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 CHAPTER VIII.

HOW TO BREED MULES. VALUE OF MULES—THEIR HISTORY AND NATURAL HISTORY—THE MULE AND HINNEY—THOROUGH-BLOOD WASTED IN THE DAM FOR MULES—THE MULE IN THE UNITED STATES—LARGE SIZE NOT DESIRABLE—VARIETIES OF THE ASS—THE KIND OF MARES TO BE SELECTED. important this branch of rural economy is becoming in the United States may be seen by the following notice of The Columbus Inquirer, copied into the veterinary department of Porter's Spirit, and the comment accompanying it: "A few days ago one hundred mules were sold in Scott county, Kentucky, at an average of $177 each. Our Southern planters have here another illustration of the fact, that they can never fully realize the high price for cotton until they raise their own stock and provisions; for the high price of one is always attended by a corresponding rise of the other." In view of this fact, we propose to devote a little space to the examination of the history and natural history of the mule; the advantages which he possesses,—as he does possess advantages of some kinds and for some purposes over both the horse and the ox; his qualities, and the best and most profitable mode of raising him for the market, and for producing his best qualities and characteristics. To tell persons now-a-days that the mule is the hybrid between the horse and the ass would appear to be so absolute a truism that the recipients of the information would be very apt to laugh at the informant, and yet, 4*