purposes, might thus be produced. In the islands of Majorca and Minorca, to which the ravages of foreign and civil war have not so far extended, it is well ascertained that the large, coarse, slouch-eared Spanish breed still exists in perfection: and thence it would be easy to procure jennies—as the females of the ass are technically termed—by breeding which to the finest Maltese jacks, there can be no doubt that stallions might be reared superior in the combination of bone with beauty and spirit to any breed of original jacks now in existence. The choice of mares from which to breed mules by such jacks is an easy matter. They should on no account be blood mares, or highly-bred mares, or tall mares. Fifteen hands in height is abundant stature, and fifteen two is too large, but they should be rather long-bodied, roomy, and, above all, bony. They should have long shoulders, as oblique as possible, since those of the ass are very straight, a peculiarity which it is desirable to correct; and, for analogous reasons, they should not have the pasterns too stiff and erect; and they should have the hoofs large, round and well opened. The better their necks, withers and heads, the neater, in all probability, will be the produce. On the whole, we have little doubt that fine, well-selected Canadian or Norman mares will prove to be the best mule mothers—as thorough-breds will prove to be the worst—while Andalusian jacks or half-breeds, between the Maltese and great Majorca race of asses, will prove the best possible sires. It only remains to be stated that, in order to have mules docile and gentle, they should be handled as young as possible, and invariably gelded before they are six month old. The longer that operation is deferred, the more indocile, obstinate, and, perhaps, vicious they will become, which is the greatest defect in the character of the mule, and that against which it behooves the breeder most to be on his guard.
