we
once knew Of y mule that by juiicious
handling--suc handling as would
be given to vicious horse-was
made as gentle as could be desired,
although originally very vicious.
The freedom of the mule from
.iisea e is one thing that strongly
recommends it. 1t is very seldom
sick, and has proved invincible to
some of the worst epidem .cs that we
nave ever had. In fact aud in short,
the mule is usually ready for service
at all times. will do its work we'll.
and with much less care than q horse
will do it. 1t is not we'll IN selecting
a team Of mules to get those which
are too small. A small mule will
eat as much as a large one, and is
not the equal Of the latter in heavy
work. Wnlle they will do all they
can, they cannot be expected 20
perform representatives., and to e1-
pect them to 40 more than they have
strength to 10, is expecting an i'm
posslOility.-Western Kurul.