Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1893-04-08
THE FARM AND HOME.
POINTERS FOR THOSE WHO
WISH TO RAISE MULES.
Tow 20 Train Mulss--care OF Dairy
Cows Cottonssod MesI for Feod-
ipg Cows and Pigs-Farm
Notss-Homs Hints.


says the Wisconsin Farmer. About
ten years ago great many mules and
good ones. too, were raised in central.
Northern and Western Iowa, as we'll as
in Southern Minnesota. The buyers
of animals for heavy hauling liked
these Northern grown mules, for they
were hardy and strong and, when big
enough, paid good prices for them.
The buyers were, as a rule. more anx-
ious to get tho Northern grown mules.
for these had been. as a general thing,
more carefully raised and were not as
likely TO endanger the life OF the luck
less teamster who might happen to be
told off TO look after them.
About twelve years ago-it Is not
much less-we had the fortune, good
or bad, to be employed on a farm,
whore mule raising was one Of the
principal industries, Not only were
quite good number OF these long
cared animals raised by their mothers
on this farm, but u large number were
bought each year from neighboring
farmers as yearlings and suckers, and.
il our memory serves us right, ectu-
ally brought more than the majority
Of the common horse stock Of the
country at the same age. We dis
tinctly remember being assigned the
honorary post Of feeder-in-chief 10
this collection Of mules. which con-
sisted Of thirty, big and little, rang
ing from three months TO as many
years in age. As time went on and
they reached the latter period OF their
existence they were matched as close
~ as possible. broken one at time
alongside steady old mule and then
sold. And it was astonishing with
what alacrity they wore picked up.
They were fed very generously from
the time they would eat. and wo do
not remember turning Of a mule at
three years old that did not weigh a
thousand pounds, and the average
price per span was about 1915. There
were two much larger pairs that
went to railway contractor 10 take
to Montana ut $3.50, the four; but
they were very large ones and we
have since heard that they grew TO
weigh not less than fifteen hundred
pounds apiece and were capable Of
moving anything "that was loose at
one end"
There are some things which must
De noted in raising mules, so that tho
undertaking may DO q success. A
small mule Is OF no more use among
his kind than a small horse, and tho
bigger he Is the better he Is and the
bsz ~. III
We noticed that those mon who had
good big mares. weighing 1900
pounds or more--that was d biz mare
In those days-aud bred thom TO a
certain jack that was owned in the
neighborhood never failed 20 get a
good serviceable animal that grew TO
good size, commanded a good price
and proved to be sound, strong and
healthy. The mules which were from
smaller mares did not grow so large.
naturally, and did not command such
. good price, either to the breeder or
TO the man for whom wc fed them
II must also bs set down as fact that
there Is as much difference in jacks
as sires and breeders as there Is Ia
horses, though that fact Is not very
generally accepted by the farmers, un-
til they have ocular demonstration OF
the same. A jack should be large.
weighing a. near thousand pounds
as possible-the bigger the better
and should be- of good bone. dark
color, symmetrical shape, and good
disposition. Small boned. light coll
ored jacks are never good breeders;
these very characteristics point TO a
lack Of breeding. In tho same proper
ton all mares are not suited to breed
good mules, and no matter how satisfac-
tory the jack may be in tho points
mentioned some mares will never pro-
duce good mules. The best mares to
produce mules, in our experience, are
largo boned. grade draft mares,
blocky in conformation, but not too
much so, weighing anywhere from
1920 to 1,400 pounds.
1t may be noted, also, that it IL
just as natural for mule to kick as
it is to suck, after it is born. Con-
sequently great care must be taken
in raising not to plague them, annoy
them nor ill-treat them in any way.
They are revengeful in their natures,
and their memories are far from be-
ing defective. IL Is quite often tho
practice with the young men on a
farm whore there Is mule colt to
plague him TO see him kick. A mule
colt so used generally grows up as
dangerous as dynamite cartridge,
and OF about as much use. They
must be we'll and kindly treated,
never chased with dog; in fact,
everything that tends TO teach them
the use Of their heels must be studi-
ously avoided from the very start.
The nearer mule approaches the
''horse side of the house" the better
he will prove. The best mules APP
proach most closely the horse in con-
formation and disposition Hence,
treat mule in all ways as you would
horse. Give him tho Same gener-
Gus care and feed and the more like
horse will he become. Their natural