s on the
Mississippi. But all the rest of the Kentucky land is by no means equal
in richness of soil to that of this valley. There are about ninety
counties in the State, of which about thirty are of rich land; but four
of them, namely, Fayette, Bourbon, Scotts, and Woodford, are the finest.
The whole of these four counties are held by large proprietors, who
graze and breed stock to a very great extent, supplying the whole of the
Western States with the best description of every kind of cattle.
Cattle-shows are held every year, and high prizes awarded to the owners
of the finest beasts which are there produced. The State of Kentucky,
as well as Virginia, is in fact an agricultural and grazing State; the
pasture is very rich, and studded with oak and other timber, as in the
manner I have described in Ioway and Wisconsin. The staples of Kentucky
are hemp and mules; the latter are in such demand for the south that
they can hardly produce them fast enough for the market. The minimum
price of a three-year old mule is about eighty dollars; the maximum
usually one hundred and sixty dollars, or thirty-five pounds, but they
often fetch much higher prices. I saw a pair in harness, well matched,
and about seventeen hands high, for which they refused one thousand
dollars--upwards of two hundred pounds.

The cattle-show took place when I was at Lexington. That of horned
beasts I was too late for; but the second day I went to the exhibition
of thorough-bred horses. The premiums were for the best two-year old,
yearlings, and colts, and many of them were very fine animals. The
third day was for the exhibition of mules; which, on account of size
there being a great desideratum, are bred only from mares; the
full-grown averaged from fifteen to sixteen hands high, but they have
often been known to be seventeen hands high. I had seen them quite as
large in a nobleman's carriage in the south of Spain; but then they were
considered rare, and of great value. After all the other varieties of
age had made their appearance, and the judges had given their decision,
the mules foaled down this year were to be examined. As they were still
sucking, it was necessary that the brood mares should be led into the
enclosed paddock, where the animals were inspected, that the foals might
be induced to follow; as soon as they were all in the enclosure the
mares were sent out, leaving all the foals by themselves. At first they
commenced a concert