The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-11-18
FARMER ANDPLANTER.
THE MULE.
He Is Fast Living Down the Opprobrium
of His Ancestry.


OF His Ancestry.
1t is not many years ago that when
a mare had 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,
saws lust so far and no farther for when
we once breed mare to a jacl, her es-
cutchcon 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-
nity it being very rare for mule to
breed, though the sexual instinct is
very strong in both sexes.
The supply of these mongrcls 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 treacherous 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.
II is 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 higher price. Every mare
| suitable to horse breeding, but bred to
| q jack, is an absolute loss to the coun-
try permanently for breeding horses,
but only temporarily gain for raising
mules The mule is a beast of burden
and nothing more, though it has been
known to breed back to a horse. So
unanimously is this fact understood in
France that the steed department there
has had to adopt measures to repress the
breeding of mules. The F,ehch in
Algeria found the mules very sure-foot-
ed, strong limbs, hard hoof, which do
not, like that of horse, dry up under
the influence of heat, with quick, solid,
step.
1t has beer found that mules step
| 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 less
| amount than the horse, more intelli-
| gent than usually given credit for, aud
| quite susceptible of attachment and
amenable to good treatment. He
is a model animal of transport
| He can be ridden, driven or
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 long time without detr-
ment. He is rather choice in his selec-
ton of water, and moist, cold weather
is unsuited to him: though he exhibits
Il notable freedom from disease. he suf-
fers severely from specific affections
He works longer than the horses, though
a trifle longer in fully maturing. He
inherits the sobriety, patience, endur-
! ance and sure-footedness of the jack,
and the vigor, strength and courage of
the horse. Making allowance for size,
he carries one-third more weight than
the horse, hence is essentially a pack
animal. Somewhat of the opprobrum,
unjust, which hangs in the mist about
his progenitor, the jack still influences
the popular views of the mule, but in
this age he is fast living this down.
I Cor. Nebraska Farmer. '-..