MULE, A mule is a hybrid between two species of the same genus. Thus, there may be as many varieties of mules as there are species that are fertile one with another (See article Hybrid.) By common consent however, the term mule is understood to be the product of the male ass and the female horse. The mule is a very timid animal and there is no stock on the farm that requires such careful handling. If properly treated, they are gentle and perfectly safe. If abused they soon become vicious and learn to use their heels. In the raising of mules it is not so usual to halter break them at weaning time or before as it is with colts. We have, however, always done this, since when the mule is finally taken up for work at two years old, they may be considered half broken. ln fact it is gen erally the case, that if kindly handled, the young mule will go right along, rather awkwardly it is true, but nevertheless, steadily, the first time they are put to the wagon. Until the mule is three years old, it should not have anything but light work. Thus they will be more active than if allowed to go until three years old before being broken; besides this they will not be so strong and difficult to handle. In handling the young mule either to halter break or to labor, care must be taken that it does not get away since if so it will never be forgotten. The same gen eral rules may be followed as advised for the horse, which see, but, the mule will be more quiet and more easily approached to handle, if a a horse or broken mule, with which it is acquaint d, be present. Even another unbroken mule will tend to inspire confidence. Mules are particularly sensitive to cold, far more so than horses. On the other hand they are far less affected by heat than horses. Thus mules, whether the young and growing or the working mules must have warm stabling in winter. In the South the protection of a good wood lot isby some considered as sufficient, the best masters, however, provide warm sheds in addition. From the time the young mule is dropped until ready for work, it must be liberally fed, so it may be kept growing. There is nothing gained in allowing any farm stock to suffer for want of suf ficient food. It is especially the case with mules. A mule that has been half starved and frozen during the winter, never recovers. It may indeed get flesh, but, will never be of the same stamina as the mule kept warm and well fed, hesides, this extra feed enables the mule to go to work a year sooner than it otherwise would. A good
lively two-year old mule will bring more than a stupid three-year old. South of 40° for all kinds of farm work and teaming on the road, mules are fully equal to horses. They are not so liable to scare, qp if so, not so much inclined to run away. They stand the sun and heat better than horses, and require rather le,s care in cleaning. We have never found, that weight for weight, the mule would eat less than the horse. Their true value lies in being able to work hard in the hot test weather, which the horse can not. North of 40° the mule becomes less and less valuable, until north of forty-three degrees, the horse is the most serviceable and generally used. When they have warm stables in winter, they make admirable teams, even in the climate of Minnesota, since even so far north, in the West, there is plenty of summer weather that will seriously distress the horse. The proper color for a mule so far as service is concerned, is a self, dark color; cream colored mules, especially if they- have a white skin, are soft and unserviceable. So, pure white mules are objectionable both in color and stamina. Spot ted or calico mules, and light dapples are said to be always washy. Iron-gray, duns, and bays are the best colors, and mare mules are consid ered more hardy and trustful than horse mules and always bring a better price in the market. To those who have the facilities for breeding and rearing mules it is a particularly lucrative business. They will sell for more money at two years old, merely halter broken, than the average horse will at three, after being broken. The late and increasing demand for mules for export to Europe, has given a fresh impetus to the trade. St. Louis is the principal mule market in the United States. Buyers visit the farmers in the mule breeding districts, central Indiana, and Illinois and southeast of the Mississippi River, and southern Iowa and all of Missouri west of the river. Compared with horses there were in the United States in 1877, 1,443,500 mules, valued at $99,480,976, or an average of $68.91; of horses there were 10,155,400, valued at $610,206,631, or an average of $60 08, mak ing a difference in favoi of mules each of $8 83. This is an important showing as to value, when w 2 remember the slight variation in the price of mules, ill comparison with that of horses, and shows conclusively, that the profit lies in breeding. mules rather than common horses, whenever the climate is suited to mules.