Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-12-23
The Mule

The hybrid animal which is part
horse and part ass, eyinces more thin
any other cross, perhaps, Ill the dis
tinguishing characteristics of both the
parents. He has all the good qualities
of the horse, some, however, being
modified by the interfering tendencies
of those of the ass. Thus he has the
strength, size and form, with much Of
the sagacity and docility of the dam,
and the obStinacy in the good as well
as the bad, of the sire, with bis hartii-
ness, longevity, surefootedness, 1mtir-
ing patience ad robust constitution. says
Henry Stewart in American Agricultur-
| ist
A mule it is said and thought to be
extremely obstinate. proverbally so, but
this quality il this animal has most
useful development, for to it is due
the fact that Il mule never balks, but
persists in pulling until he lies down
from inability to use another muscle
longer by several years thna horse;
it is rarely ever sick; and, generally.
unless Wocfullv misused, has nothing
| the matter with it until it is discarded
at the age of forty. Mules have been
! known tC live and work for more than
; forty or fifty years without any rest
by summer paSturing, but constant tug
| ging Of heavy loads on the mountain
roads throughout the entire years
| Their indigestion is remarkably strong
and their appetite easily satisfied. In
the absence of its usual corn and blade
fodder, it will contentedly make q
meal of the bark of tree cut for the
purpose on the road side, where tho
, dlivr camps at night after twenty-five
miles Of heavy pulling, with no bed but
! the ground and no roof but the star
~ infinite above. In cold and heat,
! rain or snow, in mud or over rocks, it
wends it's way without break or obicc-
! ton, and brays for its coarse fodder
and eats with an excellent appetite,
wherever it may stop for 4 short rest.
The mule is no racer, but it may be
trained to travel under saddle or light
harness ut very good speed, and it
will maintain its pace for ten or twelve
hours with more steadiness than Il
horse. Its compact build makes it the
best pack animal. The horse is the
! most luxurious animal, and more hui
man in disposition. Its nerves are more
acute, it has higher instincts, and is
more refined. 1t is kinder il DISPOSE
ton, and Is more attached to its keeper
and owner, who uses it kindly. 1t can
make n more vigorous effort on the
spur Of the moment. but cannot MAIN
tain Il slow logged energy ike Il mule.
1t requires more food, and that of 4
better quality for these reasons.
Where quick work for Il short time is
wanted he horse beats the mule, but
for the slow, unchanging toll, the mule
is more useful. A mule is kept one
half moro chcaply than q horse. 1t
may be fed ON blade fodder and few
ears of corn day after day without any
change. and will do more work on its
coarse fare than Il horse Of 200 pounds
more weight. This character is so we'll
fixed that in the South, where all the
hard work is done by mules, Il mule
of 1000 pounds Is worth 500 or $3.50
more than q horse of the same weight,
and for smaller animals the difference
in value is $50 in favor of the mule.
For a few years past 1 have been
rearing young mules and horses, and
while the colts get the best hay and
more grain, the mules get corn fodder,
the coarse hay, and few ears of corn
An accurate account of the cost of feed
ing the two kind of animals UP to three
years old. shows that the mule may be
fo1- l,oI 80
colt A pair of small mmes cost mo
I less than $50 q year for the two years
they We're fed. and they lived during
| the summer in a wood lot, and cost
nothing for their pasture. mule will
live where 4 horse will StaTva, and,
when out Of work, enjoys the coarse
| feeding of the woods. When the horses
come to the gate and wait to be
brought home to their feed, the mules
have to be hunted up, and bells arc
put on them so that they may be found.
! On the whole I am very sure that
| Fair of mules will do twice rs much
work as pair Of horses the same size,
or somewhat larger, at half the cost
! of feed and other expenses. This takos
, into account the cost Of feeding, the
work and the longer life. Much is said
+ of the i'll nature of mule. This is I'M
deserved. It's frequent viciousncss is
i taught to it by ill-treatment and general
| bad management. A mule will never
! kick unless it has been taught, except
when frolcing 1t is really affectionate
and gnod-natured. ard when otherwise
| 1t gives only what it gets. When kind
" treated from the first by those who
rear it. the mule Will be kind. doc;le
and even affectionate. 1t will not be
so demonstrative of its affection as a
horse as kindly trained. but it will show
its good nature in its own more sober
manner The horse is subject for the
poet: the mule for man whose life
IS spent with freight wagon, or a
pillow before him.
Bay Horses.