The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1906-08-08
Mule is Highly Praised.
{New York Herald.)

York and other Northern cities f;e-
quently express surprise at seeing so
few mules on the streets and in the
market, compared with the great num-
ber of horses. And to those who are
familiar with the strong points and
good qualities of this much misunder-
stood animal it seems strange that in
city where nearly 100000 horses are
sold every year there is not u single
dealer, SO far as known, who makes
business Of trading in mules. Jersey
City has one mule dealer, and in New
ark there is another who keeps few
in addition to his big stock of horses,
but when q resident of New York
wants to buy mule he must go out Of
town or go without.
In the Southern States the mule
ranks with the horse as a beast of
burden, and in some sections of the
cotton belt outnumbers the horse as
STANDARD work animal. Of the three
millio'i mules in America more than
two jl1illion are owned in eleven South
ern States. Texas tops the list with
391, 600, but the proportion of mules is
lager in South Carolina, Georgia and
Blabama. In, each of these States
there are many more mules than
horses, South Carolina having 1O7, 900
mules and "a, 900 horses, Georgia COL
600 mules and $4,000 horses and Ala
bama 10000 mules and Alabama 162,-
600 mules and 147, 600 horses.
In the New England States there are.
SO few mules that they are, not emu
merated in the statistics compiled bv
the department of agriculture, New
York State has only $500 mules, as
compared with $50, 600 horses.
Mules have advantages over horses
which have come to be recognized by
men who work them side by side. In
the first place the mule is healthier
than the horse. He is subject to COM
paratiyely few of. the horse diseases
and is nc likely to have any of the
blemishe- which destroy the marked
| value of so many horses. Besides, a.
blemish hardly ever affects the selling
price Of a mule. If he goes sound no
questions are asked. In buying mule
no one ever thinks Of demanding a
veterinary examination. =" .
In point of intelligence and also in
muscular strength and endurance the
mule excells the horse. He is not so
nervous OF. high strung, He has a
sailsf Instinct of self-pneservation.
His vitalito is greater. He can stand
more hardships, is surer footed, and
when properly trained is steadier and
more reliable in work harness.. I'LL. .
To Charles Darwin the mule ALWAYS
appeared "a surprising creature. I"
THAT hybrid" he said, 'shouid pos
sess more intelligence, memory, OBJ
stinacy, social affection and power of
muscular endurance than either of it's
parents seems to Indicate that art has
outmastered nature. - 1t is well
known that the brain of the mule Is
heavier than that of the horse. :..,:....
= Breeders find the mule more c.ofit-
able than the ordinary work horse, be-
cause he can be put on the market a
year or SO aeoner. He s: IsE ae ess-
/ penslve to raise G.. 60 keep and he is in
condition for light work before the
horse is old enough. to be broken to
harness. Mules are often sent to the
I field when tWo years old and Kept there
until old age overtakes them. :. 7 r. 81
~ is not generally known. that
George Washington was " the. first
breeder Of high grade mules in Ameri-
ca, and that: he made the mule popular
in the South. On Westinghouse first
Retirement, il. 1883, she devoted himself
to farming at Mount Vernon and soon
became dissatisfied with the work
horses at his command. Casting about
for something better adapted to South
em agriculture, 4. he. decided to try
mules. ~ . & .F. -: = s : Il s :
AS As, soon: as his intention, became
know. the King Of Spain sent him q
present Of a. fine jack and two jenrries
5seIected from the royal stud at Madrid..
EFFEE The jack was called Royal Gift i,
and was said to + be !: 16. B; hands high;
which Is at1 extraordinary height even
az this day. Lafayette also presented
to ashing toh 8 jack and several jen-
MES from: the Island o. ,Malta, which,
had long been noted for tEs superiority
of tslss breed. This jack which Nv Wash-
ington called Tie Knigh's of, Malta Il; =;
IS saaid to have been 8 splendid animal.
with the form Of; a stalg and the fes.
rpsity Of tiger; q I, as 3 writer, sof that.
period put II. 8; (. I: SIS
BY the jhdicious use OF these Jacks
iand!t native mar =. ilsfli1rsIg. ton pros
duced e fne lot Of superior or mules;
Eight which: sold fot $500 $i piece.
after his death ii? i7as Before tie: began. % q.
hIs Q breeding tions the onsy: mules
iIrthe. couhtr d Few of dininilu-:
tive size and itff quail lity$ imported
n.