THE MULE.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 29, Issue 37, 15 May 1917, Page 7

THE MULE.

President George Fleming of th< Royal Veterinary College of London, says that the period of gestation in a mare impregnated by the ass is a little longer than when the father is a stallion, the average time being 3?5 days, also that abortion occurs more readily, and more care is necessary than in breeding horses and asses. In mule breeding more choice can be given to selection of the mother than the father, for almost all asses have in proportion to their weight a very large head, short, thick neck, fiat sides, low shoulders,marrow chest and croup, small legs and very, narrow hoofs. The selection of mares with a small head, round body, short back, a long neck, and wide, round hoofs will aid greatly in remedying the defects of the sire, for although mules inherit to a great extent the shape and peculiarities of the sire they derive their size from the mare, seldom showing her bad shape or unsoundnesa.

The mule foal is not so strong on its limbs as the horse foal, it does not grow as quickly, and should not be set at heavy task work until fully matured or much permanent injury may result. It is longer reaching maturity and of little use under fsur years of age, hut it is useful for a longer period than the horse, often working until it is twenty or even thirty years of age. It possesses the sobriety, patience, endurance and surefootedness of the ass, and the vigour, strength and courage of the horse. As a beast of burden it ia preferable to the horse, as it is less impatient under heavy draughts or weights, while the skin being harder and less sensitive renders it more capable of resisting sun and* rain. The mule is very frugally and economically, fed, and although it is true that he will accept food rejected by his half brother, the horse, it pays to deal generously with’ him. He is equally good for carrying as for drawing loads, he walks well and steadily, easily traverses the worst roads or paths, and picks his steps by the side of a precipice with the surety and safety of a goat. For hot and dry countries, especially those (that are mountainous, he Is well adapted. Among the Greeks he had a name which meant a mauutaineer. The mule, like the ass, enjoys extraordinary immunity from disease. After the campaign in Egypt in 1882, the English horses suffered moat extensively and severely from a kind at malarious fever, but the mulas were entirely exempt. A similar exemption has been noticed during the prevalence of epizootic maladies at other times, nevertheless those diseases which ' attack the mule run their courses with great rapidity, for example glanders, which often appears in the chronic form in the horse, ia most acute in the mule and ass. With the Greeks and Romans the mule was much valued for its good' qualities, being employed to draw carriages and carry loads. At the present day -it is extensively used In nearly every part of the world, in some countries almost supplanting the horse, while for military purposes it is undoubtedly the best transport animal. As to mules Weeding among themselves, no authority as late as 1912 gives any proof of mule breeding with mule, therefore, in order to rid the world of mules all that is necessary, is to abolish either the horse or thh ass, and there will never he a registered breed of mules coming down the ancestral line. Each mule is one alone, so far as he is concerned there will be no more of him. The Hebrew term of mule is one alone, and so he is and must ever be. The mule has been slandered, traduced, abused, feared and starved. In some countries he has been legislated against with severe fines and penalties, since some, have thought the noble mare wasting her time bringing forth progeny to an ass, but still he persists. Tou cannot carry on war, . build a railroad or dig a canal without the mule. Even the dust blinded, gasoline scented and grease besmeared driver cf tb.a automobile must admit with us that the mule is one of the igreateri factors of civilisation, despite his shortness of pedigree and lock of social standing. j