. Types and breeds of farm animals . Livestock. l62 THE HORSE, ASS, AND MULE Spain with a jack, which was used in stud at Mount Vernon and sired mules that sold for upwards of ^200 each. The value of the mule as a draft animal was soon recognized by intelligent Southerners. Henry Clay in 1832 imported a jack from Spain to Kentucky for use on mares, and others followed his example. To-day, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, and Texas are the most important producers of mules, Missouri leading, with St. Louis the most prominent mule market in the world. The characteristics of the mule partake of bot
. Types and breeds of farm animals . Livestock. l62 THE HORSE, ASS, AND MULE Spain with a jack, which was used in stud at Mount Vernon and sired mules that sold for upwards of ^200 each. The value of the mule as a draft animal was soon recognized by intelligent Southerners. Henry Clay in 1832 imported a jack from Spain to Kentucky for use on mares, and others followed his example. To-day, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, and Texas are the most important producers of mules, Missouri leading, with St. Louis the most prominent mule market in the world. The characteristics of the mule partake of both sire and dam. There is the long ear, slender body, tufted or slightly haired tail, and small, slender foot, and braying voice of the ass. These features seem to attach a peculiar char- acter to this non-breeding farm animal. Mules vary greatly in size and quality, naturally due to their parentage. Other things being equal, a large mule brings a higher price in the market than does a small one. Mules are sorted and classed for various pur- poses. The larger, heavier mules are used in city drayage and heavy draft work, or in lum- ber camps. A medium size is used on farms and in military serv- ice, while the smaller grades find places in mines and elsewhere. The market classification of mules usually includes five groups, which are as follows. I. Plantation mules. These are of two classes, viz. sugar mules and cotton mules. In general, plantation mules represent the larger, heavier, better type. In the Chicago market a sugar mule stands from 16 to 16^ hands high and weighs from 1100 to 1400 pounds. On the Kansas City market the height is given at 15 to 16 hands. Sugar mules are by some placed in the highest class as regards quality and value. They must be smooth of finish, show refinement of head and neck, and have superior. Fig. 62. An unusually choice pair of show mules of Plantation or Sugar class, first-prize winners at Illinois State Fair, 1S97. Photo- graph by the author.
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Keywords: ., bookauthorplumbcha, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookyear1906
