Mexico weekly ledger., 1890-04-24
BREEDS OF JACKS.

!AA&~&AAA3~AS
The CataIonian Spanish Jack
Stands at the FIead-Where
He Comes From.
Mr.. W. Fl. Goodpasture, of Nash
vile, Tenn, secretary of the
American Breeders Association of
Jacks and Jennets, in the annual
publication of his association has
the following article on the
catalonian breed of jacks, which
will be read with interest by all
stockmens
Very little is known as to the
history of the different breeds of
jacks. We simply write ofthem as
we find them at their homes, CIV
ing what appears to US as their
chief characteristics. First among
those imported to this country,
both for numbers and popularity lis
THE CATALoNIAN.
This is breed of jacks named
from the section of country in
which they are found. This is the
northern part Of Spain, embracing
all the deparLnnents known as
Catalonia 1t covers some hum
dreds of miles in area, extending
from the Mediterranean coast to
the French side of the Pyrenees,
taking in what is known as the
Cerdan, which lies both in France
and Spain. While they are found
in both countries, they are still
only found in the mountains of the
Pyrenees. The supply of good
jacks in this territory is limited
and almost exhausted by the large
and increasing importations to
America. They have been import
ed into this country from a very
early day, some most excellent
specimens having been introduced
into Kentucky by Henry Clay.
Other importations were made to
Kentucky and Tennessee from
there before the war, and from
these have sprung some of our best
known native stock. At that time,
however, importatlons were OF
great difficulty and danger. Puolic
conveyances and modes of travel
! were difficult, railroads unknown
andSpanish society in not a very set
tied condition. Spain is one of the
last countries OF Europe to become
safe and pleasant to travel in. Be-
sides, the jacks had to be brought
home in sailing vessels, steamers
not then being in use. These were
slow and untitled for the trans
portation of live stock like our
| present splendid steamers, brought
about by the immense importation
and export of horses, cattle, etc.
Since the war, with improved
facilities, there have been a great
many of these jacks brought to
America, particularly to Tennessee,
where they have proven immense
ly popular:
Those imported are usually
from IA IL to 15 hands high,
though smaller ones have been inn
ported and some that were con.
siderably larger. They are uni.
versally black and nearly always
have mealy points. In numerous
| trips to Catalonia, we have never
seen more than three or four thai
were entirely black, and We have
never seen a gray one. This fixed
ness of color is one of much value
to the breed. This having beer
their characteristic for centuries
will rarely fail in giving the proper
color to the offspring.
They have an exceedingly broad
lclean, flat bone, but not so large al
is demanded by breeders in many
sections of the country. The larg'
bone of the Kentucky jack is wei
known, and is perhaps given by
their unsurpassed limestone, blue
lgrass soil. But the Cataloniar
lack, in his hone, We think, is NOR
devoid of flesh and it is perhap:
of finer texture than our nativ,
stock, is the case of the thor
oughbred compared with othe
breeds of horses. He would, there
fore, make an admirable cross fo
many of our native jennets.
i They have great style and action
and are in this respect unequallet
.fby any other race of jacks. The.
can trot like a horse. 1t is com
mon thing in Spain to work tn
jennets. We remember on one occa
!: sion, we were driving in carriag
on the government road and say
, ahead of us a man driving bugg,
with fine looking jennet hitche,
to it. AS we wished to buy a fe,
jennets, we instructed our driver t
, overtake the man. He apple,
the whip faithfully, but we had t.
drive a half mile or more at ou
best speed before we could over
take him. We have known then
: in this country to be led by tn
side of a horse and trot along a
his side like well-broken mule
They usually have well formed
shapely heads and erect, piercin
: ears, thin and transparent. Yo
, rarely see a drop-eared jack anon
, the Catalonians, and when you dc
!, 1t usually has some special cause
such as hurt in shipping, disease
or something of the kind.
81 Their hair is short and fine, an
Idoes not seem to tan so readil
I as our own native stock.
: They are good breeders, thel
mules handsome, quick, active an
I good sellers, and we have heard
said, though we do not know ho
f this is, that they mature very early
!. We have known their mules to Sc
far above 500 at weaving, an
. altogether from what we have see
9 of them, we regard them as higl
e ly desirable race.
8 Mr.. A. K. Laughlin, on tt