Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1891-11-26
FARMER ANDPIANTER.
THE MULE.
lie Is Fast Living Down the OpprobrIum
of His Ancestry.

lie Is Fast Living Down the Opprobrium
OF Iiis Ancestry.
II Is not many years ago That when
mare Ind become useless as dam
for fine colts she was put TO raising
mules, though at this time some of the
best mares in the country are used for
this purpose, good mule being worth
more, coming into use sooner, and with
less expense to raise. Nature, however,
says just so far and no farther, for when
we once breed mare TO O jack her es-
cutcheon is indelibly marked, and she
will never drop a perfect colt again,
but, no matter how carefully bred, her
progeny will forever bear the Impress
of braying mule, and even the mule
is debarred from maternity and pater-
nifty, it being very rare for mule to
breed, though the sexual instinct is
very strong in both sexes.
The supply of these mongrels comes
from nearly every part OF the world
where horses are bred in captivity. In
both of the Americas they are now
bred very extensively; in some sections,
notably in the southern states and Mex
leo are bred what is known as the Mex
lean mules resulting from cross with
mustang mares, hence good reputation
abroad, are very tough and hardy, but
inclined to be .-eacherous and must be
kept at work. In Europe the main
source of mule supply is Spain, France
and Italy, those derived from the Potion
being especially fine; north and south
Africa, Asia Minor, Cyprus Syria and
Persia, also China may be included
among places from which mules are
imported
1t is a fact very significant that the
best place TO find expensive, good
mules, are those celebrated for the
production OF good horses. In all
probability mule breeding pays better
than horse breeding, the young mule
requiring less trouble to raise and
bringing n higher price. Every mare
suitable to horse breeding, but bred to
| jack, is an absolute loss to the coun-
try permanently for breeding horses,
but only temporarily gain for raising
mules. The mule is beast of burden
and nothing more, though 1t has been
known to breed back to horse. Sc
unanimously is this fact understood in
France that the steed department there
has had to adopt measures to repress the
breeding of mules. The French in
| Algeria found the mules very sure-foot.
ed, strong limbs, hard hoof, which dc
not, like that of a horse, dry up under
the influence of heat, with quick, solid
step. tftf
| 1t has been found that mules steI
longer than the horse, and have re-
markable power OF going up or down
steep places and of cleverly turning
sharp corners, sure of the worst Of
roads, quiet easy to please as regards
of food, tolerant of heat and thirst, re
quiring drink less often and in les:
amount than the horse, more intelli
gent than usually given credit for, ant
quite susceptible of attachment ant
amenable to good treatment. He
is model animal of transport
He can be ridden, driven OF
used for pack purposes; he will
carry sick or wounded persons easily
gives but little trouble over shoeing
and may be left unshod behind espe
cially-for a long time without detri
ment He is rather choice in his selec
ton Of water, and moist, cold weathe,
is unsuited to him; though he exhibits
notable freedom from disease. he SUI
fers severely from specific affections
He works longer than the horses, though
a trife longer in fully maturing Ill
inherits the sobriety, patience, endur
ance and sure-footedness of the jack
and the vigor, strength and courage O
the horse. Making allowance for size
he carries one-third more weight thar
the horse, hence is essentially pacl
animal. Somewhat of the opprobrium
unjust, which hangs in the mist abou
his progenitor the jack still influence
the popular views of the mule. but il
this age he is fast living this down. =
Cor. Nebraska Farmer