,transcriber's ,note ,italic text displayed as3 italic ,illustration3 ,,the ,,percheron ,,horse4 ,,the ,,percheron ,,horse4 ,,translated ,,from ,,the ,,french ,,of ,,charles ,,du ,,hu,s1 ,,author ,,of ,,the 8,,dictionary ,,of ,,the ,,pure ,,race20 8,,trotters20 8,,the ,,book ,,of ,,the ,,races20 8,,the ,,merleraull20 8,,the ,,horse-,,breeder',s ,,guide20 ,,etc4 ,,illustrated4 ,,new ,,york3 ,,orange ,,judd ,,company1 #bde ,,broadway4 ,entered according to ,act of ,congress1 in the year #ahfh1 by ,,orange ,,judd ,,co41 ,at the ,clerk's ,office of the ,district ,court of the ,united ,states for the ,southern ,district of ,new-,york4 ,,lovejoy1 ,,son ,,co41 ,,electrotypers ,,stereotypers1 #ae ,vandewater ,street1 ,n4 ,y4 ,,table ,,of ,,contents4 ,illustration3 ,decoration ,,production1 ,,rearing1 ,,and ,,improvement ,,of ,,the ,,percheron ,,horse #g ,,part ,,first4 ,,greatness ,,and ,,decline ,,of ,,the ,,percherons4 ,,chapter ,i4--,glance at ,perche #aa ,,chapter ,,ii4--,sketch of the ,percheron ,race #ad ,,chapter ,,iii4--,origin of the ,percheron #ag ,,chapter ,,iv4--,modifications of the ,percheron ,race #bj ,,chapter ,v4--,his first ,modification due to contact with the ,brittany ,race #ba ,,chapter ,,vi4--,conditions under which they are bred #bc ,,chapter ,,vii4--,causes of the ,degeneracy of the ,percheron ,horse #bf ,,chapter ,,viii4--,starting ,point of this ,degeneration #bh ,,part ,,second4 ,,of ,,the ,,means ,,of ,,regenerating ,,the ,,percheron ,,horse #cb ,,chapter ,i4--,regeneration of the ,percheron ,breed #cc ,,chapter ,,ii4--,regeneration of the ,breed through itself or by ,selection #cc ,,chapter ,,iii4--,consanguinity #ch ,,chapter ,,iv4--,ought the gray coat of the ,percheron to be inflexibly maintained8 #dj ,,chapter ,v4--,preserve pure1 and without ,mixture the three ,types of the ,percheron ,race--the ,light ,horse1 the ,draft-,horse1 the ,intermediate ,horse #dd ,,chapter ,,vi4--,improvement of the ,breed by means of ,foreign ,crossings #dh ,,chapter ,,vii4--,the ,arab ,cross #ea ,,chapter ,,viii4--,the ,english ,cross #fd ,,chapter ,,ix4--,improvement by means of the ,stud-book #ga ,,recapitulation #ge ,,part ,,third4 ,,information ,,to ,,strangers ,,wishing ,,to ,,buy ,,percheron ,,horses #ha ,,chapter ,i4--,food and ,breeding #hd ,,chapter ,,ii4--,trade4 ,glance at the most celebrated ,breeding ,districts #ic ,,chapter ,,iii4--,speed and ,bottom of the ,percheron ,horse #ie ,,chapter ,,iv4--,tests of ,speed of the ,percheron ,horse #ig ,,chapter ,v4--,tests of ,endurance of the ,percheron ,horse #ii ,,index4 ,arabian1 ,the type horse1 #ea ,good tempered1 #fj ,cross imparts endurance1 #ei ,qualities obtained from1 #ge ,cross-breeds easy to raise1 #fa-fc ,disproportionately small legs1 #fc ,labor at three years1 #fa ,larger than their sires1 #fb-fh ,square trotters1 #ei ,surest to turn out well1 #fb ,stallions offer quick and sure means of improvement1 #de ,breeders1 #ac ,temptation to sell1 #h-bb-bg ,breeding ,centers1 #ib ,breeding ,in-and-in fixes character1 #ah ,systematic4 ,opposition of the ,army1 #gc ,system of1 #df-fb ,brittany ,horse1 #ba-bg ,cattle1 ,charollaise breed1 #gb ,cotentin breed1 #cg ,maine breed1 #ij ,percheron breed1 #hi ,colts1 ,cost of rearing1 #bc ,food of1 #bc-he ,sale of at six months old1 #bc-hd ,sold to ,beauce farmers1 #bd ,troubled with strangles1 #hf ,weaning1 #he ,worked at fifteen months1 #bc 8,cross-bred ,horse01 #ed ,crossing with the ,thoroughbred1 #ee ,eastern ,blood imported1 #ah ,stallions at ,pin1 #bj ,brought from the ,crusades1 #ag-ah ,english and ,danish ,stallions at ,pin1 #bj ,english ,horses1 ,spurious1 #ef ,in the ,crimea and ,italy1 #ed ,too nervous for draft1 #fi ,english ,thoroughbred1 #ci ,care required in rearing1 #fa ,cross successful if used with judgment1 #fd ,discouraging results1 #fh ,fractious and nervous1 #fa ,introduced into ,france1 #bh ,its ,progeny heavy consumers1 #fh ,possession tends to dissipation1 #i ,the ,horse of ,fashion1 #i ,fairs1 ,improvement by means of1 #gb ,forage ,plants1 #ac ,fillies1 ,treatment of1 #hg ,horse ,association of ,perche1 #ca ,improvement by foreign crossings1 #dh ,by ,selection1 #cc-cg ,by the ,arab ,cross1 #ea ,means of1 #cb ,preparation of land for1 #di ,preparation of a breed for1 #di-ea ,in-and-in breeding1 #ch ,useful in establishing a family or breed1 #ci ,intelligence of an ,arabian1 #eh ,of 8,lapin01 #eh ,interbreeding1 #ch ,land--thorough culture essential1 #ac ,loads usual for ,english and ,french horses1 #fi ,mares1 ,care of ,brood1 #bc ,mares1 ,never sell good1 #cd 8,natural ,horse01 #ed ,norfolk ,stallion1 ,description1 #ee ,perche1 ,department of--,geography1 ,topography1 and ,agricultural character1 #aa ,effects of soil and climate on other animals1 #hh ,horses exported annually from1 #db ,introduction of foreign mares1 extensive since #ahcj1 #bg ,loss of the best stock1 #bg-bi-cj ,percheron ,breeders' character1 #hb ,percheron ,horse1 ,arabian ,origin1 #ag ,characteristics1 #g-ae-bb ,cared for by ,women and ,children1 #h ,color1 #dj ,color--,gray the favorite1 #da ,color ,non-essential1 #dc ,coming in ,fashion1 #de ,degeneracy1 #bf-bh ,demand for ,export1 #gi ,difficulty of finding horses free from ,foreign blood1 #bh-cj ,docility1 #h ,efforts to stop the exodus of good stock1 #bi ,first among serviceable breeds1 #aj ,feat of endurance1 #ii ,food and ,breeding1 #hc ,freedom from ,spavin1 etc41 #h ,heavy ,draft ,type1 how obtained1 #dg ,height1 #ad ,list of exploits on the turf1 #ig ,mares1 little pastured1 #ab ,modern modification of the breed1 #bj 8,omnibus ,type10 how obtained1 #df ,prices realized by the farmers1 #bc-be-bf-bi 8,primitive ,type01 #eb ,proof of an ,ancient breed1 #ai ,separation of the ,sexes1 #af ,sold at ,chartres1 #bf ,speed and ,bottom1 #ie ,strength of the type1 #bb ,three classes1 #ae-dd 8,primitive ,horse01 #ec ,prizes1 ,system of awards1 #cd ,given for ,size1 and for trotting1 #ca ,recapitulation1 #ge ,sheep1 ,percheron breed1 #ij ,soil1 ,influence of1 #ec ,stallions1 ,brittany and others1 brought into ,perche1 #cj ,not used before four years old1 #cf ,quarter-blood ,eng41 preferable to full-blood1 #gf ,stud-book1 #ce ,strangers1 ,information for1 #ha ,stud-,book1 ,improvement by means of1 #ga ,,preface4 ,illustration3 ,decoration ,the little volume which is now presented to the notice of the lovers of the horse in ,america is a translation of the work of a distinguished ,french author1 who1 holding a high position of trust1 made this as a report to the ,government4 ,his views in some respects may be regarded as extreme1 but on the whole they are characterized by strong common sense and are supported by a practical familiarity with all the phases of his subject which should give them weight4 ,the ,percheron horse no doubt stands first among the draft breeds of the world4 ,his value has been thoroughly tested in this country1 and the fact is established beyond a cavil that with careful breeding1 and probably an occasional renewal by the importation of fresh blood1 the ,percheron maintains his superior characteristics1 and impresses them upon his descendants of only one-quarter or one-eighth blood to a very marked degree4 ,the value of fast trotters1 their encouragement by ,agricultural ,societies1 and the enormous prices which have been paid for animals valuable simply for their speed as trotters1 has no doubt had a tendency to direct the aims of horse breeders in a wrong direction4 ,the result is1 from whatever cause it comes1 that the true horse-of-all-work has been neglected4 ,the ,percheron1 combining as he does a certain attractiveness of style1 very free action1 considerable speed united to power1 with astonishing strength for his weight1 and the greatest kindness and docility1 seems to offer to ,american horse breeders an exceedingly useful animal1 either to be maintained distinct1 or used for improving our stock of both light and heavy draft-horses by crossings4 ,the value of this work1 however1 does not consist in its recommendation of this breed1 or demonstration of its value in ,france1 but its bold discussions of the principles of breeding as applied to the improvement of the ,percherons1 and equally applicable to that of other draft breeds1 will doubtless commend themselves to the careful consideration of breeders4 ,interest in the ,percherons has increased greatly of late4 ,several notable importations have been made1 and excellent representatives of this noble breed are to be found in the ,eastern1 ,western1 and ,middle ,states4 ,the engravings which embellish this volume are portraits of animals owned by ,mr4 ,w4 ,t4 ,walters of ,baltimore1 ,md41 through whose interest in this subject the ,publishers were induced to issue this translation of ,m4 ,hus work4 ,,the ,,percheron ,,horse4 ,illustration3 ,decoration ,,production1 ,,rearing1 ,,and ,,improvement ,,of ,,the ,,percheron ,,horse4 ,illustration3 ,decoration 444 ,facilis descensus ,averno2 ,sed revocare gradum8 ,almost everything that has been written about the horse may be reduced pretty much to1--complaining that there does not exist a breed which unites1 in an elevated degree1 high moral to physical qualities2 modestly seeking1 and teaching the means of obtaining such a breed4 ,it is reasonable that such sentiments should surprise us1 here in the heart of ,france1 where1 for a long time1 a race of horses has flourished which may be said to fill the requirements proposed in every way4 ,the proof of this statement is easy3 a hasty sketch of the principal characters of the breed suffices to furnish it4 ,to no ordinary strength1 to vigor which does not degenerate1 and to a conformation which does not exclude elegance1 it joins docility1 mildness1 patience1 honesty1 great kindness1 excellent health1 and a hardy1 elastic temperament4 ,its movements are quick1 spirited1 and light4 ,it exhibits great endurance1 both when hard worked1 and when forced to maintain for a long time any of its natural gaits1 and it possesses the inestimable quality of moving fast with heavy loads4 ,it is particularly valuable for its astonishing precocity1 and produces by its work1 as a two-year-old1 more than the cost of its feed and keep4 ,indeed1 it loves1 and shows a real aptness for labor1 which is the lot of all4 ,it knows neither the whims of bad humor1 nor nervous excitement4 ,it bears for man1 the companion of its labors1 an innate confidence1 and expresses to him a gentle familiarity1 the fruit of an education for many generations in the midst of his family4 ,women and children from whose hands it is fed1 can approach it without fear4 ,in a word1 if ,i may dare speak thus1 it is an honorable race4 ,it has that fine oriental gray coat1 the best adapted of all to withstand the burning rays of the sun in the midst of the fields--a coat which pleases the eye1 and which in the darkness of the night allowed the postilion of former times to see that he was not alone--that his friend was making his way loyally before him4 ,it is exempt1 7a cause of everlasting jealousy among the breeders of other races17 always exempt from the hereditary bony defects of the hock1 and where it is raised1 spavin1 jardon1 bone spavin1 periodical inflammation1 and other dreaded infirmities1 are not known even by name4 ,this truly typical race would seem a myth did it not exist in our midst4 ,but every day we see1 every day we handle this treasure1--the munificent gift of ,providence to this favored region1 to cause agriculture1 that 8nursing mother10 to flourish1 and with agriculture1 peace and abundance4 ,i need not name this breed2 every one from this incomplete sketch has recognized the fine race of steady and laborious horses1 bred in the ancient province of ,perche1 7so justly entitled ,perche of good horses17 plowing in long furrows the soil of ,beauce1 and thence spreading itself over all ,france1 where its qualities render it without a rival for all the specialties of rapid draft4 ,hence it is that all our provinces envy us the possession of the race1 and even foreign countries seek after it with an eagerness amounting to a passion4 ,illustration3 ,,hercules4 ,the breeder1--who is ordinarily a farmer1 not sufficiently rich to be beyond temptation1--finds himself without strength1 without resistance in presence of this urgent demand4 ,the finest types1 not only of the males1 but of the females also1 are disappearing every day4 ,this1 tending incessantly to deprive ,perche of that in which it is so superior1 is so much more to be dreaded as the question of filling up the vacancies and of saving this race from a tendency to degeneration and from inevitable destruction becomes the necessary corollary of such commercial operations4 ,entered upon this course1 if ,perche does not adopt1 without delay1 salutary measures1 if it does not make a vigorous effort to place itself in a condition1 either to resist the tendency or to contribute to it in a well-maintained and uniform manner1 the breed is fated to a complete eclipse at the moment even when the future belongs to it4 ,indeed the future does belong to the ,percheron horse1 if he can sustain himself in the first rank of the truly useful races until the not far distant day when that era of triumph will come4 ,every thing now seems to incline to establish the truth of what1 at first1 appeared a paradox4 ,i am aware that1 for the moment1 the ,percheron has1 in the class of fancy-horses1 an antagonist that seems to derive formidable strength from the prestige belonging to elegance4 ,the ,english thoroughbred and its congeners are in possession of the scepter of fashion and 8bon-ton40 ,but this antagonism1 more apparent than dangerous1 on account of the elevated but rather limited spheres in which it exists1 will last but for a time1 and will yield before reason and the necessities of a difficult situation4 ,our age1 factitious to excess1 is governed by the demands and temptations of a luxury which is tending to ruin the most solidly established families4 ,it wildly suffers patrimonies and fortunes to dwindle away under the lead of a vain and noisy ostentation1 without perceiving that already they are decreasing and becoming less every day1 under the continued action of the laws4 ,a change will be brought about1 and the effect of an inevitable reaction will be a return towards sobriety and simplicity4 ,recovering from the intoxication of city luxury1 the best minds will1 let us hope1 recover their tone in the quiet of the fields1 and agriculture will regain its too long forgotten rights4 ,tired out by allowing themselves to be eaten up by that elegant guest called the fancy-horse1 and by the army of evil-doing satellites following in his train1 men will come back to the one which requires but little care1 and which returns good service1 to the one which does not object to work1 the boon companion of every man desirous of following nature's law1 which is that of labor4 ,the value of the ,percheron is more evident than ever4 ,it is this1 among the serviceable races1 which is called to the greatest fortune2 for1 of all the ordinary breeds1 it is the nearest to the blooded1 in shape and qualities4 ,his usefulness causes him to be everywhere in demand4 ,if the railroads have driven him from the highway1 they claim him as an auxiliary in the centers of population and at all their termini2 for he is eminently a trotter1 remarkable for the ability to move at a relatively rapid gait1 and excelling in the valuable faculty of rapid draft4 ,since the post-coaches have ceased to use these horses1 the omnibuses of the large cities1 and those communicating with the railroads1 require increasing numbers4 ,this leads us to seek for the means of improving the ,percheron race and of maintaining it in its original purity and perfection in the land of its birth4 ,but let us first see what is the origin of this race1 what country gave it birth1 and by what characters it is to be recognized4 ,we have1 for this examination1 borrowed largely of those who have known and studied ,perche intimately1 and hope to remain truthful in following them step by step4 ,,part ,i ,,greatness ,,and ,,decline ,,of ,,the ,,percherons4 ,illustration3 ,decoration ,,chapter ,i4 ,,glance ,,at ,,perche4 ,the ,department of ,perche is too well known to need a description here4 ,we will limit ourselves to the remark that this region1 which has become so celebrated for its fine race of horses1 represents an ellipse of about #be leagues long by nearly #bj broad4 ,this ellipse is bounded on the north by ,normandy2 on the west1 also by ,normandy1 and by ,maine2 on the east1 by the portion of ,beauce including ,chartrain and ,dunois2 on the south1 by the ,vendomois--three portions of the ancient ,orleanais4 ,at the present time1 enclosed in the center of the four departments1 ,orne1 ,eure and ,loir1 ,loir and ,cher1 and ,sarthe1 the territory of ,perche comprises the following divisions3 #ast4--,the district of ,mortagne 7department of ,orne72 #bnd4--,the district of ,nogent-le-,rotrou1 and a portion of those of ,chartres1 ,dreux1 and ,chateaudun 7department of ,eure and ,loir72 #crd4--,all the western side of the district of ,vendme 7department of ,loir and ,cher72 #dth4--,the eastern portion of the districts of ,mamers and ,saint ,calais 7department of ,sarthe74 ,it is the summit region of the middle portion of the vast plateau extending between the sea and the basins of the ,loire and the ,seine4 ,it is here that the rivers ,sarthe1 ,huisne1 ,eure1 ,loire1 ,iton1 ,hene1 ,braye1 ,avre1 ,commanche1 and ,percheron ,orne1 take their source1 springing up from the same plateau and crossing it on their way to the ,channel and the ocean4 ,the country is1 in general1 uneven and hilly1 cut up in every direction by small valleys watered by springs or small brooks flowing into the rivers above named4 ,all these valleys1 no matter of what extent1 are natural meadows1 and the most of them rich and fertile4 ,but drainage could here be usefully applied everywhere1 to rid them of their surplus humidity1 and to purge them of their too abundant aquatic plants4 ,the finest valley is that watered by the ,huisne1 which is second to none in ,france for length1 extent1 richness1 and beauty of sites4 ,here are situated ,nogent-le-,rotrou1 ,cond1 ,regmalard1 ,boissy1 ,corbon1 ,mauves1 ,pin-la-,garenne1 ,reveillon1 etc41 etc41--all centers renowned for the beauty of their horses4 ,the land is generally clayey1 lying upon a calcareous subsoil of the secondary formation4 ,some portions are silicious1 the high and hilly points always so4 ,the ,percheron country contains rather few meadows1 in proportion to the total surface of the soil1 and to this circumstance1 probably1 is due the superiority of its horses4 ,here the rearing takes place in the stable and the brood-mare is found under the hand of the breeder4 ,the idea of making use of her comes naturally to his mind4 ,he works and feeds her well4 ,all the secret of his breeding lies in these few words4 ,here1 for many years1 agriculture has flourished2 artificial meadows are everywhere cultivated with success1 and are necessary to produce the enormous quantity of fodder consumed by the number of horses raised4 ,among the plants for green and dry forage1 clover first and then fenugreek are the favorites of the ,percheron farmer4 ,he uses plaster and marl with care1 and would tell you1 should the opportunity offer1 that it is through system and superior cultivation that ,perche has been able hitherto to meet the large demands made upon her from the commencement of the present century1 particularly for the last fifty years4 ,he is1 moreover1 laborious and persevering4 ,disregarding the industrial arts1 the glory of other districts1 his true vocation1 his favorite occupation1 is cultivating the ground and raising horses1 which he has practised with zeal from the most remote period4 ,in fact cannot this be inferred1 even from the example of his early lords8 ,the ,counts of ,perche1 those old ,rotrous1 triple knights1 had they not adopted as an emblem of their nobility the stamp of their horses' feet8444 ,not content with a single chevron1 they placed three upon their standards1 to signify both the superiority of their horses1 and their infinite number4 ,for in symbolical language 7and none is more so than that of heraldry17 the number three implies infinity2 and the oval form of the eastern courser's foot1 to which the chevron is distinctly traced1 was used in early times as a sign of chivalry1 replacing the ancient ring of ,rome4 ,hence comes1 as a distinctive mark of nobility1 the large number of coats of arms with chevrons1 among those of the knights4 ,the simple chevron was the designation of the noble1 and the particular marks which often accompanied the chevron served to recall some exploit1 some distinguished feat of arms1 the nature of the tastes1 or the possessions of the warrior who bore this blazon4 ,perche is very much cut up3 the farms generally small2 the fields1 likewise small and mostly enclosed by hedges4 ,the temper of the ,percheron breeder is invariably mild4 ,he knows all the importance of attention to the race which he rears1 and nevertheless1 it must be confessed1 that with the exception of the mildness with which he treats it1 he has done next to nothing to ameliorate it or preserve it in its beauty4 ,nature1 time1 and the climate1 have done all4 ,perche has a climate eminently favorable to horse-breeding4 ,under its influence1 the water is tonic and the food nutritious1 the air is pure1 bracing1 and drier than that of ,normandy4 ,the sea is farther off1 and its influence1 in consequence1 is less felt4 ,however1 these can be but general attributes1 for the country varies in aspect according to the district4 ,the portion near ,normandy1 which is watered by the ,sarthe1 is much the same as that province4 ,the grasses are1 however1 sparser1 and especially do not have that extreme sweetness and great tonic quality which distinguish those of the environs of ,courtomer and ,merlerault1 situated only a few leagues from the limits of ,perche4 ,on the side of ,beauce1 there are vast plains sometimes undulating1 and having much similarity to that province4 ,on the ,maine side1 the country gradually assumes the characteristics of aspect and cultivation peculiar to it1 so that the transition between these two provinces is not an abrupt change1 but they blend like the tones of a picture4 ,upon some points woods1 ponds in the north-east1 forage and grain upon the remainder1 are the chief features1 and are the sources of the revenues of the country4 ,illustration3 ,decoration ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,sketch ,,of ,,the ,,percheron ,,race4 ,the height of the ,percheron horse is generally #ad to #af hands2 he is of a sanguine temperament1 mixed in variable proportions with the musculo-lymphatic2 his color is almost always gray1 and is1 among the characteristic features1 that which first strikes the eye4 ,according to their predominence1 these temperaments constitute varieties which may be thus classed3 #ast4--,the light ,percheron1 in which the sanguine temperament predominates2 #bnd4--,the draft ,percheron1 in which the lymphatic temperament is the most fully developed2 #crd4--,the type intermediary between these two1 partaking of the one by its lightness1 and of the other by its muscular force4 ,the latter is the most numerous1 but it has much degenerated of late years2 and there is a tendency to its disappearance since the post-coach service1 which formed it1 has gradually given way to other means of conveyance4 ,it has style1 although the head is rather large and long2 nostrils well open and well dilated2 eye large and expressive2 forehead broad2 ear fine2 neck rather short1 but well filled out2 whithers high2 shoulder pretty long and sloping2 breast rather flat1 but high and deep2 a well-rounded body2 back rather long2 the croup horizontal and muscular2 tail attached high2 short and strong joints1 and the tendon generally weak2 a foot always excellent1 although rather flat in the low countries and natural meadows2 a gray coat2 fine skin2 silky and abundant mane4 ,such are the most general characteristics of the old ,percheron race4 ,these are the points which are still noticed upon what remain of some old horses1 preserved from the transformation which commenced long ago2 for at the present moment everything is much changed4 ,since the time of the foreign crossings1 the foot has become flatter1 the head overcharged1 the tendon still weaker1 the back longer1 the shoulder has lost its direction1 and the croup has become shorter4 ,the race has changed suddenly to fill new wants which have unexpectedly sprung up4 ,of course these different characters are modified by the varieties upon which they are noticed1 but the 8ensemble0 presents a striking similarity4 ,the light ,percheron1 suited to harness1 is found particularly in the ,norman portion1 in the district of ,mortagne1 near ,courtomer1 ,moulins-la-,marche1 ,aigle1 ,mesle-sur-,sarthe1 and especially in the parishes of ,mesnire1 ,bures1 and ,champeaux-sur-,sarthe4 ,this is easily accounted for1 as here is the best blood of ,france1 near the region where has been found the best ,norman type4 ,here the soil1 temperature1 and pasturage1 are pretty near the same4 ,in going from ,nogent-le-,rotrou to ,montdoubleau1 and following the limits of ,perche-,manceau1 by ,saint-,calais1 ,vilvaye1 ,fert-,bernard1 ,saint-,corme and ,mamers1 we travel over the birthplace of the heavy draft-horse4 ,here we meet with the heavy brood-mares4 ,in the center of ,perche1 at ,mauves1 ,regmalard1 ,lougny1 ,corbon1 ,courgeon1 ,reveillon1 ,villiers1 and ,saint-,langis1 nothing is bred2 the farmer brings up the horse colts of ,eperrais1 ,pin-la-,garenne1 ,coulimer1 ,saint-,quentin1 ,bur1 ,pervercheres and the breeding parishes of the district of ,mortagne1 ,nogent-le-,rotrou1 ,montdoubleau and ,courtalain4 ,horses of different sexes and ages are never mingled in ,perche2 they are there separated with care4 ,but it is not exactly the same in respect to kinds4 ,the post-coach and the heavy-draft horse are there to be met with upon the same ground4 ,the post-coach horse is1 to be sure1 bred a little everywhere2 his temperament and the conditions in which he is placed1 prepare him for this specialty4 ,it is1 as we see1 at the two extremities of the ellipse 7especially where the pasture grounds are71 that the mares are found4 ,in the center1 at ,mauves1 ,regmalard1 ,lougny1 etc41 etc41 the inhabitants turn their attention to bringing up the colts4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,origin ,,of ,,the ,,percheron4 ,what1 now1 is the origin of the ,percheron8 ,some attribute to him an ,arabian ancestry2 others1 less explicit and without positively assigning to him so noble an origin1 hold him to be strongly impregnated with ,arabian blood4 ,m4 ,eugene ,perrault1 one of the most extensive and skillful dealers in fancy horses in all ,europe1 has frequently remarked to me that of all the various races of horses none were so interesting to him as the admirable ,percheron1 and that1 judging from his appearance and qualities1 he was satisfied he was a genuine ,arab1 modified in form by the climate and the rude services to which he had for ages been subjected4 ,we cannot1 however1 find in history the written positive proof that the ,percheron is an ,arab1 but we believe it easy1 by fair historical deduction1 to prove what he is in fact4 ,it is well known that after the defeat of the famous ,saracen chief ,abderame by ,charles ,martel1 on the plains of ,vouille1 the magnificent cavalry of the foe fell into the hands of the victors1 since more than #cjj1jjj infidels were killed on that day1 and the horses which they rode were1 like themselves1 from the ,east4 ,upon a division of the spoil a large number of these were assigned to the men of ,la ,perche1 of ,orleanais1 and ,normandy1 who composed the bulk of the ,french forces1 and they must necessarily have left in their progeny indelible traces of their blood4 ,la ,perche1 like all ,christian countries1 furnished1 as is well known1 her contingent of fighting men to the crusades1 and the chronicles cite several ,counts of ,bellesmer1 ,mortagne1 and ,nogent1 barons and gentlemen of that province1 who1 with many of their vassals1 made pilgrimages to the ,holy ,land4 ,the ,abbe ,faet1 in a letter addressed to the ,congress of ,mortagne1 ,july #af1 #ahdc1 and in his great work upon ,la ,perche1 cites in this connection a lord of ,montdoubleau1 ,geffroy ,,iv41 and ,rotrou1 ,count of ,la ,perche1 as having brought back from ,palestine several stallions1 which were put to mares1 and the progeny most carefully preserved4 ,the small number of the sires1 their incomparable beauty1 and manifest superiority1 must have led to the in-and-in breeding so much deprecated by most breeders2 but the qualities of the sires became indelibly fixed upon their progeny4 ,the lord of ,montdoubleau was1 it is said1 the most zealous of the advocates and breeders of the new blood1 and1 being the most zealous1 was the most successful2 hence it is that the ,montdoubleau stock is to this day the best in ,perche4 ,the ,count ,roger1 of ,bellesmer1 imported both ,arabian and ,spanish horses1 as did ,goroze1 the lord of ,saint ,cerney1 ,courville1 and ,courseroult2 these are historical facts which have their importance4 ,like chronicles1 it is true1 exist for other provinces--for ,limousin1 for ,navarre1 for ,auvergne 7the land of noble horses71 also for ,brittany and ,maine2 but in the latter not the least sign of ,eastern blood is perceptible4 ,the fact is1 the crusaders from all the ,french provinces naturally brought back with them more or less of the ,eastern blood1 which they had learned to appreciate on the plains of ,palestine--but the truth is1 it has not been preserved elsewhere2 and that we in ,la ,perche1 after so many centuries1 should be so fortunate as to be able to show the traces of it1 should stimulate us to its careful preservation4 ,from the time of the ,roman domination1 the horse in his oriental forms was not only valued by the ,gauls1 but was particularly prized in ,perche4 ,in #ahfa a subterranean vault was discovered in the middle of a field1 near ,jargeau 7,loiret71 upon the borders of ,perche4 ,it contained a statue of ,bacchus1 surrounded by bacchanals1 with which were found a horse1 a stag1 a boar1 some fish1 a grape vine1 and other native products of the country2 but the horse was indubitably of the ,arab form1 which goes to prove1 either that at that remote period there were ,arabians in the country1 or that the native local race from which the portrait was taken resembled the ,arabian4 ,these historical data1 these inductions1 incomplete as they may be1 lead to the belief that for antiquity the ,percheron yields to no other of our ,french races1 and that the soil which has nourished and preserved it1 must be one of the best in ,france for horse breeding4 ,under the feudal rule and inhabited by tenants ever at war1 ,perche must always have been an equestrian country1 and the horse must have been there in every age the companion of man4 ,he must have been really a first class necessity4 ,in those times of continued war and hostile surprises1 what property was more movable and so easily taken to a place of safety8 ,how glorious the possession of such noble coursers1 and like the ,rotrous1 to own more than could be counted1 as was proudly shown by the heraldic chevrons upon their broad banners1 displayed from the towers of ,mortagne and ,nogent6 ,but had the ,percheron then1 as a race1 the characteristics it now possesses8 ,this is not probable2 it must have been lighter1 but still possessing within itself the character which it now presents4 ,the essential point is to prove that there was1 at that period1 a native race2 and if the extraordinary life formerly led there--if the aspect of the country1 which must have been always fertile--if the historical inductions do not prove it--the universal tradition of the whole country should not leave us in any doubt in respect to the fact4 ,let us1 then1 take no account of the silence of historians4 ,this silence is no proof of the non-existence of the ,percheron4 ,most of these writers were gentlemen of the equestrian order2 they prized the saddle-horse1 while they ignored the equally useful breeds of all work4 ,illustration3 ,decoration ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,modifications ,,of ,,the ,,percheron ,,race4 ,the ,percheron race comes from the ,arab2 but it is useful to know the causes which have separated it from the primitive type4 ,how has it been modified8 ,how has it lost the ,arabian character1 in which it must have been at first clothed8 ,a large number of the ,french races have been even more profoundly modified1 and have become abject1 miserable1 puny1 and misshapen4 ,all equine races have been changed by the effects of climate1 by the extinction of the feudal system1 and by the inauguration of peaceful habits which have made an agricultural and draft-horse of the horse primitively used for the saddle and for war4 ,the ,percherons must have been especially modified by contact with the breed of ,brittany1 where their striking characteristics are now met with in a large number of individuals4 ,however1 it has been vigorously attempted to offset the intrusion of the heavy horse by the continued use of the ,arabian horse4 ,indeed1 we see1 towards #agfj1 under the administration of the ,marquis of ,brigges1 manager of the stud-stables of ,pin1 all the large number of fine ,arabian1 ,barb1 and eastern stallions1 that this establishment owned1 were put at the disposition of the ,count of ,mallart for use at his mare-stables of ,csme1 near ,bellesme4 ,the arrival of the ,danish and ,english stallions at the stud-stables of ,pin put an unfortunate end to the influence of the ,arab horse in ,perche1 and it will now be many a long year before the eastern blood will be seen as before4 ,it is only towards #ahbj1 still at the same chateau of ,csme1 with the grandsons of those old admirers of the ,arabians1 that we find again two ,arab horses from the stud-stables of ,pin1 ,godolphin and ,gallipoli4 ,these two valuable stock-getters1 both gray1 again gave tone and ardor to the ,percheron race1 and transformed definitely into gray horses the stock of the entire country1 which had1 it was said1 become less uniform1 and of all colors4 ,the ,brittany horses have been strongly attracted towards ,perche by the immense outlet offered by the public service1 since the increase of the roads1 to the ,percherons4 ,mixtures between the two races must have been frequent4 ,and when a good ,brittany horse was there met with1 he must have been made use of1 and the old native type has gradually tended to disappear1 and its traces become more and more rare4 ,this mixture of ,percheron and ,brittany blood1 too well marked to be questioned1 arises from several causes1 which we will take up successively in review4 ,illustration3 ,decoration ,,chapter ,v4 ,,the ,,first ,,modification1 ,,due ,,to ,,contact ,,with ,,the ,,brittany ,,race4 ,perche is bounded1 in its whole length1 by the immense plains of ,beauce4 ,on account of this position1 it was always traversed by the post-coaches for ,paris1 and by all the supplies that came from the ,west4 ,being the intermediate point between the principal home of the ,brittany draft-horse and the immense markets which ,beauce and ,paris offered1 its territory was the necessary stopping-place of everything that came from the ,west4 ,it has been for many years the rendezvous of the draft races of the whole ,west4 ,now1 see in what an exceptional position this country is placed4 ,first and foremost1 ,i do not hesitate to say that there exists no ,french race which could have multiplied and preserved its original type under such unhappy influences4 ,we can but deplore the slight care taken in preserving it pure and intact1 and the want of judgment in the delicate operation of crossing4 ,there has been no uniform and logical plan for improving as well as increasing it4 ,to make the greatest possible profit out of this hen with the golden eggs has been the only aim4 ,when the post-coaches1 wagon transportation1 and the public conveyances were organized and generalized2 when every thing requiring the use of the horse had undergone excessive development2 when the improvements of our roads1 the multiplicity of business transactions1 and the enormous internal traffic1 required increased and rapid locomotion1 all eyes were turned towards ,perche1 and it became necessary for her to satisfy the increased demand4 ,let us see in what condition was the ,percheron breeder to satisfy all these demands4 ,as for race1 he possessed the best4 ,strong1 yet quick1 it was that1 of all others1 which contained the most blood4 ,it owed this to the soil and climate4 ,it was the best to feed1 the easiest to raise1 and the most favorably situated to be cheaply multiplied4 ,and with all this1 it had at its door the best of known markets4 ,wagons1 diligences1 and post-coaches1 required horses such as the ,percheron cultivator loved to breed for himself4 ,hence that sympathetic understanding which developed itself more and more between the ,percheron producer and the consumer occupied in public transportation4 ,and the anxiety to meet the demand was one of the most active causes of degeneration and of the drafts made upon this and the neighboring breeds4 ,illustration3 ,,alene4--,,mare4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,conditions ,,under ,,which ,,they ,,are ,,bred4 ,we know how the sexes are divided in ,perche2 one section of the province produces1 while another raises what the other has produced4 ,no matter what may be the class to which she belongs1 light or heavy1 or partaking of both1 the mare is expected to breed every year4 ,if barren1 she is sold1 and this fault continuing1 she passes into public use4 ,during her gestation she works constantly4 ,a few days of rest1 before and after foaling1 is the only time lost4 ,the remainder of the time her work pays abundantly for her keep and the interest on her cost4 ,at the age of five or six months1 the colt is abruptly weaned and sold4 ,its price varies from five to six hundred francs--sometimes more1 but this is the exception--and so far it has cost nothing4 ,led into the interior upon the fertile meadows of ,mauves1 ,pin1 ,regmalard1 ,corbon1 ,lougny1 ,reveillon1 ,courgeon1 ,saint-,langis1 ,villiers1 ,courgeoust1 etc41 etc41 it remains one year unproductive4 ,in winter it is fed upon hay1 in the stable1 and during the fine season turned into the fields to graze4 ,to sum up1 it is rather poorly nourished on bran1 grass1 and hay4 ,the reason is1 it is as yet unproductive to its master1 and it feels the effects4 ,wait a little2 its hardest time has gone by1 and work will soon soften its lot4 ,it reaches1 in this manner1 the age of #ae or #ah months4 ,what has it cost for keeping8 ,very little4 ,estimate1 about #hj or #ajj francs4 ,at this age it is put to work4 ,naturally docile and in the hands of a man always patient and mild1 its training is generally easy4 ,assigned to farm labor1 it plows or draws a wagon4 ,harnessed with four or five colts of its own age1 together they pull what would be an easy load for two good horses4 ,put before two oxen1 or joined to three of its companions1 it plows and is never overworked4 ,now1 it is better fed1 and taken a great deal better care of4 ,its 8morale0 improves1 and its master seems to delight in contemplating the progress and the development of its qualities4 ,thus1 in traveling through ,perche1 one involuntarily stops in the midst of the fields to see it work1 never tired of admiring the vigor it displays1 and the gentleness with which it is treated4 ,the bait is there4 ,at the age of three the ,beauce farmer buys it to work his soft and light soil4 ,for him1 it must be preserved intact1 its development uninjured1 nay encouraged4 ,master1 servants1 large and small1 all deeply imbued with the love of the horse1 unite in this work with admirable skill4 ,it has thus worked during one year1 abundantly fed1 but receiving little or no grain4 ,doing enough light work to pay for its keep1 the master has received1 besides its manure1 a heavy interest on the cost1 as we will presently see4 ,this premature work1 which would have been injurious under a careless management1 is1 on the contrary1 beneficial when it is in the hands of a good master4 ,this is so much the general case1 that the contrary is the exception4 ,the animal grows and becomes better developed in size and strength4 ,now1 as we before observed1 the ,beauce farmer comes to buy4 ,he lives in a country of proverbial richness4 ,the work there is abundant1 but the nature of the soil renders it extremely easy4 ,the fields1 very much divided1 and distant one from another1 make a rapid gait indispensable4 ,in ,beauce1 the horse cannot be replaced as a beast of burden2 no matter how dear his keeping1 his use is indispensable2 the ox cannot be his competitor4 ,but it is a fact of the greatest importance to state1 that it is to the ox that the ,percheron horse owes a part of his celebrity4 ,as is well known1 ,beauce is the exceptional country for cereals2 the horse and sheep are pretty much the only animals which there produce a manure required by such husbandry4 ,add to this the breadth of land under tillage1 and the extreme fertility of the soil1 and the large number of horses kept by the ,beauce farmer will be accounted for4 ,at three years old1 the ,percheron dealer sells his horse for #ijj or #a1jjj francs1 and sometimes more1 according to his merit4 ,but he does this only in order to buy other colts2 and the profit has been1 in fact1 sufficiently large to warrant him in this4 ,he has had against him only the chances of mortality4 ,these are small2 the race is tough and hardy4 ,accidents are more to be dreaded1 and these sometimes occur4 ,living in the open air1 in the company of other animals1 the young colt is a little exposed to the influences of chance4 ,but the fields are enclosed1 the master's eye is upon it1 and1 to sum up all1 the large profit covers every thing4 ,reaching ,beauce at three years old1 he is subjected to hard work4 ,the work is easy enough1 but there is much of it4 ,he must be quick1 the breadth of land is very extensive1 and the work must be done4 ,sowing and harvesting--these two words sum up the ,beauceron agriculture4 ,otherwise expressed--plowing and hauling4 ,as regards the horse1 all must be done promptly and quickly4 ,but if he be hard worked1 on the other hand1 nothing is denied him4 ,he eats as much grain and hay as he pleases4 ,what difference does this make to the farmer8 ,do not his labor and his manure pay for his nourishment8 ,and1 moreover1 how act otherwise8 ,as we have seen1 nothing can supply his place4 ,necessity has no law4 ,he lives in this way a year1 with abundant food4 ,sometimes he succumbs2 the mortality is quite large in this region4 ,but the stock which remains after such a training offers many guaranties to the dealer who buys it to transfer1 if they suit1 to the express and omnibus companies2 or if they belong to the draft race1 to the contractors1 wagoners1 and builders1 of ,paris4 ,at five1 he is bought by the horse-dealer at the annual horse fair on ,st4 ,andrew's ,day in the town of ,chartres4 ,there he is delivered1 the farmer leading his horse upon the ground4 ,the prices vary from #a1jjj to #a1djj francs4 ,the profit is small1 sometimes nothing1 the greatest gain being his work1 which cannot be dispensed with4 ,the feeble have perished2 the survivors owe their lives only to their robust constitutions4 ,before dedication to his final use1 he has thus passed through four hands2 all these have shared the risks of his rearing4 ,the most serious have been for the last owner2 but he was also the wealthiest1 and to him also has he been the most useful4 ,thus1 we see1 the foal costs almost nothing1 and his work pays for his keep4 ,perfectly well fed1 and exercised from his tenderest age1 the ,percheron has always been the first draft-horse in the world1 and he would have constantly improved1 if his admirable qualities themselves had not led to his degeneration4 ,illustration3 ,decoration ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,causes ,,of ,,the ,,degeneracy ,,of ,,the ,,percheron ,,horse4 ,the breeding of the ,percheron horse has been so much the more stimulated1 in consequence of his situation1 his well-known qualities1 and the favorable economical circumstances in which he is placed4 ,was not everything in his favor8 ,sure and increasing sales and great facility in raising8 ,in a word1 ,perche is not large2 the number of horses that it can produce is limited1 and not being able to answer all the demands made upon it1 competition stepped in4 ,at first1 the finest types1 the males especially1 were sold4 ,then1 little by little1 the traffic increasing1 the finest females1 in their turn1 commenced to appear upon the market4 ,the interior of ,france and foreign countries1 ,prussia especially1 were anxious to possess them1 the latter country1 in order to form a race of draft-horses1 which it absolutely needed1 in consequence its own becoming too light4 ,it is the only race which has been accused of no faults1--simply because it has satisfied a real want and has been able to satisfy it fully4 ,the sale of colts becoming greater and greater1 and all the farmers being interested in buying them to raise1 ,brittany sent hers upon the markets4 ,they made their appearance in ,perche and in the fairs of ,mortagne1 ,courtalain1 etc41 etc41 taking their place there alongside the colts of the country4 ,the breeding-mares being sought after1 and in consequence sold1 it became necessary to replace them4 ,their offspring sold too well not to think of increasing their number4 ,hence the introduction1 at first1 of a large number of ,brittany mares1 and afterwards of mares from ,caux1 ,picardy1 etc41 etc41 approaching nearest1 both as to height and coat1 to the race of the country4 ,if there had been among them only the ,brittany mares1 ,i would but half complain3 these are well bred2 and moreover1 has not ,perche contributed to the improvement of the ,brittany race by sending into their country such famous stallions as ,pomme1 ,bijou1 and ,tancrede8 ,but the mares from ,picardy1 from ,caux and from ,boulogne--the scrofulous races of the ,north6 ,what can be said for them8 ,this introduction is not of yesterday2 it is already of long date4 ,but it may be boldly advanced that it is only since #ahcj that it has been effected upon a very large scale4 #ahcj was the era of the systematic infusion of the ,english pure-blood into our ,french half-blood races4 ,having become1 by this fact1 less fit for service1 they commenced to lose their credit in the eyes of thinking men4 ,the rich ran after the ,english1 while others wanted the ,german horse1 and this made the latter's fortune4 ,the majority addressed themselves to ,perche1 and thus obliged her to multiply anew a stock already become insufficient4 ,in ,upper ,perche1 that is to say1 towards the ,norman part1 in the district of ,mortagne1 the introduction1 7we are ignorant of its cause1--perhaps from the presence of some good stallions17 was not so great2 but it did1 nevertheless1 take place1 and its traces are discovered at every step4 ,it would be very difficult1 if not impossible1 to find there at the present moment1 a ,percheron completely free from mixture of foreign blood4 ,illustration3 ,decoration ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,starting ,,point ,,of ,,this ,,degeneration4 ,as long as the post-coaches were flourishing and the diligences crossing ,france in every direction1 it was especially a horse fit for their uses that ,perche devoted itself to produce4 ,but since these modes of transportation have been modified1 the race1 with them1 has undergone a complete transformation4 ,as this country only possessed1 as an outlet for the light part of its stock1 the expresses1 omnibuses1 and post-office services in the interior of ,paris1 and later the private post teams1 etc41 etc41 which only employ quick-gaited horses1 it became necessary to think of rendering the race heavier1 in order to replace the monopoly of the mail stages and diligences by another monopoly4 ,had it not before it the necessity of satisfying the commercial wants--that is to say1 the express cartage1 the heavy work of the contractors and builders of ,paris1 and in the provinces1 the services of the large towns1 and the express and other business connected with all railroads8 ,the fear of losing this important market offered to his qualities of speed1 strength1 and honesty1 tempted the breeder to infuse too suddenly the blood of the heavy draft-horse4 ,he might have accomplished this more slowly and gradually1 by means of a rational coupling with the heaviest bodied native types2 but our age1 eager to enjoy1 did not leave him the time4 ,to answer to these new wants1 ,perche opened wide its doors to all the heavy mares that it could meet with4 ,many came from ,brittany1 others from ,picardy and ,caux1 and some from ,boulogne4 ,during this time the ancient stallion of the country1 eagerly sought after by all those who wished to create fine draft studs1 passed into the interior and even into foreign countries4 ,the success of the ,percheron race was very great4 ,all the departments wished to acclimate it4 ,the prices of these stallions had increased so rapidly in a few years1 that they had tripled and quadrupled4 ,accordingly1 the possessors sold them4 ,the administrative authorities1 aided by the lite of the proprietors1 endeavored1 however1 to hinder this emigration4 ,they formed a stud-stable at ,bonneval2 but this establishment was not composed of types that were homogeneous and adapted to assure a regular and continuous improvement4 ,prizes were given at ,mortagne1 ,nogent-le-,rotrou1 ,illiers1 and ,vendme4 ,but an end was arrived at contrary to what was desired4 ,the prizes served as signs to the dealers4 ,perche was visited to buy first-class horses4 ,what surer guaranty than the prize8 ,and then1 how could the breeders resist the prices of #c1jjj and #d1jjj francs1 and even more1 offered the proprietor of a stallion8 ,it will be objected that these stallions1 before disappearing1 had already served2 ,i know this4 ,but how served8 ,they had served at two or three years1 before their complete development1 and it was at the age at which they would have been most useful1 that they were withdrawn from their district1 and the same thing was true with the best mares4 ,several departments carried off great numbers2 they were sent everywhere4 ,a great many proprietors bought them4 ,thus disappeared1 gradually1 the flower of the breeding-mares4 ,the race was cut off in its prime4 ,perche stretched its sails to the winds of the present without thinking of the future6 ,stallions of all kinds now came forward2 stallions from ,brittany1 ,picardy1 ,caux1 and ,boulogne4 ,the heaviest were preferred4 ,the change was so rapid1 that1 to-day1 in many places1 there does not remain the slightest trace of genuine ,percheron blood4 ,it is a mixture which betrays itself to the eye by coarse forms1 foreign to the original type1 and in the morale by a sensible loss of that generous spirit1 and of that indescribable something that we so much admired4 ,perche would formerly have disowned stock lacking the eastern character2 still1 their presence is not without instruction4 ,it gives the measure of the great climatic qualities of this province1 and proves what it could have done with well-chosen animals4 ,such is its force of assimilation1 that after nourishing some generations upon its soil1 it is able to reform them1 and impart that sacred fire1 and that build1 which can only come from the nourishment of its hills4 ,the department authorities1 unwearied by the slight success of their first attempts1 renew their efforts1 from year to year1 to oppose the progress of this degeneration1 and endeavor to combat it by the strongest measures4 ,the department of ,eure and ,loir1 undeterred by the costly and disastrous failure of the ,bonneval breeding stud1 continues still its patriotic work1 and keeps up its encouragements1 in the form of prizes to stallions and brood-mares--encouragements to which ,orne and ,loir1 and ,cher1 appropriate annually considerable sums4 ,there was formed1 some years ago1 at ,chateaudun1 with the most disinterested and patriotic design1 a powerful association of proprietors1 known under the name of 8,the ,horse ,association of ,perche10 having for its mission the furnishing of good stallions to the farmers4 ,trotting matches at ,illiers1 ,courtalain1 ,vendme1 ,montdoubleau1 and ,mortagne1 have been established2 but1 with all this1 a success worthy of such efforts has not yet been obtained1 on account of a lack of uniformity in the movement4 ,competition at the fairs gives but too often the spectacle of size being systematically encouraged2 while trotting1 in consequence of the speed required1 leads to the employment of ,english cross-breds4 ,would this operation were well directed6 ,but even then1 would this ,english blood be used in right proportions8 ,i doubt it4 ,when it is used1 it is used too much2 for1 this blood1 if it be not employed with extreme reserve1 an extreme parsimony1 if ,i may so speak1 results in injuring the honest traits and the valuable quality of early maturity2 it destroys1 in fact1 that precocity of the breed1 which enables it at an early age to pay for its feed by its labor4 ,the breeders are almost invariably small farmers1 and they cannot afford to lose the time necessary to mature fancy horses2 they must have quick sales and quick returns4 ,,part ,,ii4 ,,of ,,the ,,means ,,of ,,regenerating ,,the ,,percheron ,,horse4 ,illustration3 ,decoration ,perche1 in order to retain its best customers1 and not drop to a level with the common herd of horse-breeders1 must at once have recourse to systematic means of improvement4 ,her breeders have shown a deplorable alacrity in the downward course1 which has brought upon them the depreciation in the value of their stock1 of which they begin to perceive the effects4 8,facilis descensus ,averno2 ,sed revocare gradum1 ,hoc opus1 hic labor est60 ,unanimity of will and unity of means are both necessary to accomplish the ascent1 and regain the position which the breed has lost4 ,two measures present themselves as each essential in accomplishing this result4 ,the first step is to restore the disturbed equilibrium by a well-planned and uninterrupted series of crosses1 effected within the breed4 ,this would arrest the evil4 ,the second step should be1 subsequently1 to breed up by improving crosses1 practised with a wise and circumspect deliberation4 ,this would be making progress4 ,at the very outset1 and continued parallel with this course of breeding1 a ,stud-book should be instituted1 in order that all thus subjected to systematic improvement should be brought together1 and thus initiate a general improvement of the breed4 ,the development of these ideas will furnish matter for the following chapters4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,regeneration ,,of ,,the ,,percheron ,,breed4 ,there are two ways of crossing applicable to any breed1 both of which have had their earnest partisans4 ,so much clamor has been made about them1 ,i think1 only because they have been simultaneously used and often mingled1 and the results have been deranged by their use4 ,this might have been avoided by commencing with the simplest and continuing with the best4 ,the first may be called the renewal of a breed within itself1 or interbreeding2 the second1 improving by foreign blood4 ,we will pass them rapidly in review1 trying to reach in the results the solid basis of truth4 ,illustration3 ,decoration ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,regeneration ,,of ,,the ,,breed ,,through ,,itself1 ,,or ,,by ,,selection4 ,the first manner1 also called selection1 consists in making1 among the race itself1 a rational1 judicious choice of the most perfect types2 those which are as free as possible from the most prominent defects of the breed2 those which best recall the primitive type1 if it possess the superior qualities which it is required to reproduce2 those which1 healthy and vigorous1 seem to have among themselves the most affinity4 ,this choice ought to be severe and rigorous1 nor should we be discouraged by the small number of the elect4 ,from the issue of this first selection1 make a similar choice1 and with them and their progeny march perseveringly in the same way1 without ever looking to the right or to the left--that is to say1 without ever listening to advice which would modify the work commenced1 or to praises which might induce the desire for too rapid results4 ,to proceed too fast is perhaps a still greater error than to stop on the way1 inasmuch as it often renders a retrograde movement obligatory and reduces to nothing the results of several years of success4 ,it is indispensable that the selections from which a good progeny is desired should be completely grown--that is to say1 the horses should be at least four years past1 and the mares fully three years old4 ,sell1 without remorse1 to the trade the least successful types1 and most carefully keep the good4 ,the horses1 after serving some campaigns in their adult age1 can be sold without inconvenience2 a few well-proved types are sufficient for a district4 ,but never part with the mares when they are remarkable for their conformation1 temper1 aptitude to work1 and for their qualities as breeders4 ,thus1 in order to keep the breeders clear of temptations which are always dangerous1 and as a good means of guidance1 prizes become a question of life or death for the future of the race4 ,it is1 in fact1 by means of prizes and rewards1 liberally distributed for the class of mares of three to ten years inclusively1 that they can be kept in the region4 ,it is by awarding the prize at three years1 after they have been covered1 in paying at first but one-half of the prize and the remainder only after they have foaled and have been again covered1 that they can be virtually controlled4 ,after ten years1 as they no longer meet with either a good or profitable sale1 special encouragement may cease4 ,moreover1 the breeder who during eight years has received in prizes a sum often superior to the money value of his mare1 and recognizing that he possesses in her a brood-mare of merit1 will no longer commit the folly of parting with her for a price which would be ridiculous4 ,there is such extreme delicacy in the manner of distributing these prizes1 that ,i scarcely dare refer to it4 ,the members of the council-board1 who have the appropriation for the prizes1 should have naturally and rightfully the honor of awarding them4 ,i would then wish1 that in each district 7what ,i am about to say excludes the public fairs1 in which a jury1 numerous1 and consequently never unanimous in opinion1 opposes the execution of a uniform idea71 the council-board and the council of the district1 charged at the same time with the establishment of the ,stud-book1 of which ,i will speak in a separate chapter1 should be willing to accept this mission1 which they would perform with the aid of the inspector-general of the ,stud-stables4 ,each year1 by their care1 the mares of a district would be scrupulously examined and classed for the prize4 ,these premiums should be granted for eight years1 to the best three-year-old fillies1 to which this distinction would give the entrance upon the ,stud-book4 ,in the first year of the establishment of this book1 destined to contain the genealogical documents relative to the celebrities of the race1 the mares above three years1 which have been found worthy to be inscribed1 should be likewise given prizes1 and this same should be allowed them as a pension up to the age of ten years4 ,these inducements should be annual1 and kept up as long as the prize-mare is kept as a breeder and in proper condition1 that is to say1 sound of wind1 and exempt from the glanders4 ,other blemishes1 the natural consequence of work and age1 might be tolerated4 ,following the same system and conditions1 similar prizes should be awarded to stallions1 without paying attention to rewards which they may have received from other quarters4 ,but as the resources of which a department disposes1 augmented even by private contributions1 are not inexhaustible1 it is urgent that the prizes1 always liberal and remunerative1 being from two to four hundred francs for mares1 and from four to eight hundred francs for stallions1 should be accorded only to specimens of real merit4 ,quality1 when it effects the regeneration of a race1 is always preferable to quantity4 ,it is1 especially1 necessary to excite earnest breeders by all possible means1 to preserve or to buy remarkable ,percherons1 presenting in their form and character the type of the stallion4 ,and1 if the prizes of four to eight hundred francs1 of which we have just asked the institution1 should not appear to the authorities of the departments a sufficient means to impart the necessary impulse for the complete success of this measure1 the departments might themselves buy some remarkable types1 and either use them1 themselves1 in gratuitously serving the finest mares1 or in confiding them to good farmers1 in whose hands they would be given the prize and used almost for nothing1 as long as their health permitted them to be profitably kept4 ,after a certain number of years these stallions might even become the property of their keepers1 or they might1 from the beginning1 be granted them at reduced prices1 with the obligation1 on the one side1 that they should be used with judgment and preserved with care1 and on the other side1 with the promise of a largely remunerative prize4 ,love of gain has driven the peasant to strip himself of everything he owned that was good2 it now belongs to the authorities1 by the incentive of gain1 to induce this same peasant to pursue a wiser course4 ,oppose as much as possible the use of stallions before fully four years old1 and the fillies being put to breeding before reaching their third year4 ,this can only be attained by giving the prize1 in the class of fillies1 to such as have been served at the age of three years1 by stallions of at least four years old4 ,crossing by selection has numerous advocates1 and from all time1 the best-informed1 the most practical men1 have been unanimous in proclaiming that blood is only preserved and improved by blood--that is to say1 by selection4 ,it is easy and not expensive1 inasmuch as the necessary subjects are always at hand2 it is natural1 inasmuch as its simplicity is apparent to every mind4 ,and1 if it does not bring the rapid results so pleasing to those too eager for profit1 it is1 at least1 always sure4 ,for1 without giving at first exceptional results1 it never fails in its effects1 by reason of the affinity existing between the different individuals1 and by reason especially of their perfect conformity with the climate and soil4 ,in fact1 this conformity is not an indifferent matter1 and it has been found by experience that animals1 noted upon their native soil for their sureness in reproducing1 and for the invariable transmission of their qualities to their descendants1 frequently fail in these respects when imported into another country4 ,often1 several years roll by before they recover that equilibrium of health and that tranquillity of animal functions1 which permit them to reproduce in a sure1 equal1 and fixed manner1 without which an improvement in the type cannot take place4 ,selection has long been practiced in ,perche1 and it has there produced for a long time the best results1 which were interfered with only by the importation from ,picardy1 ,caux1 and ,boulogne1 of animals of inferior blood4 ,among the bovine species1 we have curious examples of the value of selection1 especially those furnished in ,cotentin1 where a breed exists the finest1 best1 and the most sought after in ,france4 ,crossing with foreign blood1 which fashion1 at one date or another1 had wished to prescribe1 has always been forbidden as a crime in this country4 ,it is thus that the finest herds of ,la ,manche1 and especially those of ,m4 ,mannoury of ,canisy near ,saint-,l have been formed4 ,the success of this breeder began at ,ebisey near ,caen1 where he commenced a few years ago and where the stock can be easily examined4 ,a bull of the ,cotentin race1 the most perfect and best bred that could be found1 put to heifers of the same breed1 chosen among the finest types1 was the starting point officially recorded4 ,selection1 operating upon this progeny1 as it had operated in the beginning1 was continued without intermission1 and1 by these means it has produced a herd all the members of which are alike and constantly transmitting identical qualities4 ,illustration3 ,decoration ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,consanguinity4 ,conjugal consanguinity has neither partisans nor friends4 ,the physiologist1 physician1 priest1 and legislator1 have always launched against it the same anathema4 ,all1 in making war against it1 knew that it was the surest method of establishing a fixed and permanent race2 but1 all1 preoccupied in seeking a means of universal fusion1 thought they had found in the prohibition of this a leveler destined to equalize everything4 ,it was feared that certain families would become too individualized1 too marked in their tendencies2 and all1 without acknowledging it1 endeavored to close a way which might lead to the engrossment of fortunes4 ,close interbreeding1 in the horse1 has not the same political inconveniences2 this is clearly apparent2 but with us1 the desire to legislate upon and regulate everything1 reducing all to a common level1 has prevailed4 ,equine consanguinity has not1 any more than the other1 found favor4 ,illustration3 ,,anthony4 ,one fact1 however1 strikes any one at the outset who has studied the equine races1 followed1 step by step1 their progeny1 and made himself acquainted with their performances4 ,this fact is3 ,if a horse is remarkable over all others in one of the three following ways3 personal beauty1 high qualities1 or sureness of reproduction2 go back boldly to his origin1 and you will find yourself1 at each step1 face to face with close interbreeding--that is to say1 the reforming of a race by means of itself1 the result of great qualities increased by drafts made at the source of a generous blood4 ,the thoroughbred race in ,england1 which has been formed but with a very limited number of primitive agents1 and which1 consequently1 soon became consanguine1 has anew1 and at two distinct epochs1 absorbed in every degree and repeatedly the blood of two famous groups1 represented1 the first by ,byerly ,turk1 ,darley ,arabian1 and ,godolphin ,arabian2 the second1 by ,matchem1 ,herod1 and ,eclipse4 ,at the present moment1 it maintains itself1 thanks to a universal consanguinity1 and everything good which exists1 by going back inevitably to these sole progenitors1 now forms but one and the same family4 ,magnificent results have come from these alliances1 and every day it can be proved that this blood has not degenerated4 ,it is the same in all breeding countries1 and it has been shown1 7for proofs see the journal 8,la vie la campagne01 of the #cjth ,november1 #ahfc71 that especially in ,merlerault1 the nursery of the fine ,french breeds1 everything exceptionally good which exists1 or which has existed1 is the result of consanguinity--that is1 8in-and-in breeding40 ,the following is the conclusion of the author of this note3 ,these examples 7the pedigrees of the best horses71 collected with care1 will perhaps bring upon me the accusation of being a partisan of in-and-in breeding4 ,in principle1 ,i condemn its absolute use2 but1 within certain limits1 ,i admit and advise it1 especially in the commencement1 when it becomes a question of founding and establishing a family designed to exercise a permanent influence upon the future improvement of a region4 ,uniting together vices of conformation1 character1 and temperament1 is rendering them indelible for ever4 ,uniting quality1 beauty1 and aptitude1 it is preserving the monopoly of these in a single family4 ,hence1 ,i would like1 when there appeared1 on the turf or elsewhere1 one of those envied types of which nature is generally so sparing1 that judicious attempts1 made with patience1 should fix the qualities so apt to disappear1 and collect1 so to speak1 all the sources whence they emanate4 ,the brothers1 sisters1 and collaterals1 should be included1 but once only1 in these crossings1 which might even go back1 if it were still time1 as far as the grandsires and dams1 on account of the resemblance noticed between ancestors and their grandchildren4 ,finally1 the truly valuable and completely successful results of a family thus strengthened should be coupled according to the rules of intelligent crossing to the equally confirmed representatives of some other excellent family1 fit to form new offspring4 ,illustration3 ,decoration ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,ought ,,the ,,gray ,,color ,,of ,,the ,,percheron ,,to ,,be ,,inflexibly ,,maintained8 ,formerly ,i liked the gray horse very much1 and have more than once praised this color4 ,but time has dissipated my illusions4 ,thus1 while acknowledging my former preferences for the gray horse over the horse of a different shade1 ,i am now very far from showing myself exclusive1 and quarreling with the mass of enlightened persons who seem desirous of adopting the dark colored coats4 ,i only desire one thing1 and that is to save the ,percheron race1 and to preserve to ,perche its prosperity and its glory4 ,if ,i have liked the gray horse1 it was from conviction1 and not to court those who saw no safety outside the gray4 ,but when the wisdom and the extreme intelligence of masters of science1 preferring a less showy color1 demonstrated to me that ,perche might find an era of new glory and prosperity in changing the coat of its horse and thus enlarging the circle of consumption1 ,i bowed meekly to their opinion4 ,i liked the gray horse because ,i thought that ,providence had created it gray in order that it might be able to withstand1 during its work1 the heat of the sun1 and not be prostrated under its rays4 ,i liked it gray1 as the ,arab likes his horse gray and his bournous of a whitish color2 as the ,american planter likes his white cotton suit and his panama2 as our soldier1 in the field1 liked1 under the ,african or ,mexican sky1 the havelock which protected him against the rays of the burning luminary4 ,i liked it gray because it seemed to me to recall more than any other the ,arab1 the primitive horse2 because ,perche having always possessed gray horses1 ,i thought there was much more chance of finding1 under this coat1 the type of the country2 because ,i had been rocked to sleep to the tune of that old ballad of our ancestors1 celebrating ,charles de ,trie1 the ,percheron ,seigneur1 going forth to combat the ,english at the battle of ,poitiers3 8,on charger white ,the sire of ,trie ,against the foe ,has gone to war10 etc4 etc42 because1 in a word1 during my infancy1 ,i had breathed the dust of the old manuscripts making mention of the white ,percheron mares4 ,i liked it gray1 because1 for the service of the post-coaches and couriers1 in their long stages1 in the middle of the night1 the gray horse appeared to me more easy to guide than the horse of a dark color4 ,finally1 it has always seemed to me that this coat was more becoming than any other the powerful form of a vigorous worker4 ,does not a good-looking1 stalwart1 and honest peasant please you better--is he not infinitely more at ease with the ,gallic blouse covering his broad shoulders1 than under the dark folds of a fashionable coat1 which makes him appear awkward and abashed8 ,but everything is much changed4 ,the country has no longer any special type in the midst of all this gray amalgamated with ,brittany1 ,picardy1 and ,caux1 of which the equine stock of ,perche is now composed4 ,if the ,percheron should cease to be bound by this law of gray1 if he should become of all shades1 at the same time remaining good1 and such as ,perche knows how to make him1 he would cease to be dishonored by those everlasting plagiarists1 shamelessly calling themselves ,percherons because they happen to be gray and have travelled across the ,perche country4 ,if he should become of all shades1 in preserving the qualities and movement which are a feature of everything that the tonic grasses and the fine and vivifying air of ,perche produces1 he would not be reduced to the simple role of furnishing the #f1jjj or #g1jjj horses that the omnibuses and teamsters each year require1 plus the #fjj or #gjj typical ones that foreign countries demand of ,perche4 ,he might1 little by little1 contribute to the satisfaction of the half-fancy and to the wants of the hunting and army equipages2 he might advantageously replace the ,german horse1 which we are obliged to employ in want of a better4 ,post-coaches no longer existing1 there is no longer need of gray horses for the night in the midst of the darkness of the highways4 ,steam machinery1 the indispensable substitute for the lack of human hands in the country1 being destined to execute1 in part1 the labors of agriculture1 the horse will be less employed there1 and the one that will be called for1 having fewer difficulties to overcome1 can be lighter1 more distingu1 faster1 and more fit for adaptation to the exigences of trade and fashion4--,finally1 ,fashion wishing1 positively1 no more gray horses1 and the ,percheron finding no longer a sufficient employment in the omnibuses1 will soon find himself in a tight place if he do not take a fresh start1 and make himself acceptable--if he do not conform to the exactions of the age1 and become more stylish and darker colored4 ,it is settled1 then1 that he must put upon his back a less showy covering2 but he can only do this on condition that he become1 thanks to good crossings1 more presentable and have a more stylish air4 ,and1 really1 what is more ridiculous than a vulgar and common beast decked out with the livery of the fancy and private horse6 ,let us occupy ourselves1 then1 seriously in looking up breeding stock of dark coats2 the time to do this appears to me to have come4 ,but where will we go to find them8 ,let us look about us and seek for this in ,perche4 ,if you there find1 under a dark coat1 a fine ,percheron1 possessing all the qualities and specialties of the race1 make haste1 take him and color your horses4 ,sincerely1 ,i give you this advice4 ,still1 as in the present state of things1 it is rare that the fine and the somber are met with together among the working races1 by reason of the horror which has been professed1 up to the present moment1 for everything not gray1 the best expedient would be to color the coat by means of fine1 dark skin ,arabs1 or with good1 well-chosen ,norfolks1 a subject that we will treat upon in the chapter of crossings4 ,as to doing it otherwise1 it is not to be thought of1 the elements not existing in ,perche4 ,this1 however1 is only a minor matter4 ,the essential point is to unite the heavy to the distingu1 weight to gait1 mildness to vigor1 hardiness to energetic temperament1 steadiness and precocity2 in a word1 to repeat myself for the hundredth time1 add a little more dash and style4 ,correct the defects of conformation1 the imperfections of color1 without weakening1 without breaking up the harmony of the admirable qualities which have made of the ,percheron the first horse of the age4 ,illustration3 ,decoration ,,chapter ,v4 ,,preserve ,,pure1 ,,and ,,without ,,intermixture1 ,,the ,,three ,,types ,,of ,,the ,,percheron ,,race--,,the ,,light ,,horse1 ,,the ,,draft ,,horse1 ,,the ,,intermediate ,,horse4 ,we have spoken1 in ,chapter ,,ii1 ,part ,first1 of the three types which the ,percheron race presents--the light horse1 the draft horse1 and the intermediate or post horse4 ,these three breeds come of the soil and are the product of ancient crosses4 ,there is reason for their existing and for their marked peculiarities2 and reason requires1 then1 that they should be preserved1 and1 in maintaining them always in their proper functions1 we obey1 in that progressive spirit which urges us to embellish everything4 ,the first is destined to become the post horse and horse for private use1 the surest and most agreeable means of locomotion4 ,the second cannot be replaced for express carting1 and for the builders and contractors of ,paris and other large towns4 ,to the third1 the omnibuses always offer a steady market4 ,consequently1 it is important to keep them without intermixture and to continue them uninterruptedly each in its respective class4 ,hence in seeking to add weight to a class it is necessary to avoid crossing it with a race superior in height1 and different in conformation and temperament4 ,the heaviest and strongest of a class1 united among themselves1 will produce more surely the kind demanded than a too precipitate crossing4 ,nothing is more risky than crosses made without judgment4 ,it is by them that harmony of form is destroyed1 and a degenerate mongrel race is produced as the inevitable consequence4 ,it is then important1 in the reunion of types1 never to lose sight of equality and similarity of conformation and qualities4 ,but1 at the same time1 it is necessary to march with the age1 study its tendencies1 and be always ready to guide a movement which otherwise might drag you in its wake4 ,we must not lose sight of the fact that the services required of the ,percheron horse are not the same as formerly4 ,the omnibus service1 especially1 which1 scarcely ten years ago1 was considered the mildest1 has1 at present1 become the hardest1 and the one which requires heavy horses1 uniting speed with strength4 ,on the other hand1 as a consequence of the great changes in the life and means of conveyance of the wealthy1 the ,percheron race has been most prominently brought forward4 ,almost all ranks of the upper classes have now adopted the ,percheron horse of the light kind for their private uses1 hunts and drives in the country4 ,the fondness for rapid traveling rendering these classes more exacting than formerly1 the necessity has arisen of finding in ,perche1 specimens with weight and speed with a light and stylish form4 ,accordingly1 it becomes necessary to find means of adding the greatest possible speed to the other valuable characteristics of the ,percheron horse4 ,to reach this result promptly1 we should have recourse to the ,arabian stallion1 and this1 surely1 would be the quickest means4 ,but as ,i do not find this ,percheron race1 in its present state1 sufficiently prepared for this alliance1 and as ,i think that it still needs two or three generations of preparatory crossings with itself1 it will be necessary to commence1 in order to attain this end1 by close interbreeding4 ,we should1 at first1 commence by exploring the ,percheron centers devoted exclusively to the rearing of mares1 and1 in these places1 we should particularly visit the localities in which they have no great development as to height4 ,here we would select a group of from fifteen to twenty fillies1 the best1 the finest limbed1 the most compact1 the fastest trotters1 and having for an extreme maximum the height of #ae to #af hands4 ,the same course should be pursued in the regions where the colts are raised1 and there choice should be made of some light stallions1 approaching1 as much as possible1 to the mares in form and qualities4 ,all the best foals1 then1 should be in their turn subjected to couplings conducted with the same care1 and among the third generation would be found types sufficiently confirmed1 either as founders of a race among themselves1 or for crossing with the ,arab1 of which we will speak in the following chapter4 ,if a little larger size be required1 it would not be necessary to have recourse to other types than those which ,i have just indicated4 ,well-balanced horses favor every modification4 ,more tonic1 substantial nourishment1 and more fertile meadows would increase the height and weight1 as well as the strength and spirit4 ,do you desire omnibus horses8--,you can obtain them by selecting in the regions which best produce the post-horse1 the strongest types1 the heaviest bodied1 the most favored as to height1 and the fastest trotters4 ,but never yield any of these three points3 weight1 spirit1 and speed4 ,the animals the nearest alike in size and form should then be coupled together1 after the manner indicated above1 and when weight1 spirit1 and speed1 are found without failing in all the progeny1 it will then be time1 but not till then1 to add style4 ,the ,arabian stallion1 whose tendency1 as we will see later1 is to produce heavier and stronger than himself1 while at the same time imparting his mark of supreme distinction1 might then be introduced to embellish and confirm our good results4 ,the heavy draft and the express wagon horses should have weight3 this is a sine qua non condition2 but it would be a great mistake to confine ourselves exclusively to mere size4 ,they should possess powerful limbs and muscles1 joined to great spirit4 ,this crossing1 although the easiest1 would also present great dangers should we be satisfied with weight alone2 we would soon arrive at the mere lymphatic horse4 ,it is1 therefore1 urgent1 for the breeds possessing requisite strength1 to choose those which are the most distingu1 the most nervous1 the finest limbed1 and the most spirited1 and to avoid the sluggish and lymphatic4 ,these will be found in the elevated and dry centers1 where the food is plenty and nutritious4 ,if ,perche proper1 ,beauce1 and the environs of ,chateaudun1 should not be capable of furnishing their complete contingent in this specialty 7as ,i believe they cannot17 some good specimens could be met with among the ,percheron colts raised in the environs of ,bernay and on the plains of ,sens4 ,this variety 7the draft-horse7 demands a great deal less care in the choice of the dams and sires4 ,it is infinitely more elementary1 since weight is principally sought after4 ,still1 it is well1 even indispensable1 to select individuals short coupled and with good quarters1 to hold out under the enormous loads they are obliged to draw4 ,the means resorted to to accomplish this are judicious crosses1 constantly made with a well-determined and always identical idea1 tending to increase weight and strength1 while preserving spirit and vigor1 abundant nourishment1 and breeding in those sections naturally most propitious to style and size4 ,soon1 ,perche1 placed in a situation without a rival for the present1 and1 above all1 for the future1 might forever avoid asking any thing of foreign crossings4 ,for though the choice of the stallion and the mare is so important in the production of the foal1 the climate1 the kind of food1 the agricultural habits1 and1 finally1 the adaptation of the region to horse breeding1 are of a great deal more importance in the development of the animal4 ,it becomes1 then1 somewhat difficult to indicate accurately to what types1 in such particular cases1 the preference should be awarded4 ,the best are those which most nearly meet the wants of the section4 ,illustration3 ,decoration ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,improvement ,,of ,,the ,,breed ,,by ,,means ,,of ,,foreign ,,crossings4 ,however1 if with strength acquired and faults corrected1 style is not attained1 it may be sought after by judicious crosses with well-chosen foreign types4 ,two different breeds present themselves to us as means of improving our stock by the introduction of foreign blood3 the ,arabian1 and the ,english1 with its variations4 ,starting from this point1 let us study both and endeavor to discover1 by analogy1 which one would best suit1 or1 rather1 which one is the least unfavorable to the purpose4 ,i will examine1 one after another1 these two methods in detail1 leaving to the cultivator1 who is most interested in the question1 the choice of employing that which seems to him the best and the most appropriate1 taking into view the fertility and the nature of his section4 ,but ,i must1 from the beginning1 lay down as a principle that both are more expensive than is interbreeding4 ,a race to become fit to receive a foreign cross1 should be prepared for it in advance1 in order to shorten1 as much as possible1 the distance existing between the breed so formed and proved and that which we seek to create4 ,in fact1 the foreign cross can do no good1 unless the desired qualities in the race upon which it is made are permanent1 fixed1 and characteristic4 ,why not think also of increasing our resources by better cultivation1 by liberal feeding1 by choosing1 as ,i have said above1 among the race of the country1 the most perfect types and those most likely to correct what is vicious while they impart their own good qualities8 ,methods of this kind1 pursued for a long time and persistently1 are alone capable of preparing1 without inconvenience1 for a foreign cross4 ,drain your wet meadows1 irrigate your hill-sides1 fertilize your soil by the use of improving manures1 make productive fields everywhere1 create meadows1 grow heavy oats1 enlarge your stables and make them clean1 healthy and airy4 ,when you have done this1 then1 but not before1 you can cross your races with foreign blood1 more delicate than yours and accustomed to and requiring greater care and attention4 ,i know that this slowly progressive manner does not possess the sympathies of those who1 at the commencement1 are restless at not having already reached the goal4 ,but it is sure and free from errors1 whilst the other1 7,france has but too many examples of this71 after money squandered and years wasted1 reduces the breeder who has recourse to it to a more miserable condition than that from which he wished to escape4 ,our furia francese1 which renders us1 irresistible in war1 our fancy for new fashions1 which gives birth to those wonders which the world hails with ecstacy1 and our proverbial inconstancy1 cause us almost always to go astray in breeding4 ,fashion has no sooner praised horses of such and such a race1 of this or that model1 or such and such a coat1 than we must immediately produce the like1 without first ascertaining whether or no our race be prepared for crossing with them4 ,the result of such crosses would be about as valuable as a discussion between a fishwoman and an academician6 ,nature1 left to herself1 is a thousand times more intelligent than the man of systems4 ,are there ever found1 among the wild animals1 among lions1 tigers1 stags1 chamois1 etc41 either spavins1 tumors1 periodical inflammations1 or any of those thousand infirmities with which our domestic horse is afflicted8--,and here is the reason3 in the rutting season1 the possession of the females becomes the incitement to bloody battles4 ,it is always the strongest1 the most vigorous1 the bravest1 the most venturesome1 and the best made stallion1 which receives as a reward for his victory1 the submission and the admiring love of the harem4 ,but ,i assume ,perche prepared1 by numerous and good crossings of the race within itself1 to try1 with more sureness1 foreign crossings4 ,two principal types1 as we have just seen1 are presented for this3 the ,arab type and the ,english1 which is itself derived from the ,arab4 ,the foreign cross ,i only speak of with diffidence1 because with it ,i enter unknown regions of inductions and perhaps1 alas6 into ways of deception and ruin1 if it is not effected with the greatest prudence and judgment4 ,foreign crossings1 systematically effected from the north to the south1 and from the south to the north1 have had ,buffon for their apostle1 and1 under the cloak of his genius1 and thanks to the authority of his word1 they have reached everywhere4 ,but how enumerate the evils brought about by a school1 whose disciples are still numerous1 thanks to a perseverance irritated but not deterred by failure8 ,these evils have been branded in large characters on all our breeds1 since that day when they became the objects1 not of constant and uniform care1 but considered as subjects of no consequence1 upon which individuals might experiment in order to test their theories1 and set themselves up as teachers4 ,since then1 we have no more types properly belonging to distinct districts1 but a confused assembly1 combining with rare qualities the defects of this or that cross and twenty others more4 ,everywhere in turn1 from one region or another1 were stallions employed of different types and races3 those of the south transported to the north1 and those of the north to the south2 and that without preparation1 and without attention to the differences of soil and climate of the various regions4 ,all these practices have injured our breeds without successfully retaining their own native qualities4 ,illustration3 ,decoration ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,the ,,arab ,,crossing4 ,i commence with the ,arab crossing4 ,two motives have induced me to follow this classification3 #ast4 ,the ,arabian is the type horse1 and the type should be examined before its derivatives4 #bnd4 ,the ,percheron shows a very great analogy1 by his coat1 conformation1 character of race1 mild disposition1 and endurance1 to the ,arab1 of which he seems to be the son1 notwithstanding certain differences1 the result of time1 climate1 and the region in which he is bred and in which he lives4 ,i have said that the ,percheron horse exhibits in common with the ,arab numerous marks of a common parentage and relationship3 these marks are very obvious4 ,a ,percheron1 a true ,percheron1 for some still exist1 7as the famous ,toulouse of ,m4 ,chradame1 of ,ecouch2 and the renowned ,jean-le-,blanc of ,m4 ,miard1 of ,villers1 near ,sap1 in the department of the ,orne1 etc41 etc417 placed alongside of an ,arab1 presents1 notwithstanding his heavier and grosser form1 analogies with him so striking that we are easily induced to believe them undoubted relations4 ,the ,percheron of the primitive type has a gray coat like the ,arab2 and like him an abundant and silky mane1 a fine skin1 and a large1 prominent1 and expressive eye2 a broad forehead1 dilated nostrils1 and a full and deep chest1 although1 the girth1 with him1 as with the ,arab1 is always lacking in fullness2 more bony and leaner limbs1 and less covered with hair than those of other draft-horse families4 ,he has not1 it is true1 the fine haunch and fine form of the shoulder1 nor that swan-like neck which distinguishes the ,arab2 but it must not be forgotten that for ages he has been employed for draft purposes1 and these habits have imparted to his bony frame an anatomical structure1 a combination of levers adapted to the work he is called upon to perform4 ,he has not1 ,i again acknowledge1 such a fine skin as the ,arab1 nor his prettily rounded1 oval1 and small foot2 but we must remember the fact that he lives under a cold climate1 upon elevated plains1 where nature gives him for a covering a thicker skin and a warmer coat1 and that he has been for ages stepping upon a moist1 clayey soil4 ,in all that remains in him1 we recognize a heavy ,arab1 modified and remodeled by climate and peculiar circumstances4 ,he has remained mild and laborious1 like his sire2 he is brought up1 like him1 in the midst of the family1 and1 like him1 he possesses in a very high degree the faculty of easy acclimation4 ,he acquires this in the midst of the numerous migrations he accomplishes in ,perche1 the counterpart of those that the type horse makes upon the sands of the desert4 ,a final comparison1 which has not1 as yet1 been sufficiently noticed1 is1 that1 like the ,arab1 he has no need of being mutilated in order to be trained1 managed and kept without danger4 ,in a word1 the ,percheron1 notwithstanding the ages which separate them1 presents an affinity as close as possible with the primitive horse1 which is the ,arab4 ,from this similarity of form and probable relationship1 comes the thought of new alliances4 ,but in order to form a more easy estimate of their effects1 it will not be without interest to classify the horses with reference to their origin4 ,this classification produces three very distinct groups3 the primitive horse1 the natural horse1 and the compound horse4 ,the ,primitive ,horse1 oriental in its origin1 is the pure ,arabian horse2 no other is acknowledged4 ,during the time of the crusaders1 as we have already said in our first part1 in consequence of wars and all kinds of excursions1 individuals of this race were spread over almost all parts of the globe4 ,although at first the prestige which their superior merits deserved led to their being bred in-and-in1 these exiles were placed under different latitudes1 in different atmospheric and hygienic conditions1 which gradually modified their qualities and led to the degeneracy of the race4 ,and it became more or less degenerate in proportion as the soil upon which the colts were foaled was colder1 poorer1 and more inhospitable2 for the horse is as much1 and more1 the son of the soil upon which he is foaled and reared as he is of his sire and dam4 ,this fact has no need of proof4 ,we see it every day before our eyes in studying at home the changes that our ,french breeds themselves undergo when transported from one province to another4 ,it might1 however1 be thought that these new latitudes1 these new regions1 would differ but little from those in which they lived4 ,the first change that the primitive horse undergoes1 from the difference of the regions into which he has been transplanted1 being due to nature itself1 we call the result the ,natural ,horse4--,here it is proper to remark how wise nature always is4 ,if it modify the primitive horse for the worse1 it modifies him1 however1 under conditions better adapted to his wants4 ,in rendering him more puny1 it renders him more temperate1 and enables him to live and to nourish himself upon the food that the locality is able to furnish4 ,submitted to the trials and the fatigues of war1 and to all the miseries in its train1 the natural horse1 badly built1 ungainly and puny as he is1 endures fatigue almost as well as the primitive horse4 ,the ,cross-bred ,horse is1 as his name indicates1 the issue of a sire and dam of different breeds4 ,this crossing1 made with a view to improvement1 may give1 when judicious1 more elegant1 better made1 and finer-bodied progeny and also quicker in their various gaits1 but always requiring1 especially if derived from the ,english1 exceptional care1 and so much the more particular as they are of a more distingu nature4 ,abandoned to himself1 deprived of blankets1 shelter1 grooming1 and oats1 the cross-bred deteriorates early1 and in war perishes miserably1 while the natural and the primitive horse thrives in browsing upon the scantiest herbage4 ,on this score1 our two campaigns of the ,crimea and ,italy have furnished unquestionable proofs4 ,such is the result chiefly obtained with the too distingu ,english horse1 even when delivered to the best working mares4 ,in the army1 especially1 is this point settled2 they have there recognized and proved that the worst subjects were always the issue of authors having too much blood and too impressionable4 ,no horses are more apt than these to provoke and render ill humored1 and1 if ,i may so speak1 ruin the temper of the men placed over them4 ,when a working race is crossed with the ,english1 it is indispensable that the stallion should be well bred and be but a quarter blood1--a quarter at the utmost4 ,and the manner of balancing the blood is neither an indifferent thing nor a thing to be neglected4 ,we should be very careful not to accept as such the product of a full-blooded or even half-blooded stallion and a common mare1 but should rather take the product1 ameliorated through generations1 of strong races that have been gradually perfected1 such as1 for instance1 certain ,norfolk horses1 certain roadsters and trotters1 of which old ,juggard was a type1 and of which ,performer1 although not so marked1 vaguely recalled the memory4 ,since ,i have mentioned the name of ,norfolk1 let me say1 that after the ,arab race1 of all the foreign ones1 the ,norfolk trotter is the one which seems to me to offer the greatest advantages in an alliance with the ,percheron4 ,with both1 good qualities and defects are diverse1 so that they can complete and correct each other by means of a wisely combined and carefully studied connection4 ,the ,norfolk horse has1 it is true1 an ugly head1 and his eye is small and destitute of expression2 but his neck1 with good lines1 starts well from his breast2 his shoulder is fine and well-sloped2 his chest magnificent1 and his girth enormous2 his loins broad1 well-sustained and well-attached2 his haunches long1 his croup horizontal2 his buttocks well filled out and low2 and his limbs strong1 but not quite free enough from fat2 nor is his action always sufficiently stylish1 yet he has a quick and free gait4 ,give to this horse a mare having a fine and expressive head1 lighted up with a large1 intelligent1 well-opened eye2 let her possess lean1 elegant1 and perfect limbs1 and1 a hundred to one1 you will get a valuable colt4 ,but1 with the ,norfolk1 as with all others1 there are degrees1 and if ,i cross the ,channel in search of a stock horse1 ,i should wish him to possess the following qualities3 ,this stallion should be rather large1 have thick and strong limbs1 chest fully developed1 the girth as great as possible1 very heavy in the hind-quarters1 buttocks descending well1 forehead broad and open1 and the eye large and expressive4 ,he should be always shorter in height than the mares1 but quite as broad1 and1 ,i repeat it1 as short-limbed as possible1 on account of an invariable1 innate tendency of the ,english horse to height and thinness4 ,he should be neither cross1 nor1 above all1 affected with that nervous sensitiveness too common in the ,english breeds4 ,his action should be quick1 well kept up1 bold and square4 ,he should have1 if possible1 a decided and well-pronounced color1 either a dark bay or a chestnut4 ,breeding stock of his get should be chosen under identical conditions1 and then they would be on a footing with him1 although1 logically speaking1 there would be always an inclination to prefer the type to the sub-type4 ,but1 at present1 it is easy to be deceived1 even in ,england1 in regard to the stock of the country4 ,there is less risk in using1 if he can be found1 a good1 heavy ,anglo-,norman horse1 bred and reared under our eyes in ,merlerault or on the plains of ,alenon1 than a spurious ,english one1 which is often none other than a forlorn hope of some nameless region4 ,in fact1 from certain appearances1 there is reason to fear that persons from the other side of the ,channel visit the continent to do a smart thing1 and purchase heavy1 lymphatic colts to bring up on some ,english farm1 and then resell them as ,norfolk horses4 ,what kind of improvement is to be expected from such means8 ,we should always respect the will of nature1 which allows us to assist her in her course1 but we should never violate her laws4 ,man vainly wishes to force nature with all these crosses1 at which she takes exceptions4 ,to all this so-called science she opposes her relentless logic2 these products are an unnatural brood1 which she refuses to acknowledge as her own4 ,she stops short1 and1 no matter how good these results may appear in themselves1 the error crops out1 and it is known by experience that they almost all fail when put to the test of breeding4 ,but suppose every measure of prudence taken1 even suppose there has been no mistake1 most of the produce resulting from this first crossing will be1 generally1 lighter built than their dams4 ,however1 among the number there will be found some which1 uniting weight to beauty1 will constitute good types with athletic and regular forms4 ,the latter only should be preserved1 and these only can be usefully employed1 either among themselves or outside of their own families1 in the improvement of our stock4 ,at the second crossing1 the imperfections observed at the first will disappear in a great measure1 and from the third crossing1 with constant care1 unflinching attention1 and unwearied patience1 the difficult problem will be solved3 size combined with vigor1 hardiness of constitution with style1 and weight with elegance4 ,if1 on the contrary1 by wishing to make too quick progress1 there should be too much difference between the stallion and the mare1 the resulting stock1 although in appearance successful1 will always prove bad breeders1 giving ungainly results1 with blemishes which would never have occurred in proceeding wisely1 especially not in improving by means of the primitive horse1 all of whose ancestors are of the same race4 ,this latter crossing1 that is1 with the ,arab1 may sometimes give slower1 but with it we are always sure to obtain finally better results4 ,thus in making choice of the best ,percheron mares and crossing them with fine1 but the stoutest possible1 ,arabs1 we would advance towards certain improvements1 and at the end of a few generations1 we would be sure to find at each foaling season fine types1 combining with the strength and docility of the dams the style1 spirit1 and intelligence1 of the sires4 ,for1 it must not be forgotten1 work requires intelligent horses2 the more they are gifted with this quality1 the longer they last and the more useful their services4 ,if the drunken driver of the ,lyons ,railroad1 whose adventure is known the world over1 had not had for his working companion a brute as nobly intelligent as the old horse ,lapin1 employed in hauling dirt carts1 he would surely have perished4 ,the driver having fallen in a state of intoxication on the railroad1 before a train descending a grade1 was on the point of being run over1 when the horse1 seeing him in this perilous situation and at the risk of being himself crushed1 seized him by the waist and lifted him off the track4 ,this deed1 performed under the eyes of several squads of workmen1 was soon known over the whole line1 and won for ,lapin the title of ,the 7invalid's and workingmen's7 ,adopted ,son1 a nobly gained title and well-merited reward1 if ever there was one4 ,in the legends of all times are to be found examples of the intelligence of the oriental horse2 but ,i have never heard quoted a single one in regard to the ,english thoroughbred1 which seems only formed for pride1 gluttony1 and brutality4 ,as an example of the sagacity of the ,arab1 ,i will limit myself to mentioning a fact witnessed by all the officers of the school of ,saumur4 ,at this school there was an old ,arabian known to the whole army4 ,one day1 a lady having her handkerchief scented with1 ,i know not what perfume1 passed in front of the veteran1 caressing and feeding him with dainties4 ,from that time on1 the officer who accompanied the lady could never enter her parlor1 although the odor of the perfume was imperceptible to all1 but the horse1 on his return1 was aware of the fact1 and bore witness to it1 each time1 by neighing and by a hundred expressions of pleasure4 ,the vigor and pluck of the oriental horse have passed into a proverb4 ,there is not a soldier in our army who cannot bear testimony to this4 ,the horses of the ,english cavalry almost all perished in the ,crimean war1 whilst our ,algerian horses almost all returned4 ,in the ,italian war our ,algerian horses bore well the fatigues of the campaign1 where the horses springing from the ,english were decimated4 ,it appears impossible that these two proofs should have no signification and should not teach a lesson4 ,ought it not to be concluded from them that the war-horse1 that is the horse for endurance1 should only be of ,arab blood or at least derived from the ,arab8 ,and are we not justified in believing that what has taken place with the war-horse applies also to other horses destined for continuous work8 ,hence are we not right in always preferring the ,arab to the ,english stallion1 when it is a question of improving the different breeds of work and draft-horses1 as well as the war horse8 ,the ,arabian stallion would seem so much the more fit for this use1 as a long experience has proved that his get upon our native mares are much heavier than himself2 they1 at the same time1 always transmitting a rich1 unblemished blood and a solid frame--qualities which are preserved indefinitely4 ,the ,arab horse imparts1 also1 great endurance to his progeny1 and without going back as far as the turf1 where we see figuring on the top round of the ladder ,arlequin1 ,zephyr1 ,valencia1 ,corysandre the ,lorraine1 whose dam was an ,arabian of ,deux-,ponts1 ,anthony1 ,eylau1 ,kasbas1 and ,palmyre1 let us be satisfied with citing in mass1 all the fine and spirited breeds of ,limousin1 ,navarre1 ,bigorre1 ,tarbes1 and ,auvergne1 showing in every pore the presence of the ,oriental blood4 ,it is also especially to be remarked1 although the ,arab does not trot and only gallops1 that all his get are quick1 square trotters4 ,we can produce numberless examples of this1 although ,arab blood has been infinitely less disseminated than any other in our ,northern districts4 ,we can cite the famous ,eclipse of ,m4 de ,narbonne1 the no less famous ,herminie of ,m4 ,forcinal1 all the descendants of ,bacha1 ,aslan and ,gallipoli1 which were matchless1 and the noble sons of ,massoud1 ,eylau1 and ,noteur4 ,but1 as all these have a certain amount of ,english blood joined to the ,arab1 we shall be answered3--,it was the ,english blood that trotted and gave them their winning points4--,we will confine ourselves to citing only the sons of ,bdouin1 all admirable trotters1 though all coming of poor ,brittany mares1 the ,kerims1 the ,avisos1 and the ,moggys1 whose fine action invariably attracts the attention of every one4 ,but the endurance possessed by the ,arab in so eminent a degree is not the only quality to be considered4 ,it is also the opinion of the best breeders that the race is good tempered1 docile1 patient1 of great precocity1 and easily raised1 all of which qualities it invariably transmits to its get4 ,no steeple-chase horses have shown themselves more intelligent than ,pledge1 ,raphael1 ,senora1 and above all the immortal ,franc-,picard1 by whom the best riders found themselves excelled in the art of measuring an obstacle and mastering it skillfully2 also1 those were deep in the ,arab blood4 ,if ,auricula1 notwithstanding he was a son of ,baron1 with his variable and peevish temper has shown himself to be1 when he chose1 one of the best leapers of our age1 it is because through his dam he is of ,arab blood4 ,from all these considerations the ,arabian seems greatly preferable to the ,english horse1 which exacts1 moreover1 too much tact and skill on the part of man4 ,the education of the wagon driver is not yet sufficiently advanced for him to be able to reap all the advantages claimed of the working races4 ,the irritability of the ,english horse1 his impatience1 and his nervousness1 which are1 doubtless1 of utility on the turf1 are transmitted to all his descendants1 which for this very reason are less fit for work1 less governable1 and more trying to the patience of the raw and ignorant driver during protracted service4 ,all who have raised colts out of common mares by ,arabians are unanimous in opinion1 and we have ourselves proved it1 that their get is generally even tempered1 of a mild1 willing1 and quiet disposition1 easily and cheaply reared1 and fit for work at three years old1 thus paying for their keep4 ,it is quite the contrary with the colt of ,english blood4 ,he1 by reason of his fractiousness1 his nervous ardor1 his exacting nature1 and his slow growth1 requires a degree of care and management which does not permit him to render any essential service before the age of five years4 ,it results from this that the ,arabian progeny1 even at the first crossing1 which is always the most difficult and critical1 pays for its nourishment from the age of three years1 whilst the ,english does not pay until he has reached five years1 and this without counting the greater expense of his raising and the difficulty of finding men capable of breaking and training him without accident and bringing him safe to that quinquennial period4 ,were their qualities the same1 the ,arabian would cost much less to the breeder than the ,english horse4 ,to the former1 then1 should always be given the preference in moderately rich countries where agriculture has not arrived at great perfection4 ,thus it was by means of the ,arabian that ,limousin1 ,navarre1 ,bigorre1 the plains of ,tarbes and ,auvergne1 all countries neither very fertile nor wealthy1 have formed their unrivalled horses1 the hardiness of which suited the productions of the soil4 ,these being unsuited to the more delicate and less vigorous ,english horse1 its introduction was an injury to the native stock4 ,in our days1 ,limousin has been ruined by the introduction of ,english blood1 as formerly1 in the district of ,tarbes1 three important breeders1 ,messrs4 de ,gontaut1 de ,bouillac1 and de ,montral1 ruined their studs with the ,english cross4 ,the ,arabian can be used without fear upon the undulating slopes of elevated hills1 and upon thin stony lands where agriculture is but little advanced2 but the ,english horse requires rich1 well-cultivated meadows and grassy valleys4 ,as regards form1 the ,arab cross is the surest4 ,the sire being1 if ,i may so speak1 sui generis1 of a confirmed race1 and possessing for ages a like shape1 his get always resemble him1 no matter what may be the race1 color1 shape1 and derivation1 of the dam4 ,only1 in consequence of the warmth and strength of his blood1 the progeny is always larger and heavier than the sire4 ,it is not so with the ,english horse4 ,made up1 and not having the same confirmed nature as the ,arab1 he has not the same sureness in generating4 ,sometimes his get is large and sometimes small4 ,his progeny may be spare or may be stout4 ,this comes from his ancestors being at times of one height and at times of another1 and often resembling different types4 ,we have dwelt1 perhaps1 at too great length upon our preference for the ,arab cross2 it now remains to put it in practice4 ,the method to be pursued in making this cross is simple4 ,having an ,arabian of pure race1 the heaviest and finest bodied that can be found1 put him to the heaviest and strongest short-limbed mares4 ,sell the male produce of this cross1 unless it has been a perfect success4 ,be less strict with the fillies1 reject a smaller number1 and use the good for breeding4 ,as much as their conformation will permit1 and in order to fix the ,arab blood in a deeper and more indelible manner1 some choice specimens may be put either to their sire himself1 or to such of the half-brothers as should have proved themselves the best4 ,but beyond the first trial1 consanguineous crossings should never again be contracted1 except under exceedingly rare circumstances1 or under great temptation4 ,the dam of one of the most justly celebrated horses of our times is the result of breeding a stallion to his dam4 ,from and after the second generation1 colts and fillies1 provided their merit had rendered them worthy of being used as producers1 might be taken as types1 and as a starting point of a solid and sure improvement of the race of a country4 ,when1 in consequence of age and numerous generations of his own get growing up around him1 the common sire might be exposed to alliances with his grandchildren1 it would become indispensable to transfer him to a distant district by proceeding in the manner indicated above4 ,after such an infusion of warm blood many years might elapse without the necessity of recurring again to ,arabian stock4 ,but if it should be remarked that its distinctive characteristics commenced to disappear from the breed1 and the action became less free and light1 it should be again resorted to immediately1 following the same method as before4 ,the light draft types at first obtained1 might1 according to the districts in which they are raised1 be transformed into the posting1 omnibus1 and even heavy draft types4 ,but all should be done with time and without haste nor even wishing to depart from a wise and prudent moderation4 ,i cannot terminate this chapter without warning the breeder against a peculiarity which hardly ever fails to strike a person1 who1 for the first time1 makes a trial of the ,arab cross1 and which has even induced some to abandon this method without reaping its fruits4 ,i desire to speak of a certain disproportion1 more apparent than real1 of the limbs with the body4 ,it is thus explained3 ,the ,arabian1 born and raised in a poor and barren country1 is no sooner transported to a more fertile region1 than a certain fullness of the body is an immediate consequence of this change4 ,his progeny1 easily fattened1 rapidly become corpulent4 ,it results from this1 that although strongly limbed1 they appear1 for a large body1 to have but weak extremities4 ,but have patience2 oats will draw in and strengthen those inflated flanks1 and1 after the second generation1 the stomach of the colt will enlarge on account of the food being more abundant than concentrated1 the fat will disappear1 and his compact and solid limbs will appear what they really are4 ,illustration3 ,decoration ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,the ,,english ,,cross4 ,english blood1 infused with judgment1 allies well with the ,percheron race1 and we have met with perfectly successful results in the midst of the disappointments which have been the consequences of injudicious crossing4 ,too often these crossings have been effected in violation of common sense1 without any attention to the distance which separates the blood horse from the common1 low-bred ,percheron mare1 she having no affinity with him4 ,but these trials require science1 wealth1 and perseverance1 and are far from being within the reach of ordinary breeders4 ,those who would succeed must possess the talent of waiting1 for unfortunately the rearing of the resulting progeny is a burden4 ,their slow development renders them but little fit for the labors to which the farmer is in the habit of consigning his colts4 ,then1 they cannot1 like the young ,percheron1 pass from hand to hand1 and thus they find themselves stripped of the only advantage which renders the raising of the draft colts so profitable3 avoiding embarrassment and affording a prompt profit to all through whose hands they pass4 ,in fact1 it can easily be conceived how favorably1 at present1 are these chances of profit distributed among several hands4 ,the capital invested is soon returned2 and thus this operation is within the reach of all purses4 ,illustration3 ,,prince ,,imperial4--,,french ,,norman4 ,the issue of ,english blood1 if judiciously managed1 will some day be finer than the unimproved ,percheron4 ,but1 although carefully looked after and abundantly fed1 he will remain puny during his early growth1 and therefore his account can only be closed at a distant date4 ,by whom1 then1 is he to be raised8 ,by the farmer rich in ready money8 ,in every country such men are rare4 ,by the large landed proprietor8 ,but he is not a breeder1 or if he be1 it is only of race-horses4 ,some half-blood ,english stallions noted for strength and weight1 standing at ,mesle-sur-,sarthe1 ,courtomer1 and ,nogent-le-,rotrou1 have produced fine coach and draft-horses1 but their number has always been rather limited1 and they have nearly all been raised without care1 like the half-blood colt simply at pasture2 consequently1 the profit accruing has been nothing1 or nearly nothing1 and these have been able to add nothing useful in the way of example and imitation4 ,on the contrary1 in ,lower ,perche1 commencing at ,nogent and extending as far as ,vendme1 the draft-horse1 properly speaking1 is the only one that has been raised4 ,the wagon-horse is there only met with as an exception1 and the cultivator is far from being the worse off on this account4 ,witness the prosperity of ,montdoubleau1 which has become the first market of ,europe2 witness the splendid and spirited trotting mares it produces every year1 and of which the ,julies of ,m4 ,derr and the ,sarahs of ,m4 ,lamoureux are glorious specimens4 ,perche has seen but twice1 to our knowledge1 good and irrefutable results obtained from the ,english crossing with her race--the first1 with ,sandy2 the second1 with ,bayard4 ,sandy was a draft stallion1 with a long and silky mane1 a perfectly white coat1 and with a high and graceful gait like that of an oriental horse2 lean and strong legs1 a short head1 dilated nostrils1 and a large and intelligent eye4 ,although foaled in ,england1 this horse was evidently not ,english2 he must have come of eastern blood1 as this is so often seen among our neighbors who successfully use the ,arab blood in the formation of their draft and hunting races4 ,as for ,bayard1 he was a son of a ,percheron mare belonging to ,m4 ,viel1 of ,chiffreville1 near ,argenton1 one of the finest and purest ever seen4 ,this mare had been bred to ,idalis1 a small and well-knit wagon-horse1 son of ,don ,quichotte1 who descended from the thoroughbred brood-mare ,moina4 ,consequently1 ,bayard had in his veins some of the best oriental blood1 and it is to this circumstance that is attributed the vigor1 gait1 and beauty1 of all his progeny4 ,perhaps the two stallions ,benvenuto and ,fandango1 which passed for ,anglo-,percherons1 and which have been cited as types of draft-horse stallions1 will be held up to me as a refutation4 ,benvenuto1 the stallion from ,pin1 which has produced well in ,perche1 was not the son of ,eastham and a ,percheron mare1 as was said at the time in order to have him accepted by the government1 but was really out of a ,percheron mare by a ,percheron stallion coming from the neighborhood of ,bellesme1 and the descendant of ,arabian stallions which had been standing in that district4 ,fandango1 the other crossed ,percheron1 uniformly a successful stallion1 had double cross1 on the sire's side1 of the blood of the ,arabian ,dagout1 and his dam1 whose pedigree has also been explained to me1 came likewise from near ,bellesme4 ,a ,percheron stallion called ,jean-le-,blanc1 native of ,mauves1 and sold about the year #ahbe to a ,m4 ,viard of ,villers1 in ,ouche1 near ,sap1 7department of the ,orne17 has been the sole improving agent of the equine race in ,ouche1 which1 up to that time1 was reduced to miserable small horses without any stamp or value4 ,although heavy1 powerful1 and1 indeed1 a shaft-horse1 his gait and an indescribable something pervading his whole body1 recalled so thoroughly the idea of the oriental family that one was disposed to take him for an enlarged ,arabian4 ,this fact1 often related to us1 excited our curiosity4 ,we did not rest until pressing inquiry upon inquiry1 one after another1 we ascertained that his family had been crossed with a stallion from the ,pin stables1 standing at the ,chateau of ,csmes1 near ,bellesme4 ,and1 what was this stallion8 ,the ,arab ,gallipoli6 ,what can be inferred from these facts1 if it be not that the crossings which have best succeeded in ,perche have been those of the ,arab1 and that the ,english crosses have only succeeded when tempered by contact with the ,arab8 ,but if the absolute want of stallions for improving the breed be felt among the pure ,percherons2 if it be impossible to procure either good ,arabs or heavy ,english1 freshly tempered with ,arab blood2 if important and powerful considerations compel a recourse to the ,english cross1 the latter should only be accepted intelligently and under good and wise conditions4 ,therefore we ask leave to refer the reader particularly to what we have already advanced in the preceding chapter upon the choice of an ,english stallion4 ,in ,brittany1 in the department of ,finisterre1 we have often heard it declared by quite a large number of breeders1 that for having wished to proceed too fast in that way1 they had1 from the commencement1 experienced numberless disappointments1 the second generation from the ,english cross being always inferior to the first4 ,from stout sires and dams1 who1 from their general appearance might be classed in the category of heavy-draft1 there daily came ungainly stock1 thin1 lanky1 leggy1 and without weight in the hind-quarter1 unattractive1 of a difficult sale when young1 and proving a veritable misfortune to the small farmer counting upon the sale of the colt to pay his rent and having neither the place nor means to raise him4 ,this stock was1 moreover1 the object of another disappointment quite as serious as the first2 rarely was a good worker to be found among this burdensome race4 ,is not this tall1 lank1 weak1--in a word this abortive progeny1--issue of strong and hardy parents1 a strange and discouraging result8 8,oh6 why is this80 exclaimed the ,brittany cultivators4 ,there was a simple reason for it1 of which they had not learned the value4 ,they proceeded with race-horse speed in the way of crossing1 and gave no oats4 ,they were ignorant of the requirements of the distingu horse2 they did not know that in the sire and dam1 or at least in one of them1 there was circulating more or less ,english blood1 which produces strange results in proportion as it leaves its native place and reaches a poor country or one of hard work1 and in which it no longer receives the prodigal care of its native land4 ,we have said that the ,arab preserves indefinitely his warm blood and constantly gives what he has not even himself1--although this truth resembles a paradox1--that is3 a powerful appearance and a strong frame4 ,it is not the same with the ,english horse and his derivatives2 they become thin and always degenerate4 ,if their progeny be not fed with oats without stint1--they require this1 and are heavy eaters1 like everything which comes from the north1--their blood grows poorer rapidly4 ,in successive generations of these families1 born in a dull and damp atmosphere scarcely ever visited by the sun1 the legs become lean and lanky4 ,it is necessary to recur incessantly to new drafts of ,english upon ,english1 always expensive and requiring additional care1 without taking into account that the result of too great an infusion of this peevish and often irascible blood would be to destroy the heavy-draft race--a race that ,i would like to see preserved intact alongside of the two others1 though he be not quite suited to a country as hilly as ,perche4 ,he might1 doubtless1 plow successfully the vast and smooth plains of ,beauce2 but this is not the lot of all4 ,i look for him in that busy country called ,perche1 where he must1 without rest or pity1 with a shoulder free from all tenderness1 drag heavy vehicles to the tops of hills1 and it will please me to see the play of his haunches and limbs in descending with these loads bravely and without flinching to the bottom of the valleys4 ,do you expect1 also1 from a horse derived from ,english blood that cool1 restrained1 and ever fresh energy1 that courageous patience of which the ,percheron1 every day1 gives an example in the omnibuses of the streets of ,paris8 ,dragging at a trot heavy loads1 the weight of which frightens the imagination2 stopping short1 both in ascending or descending2 starting off freely and always without balking2 never sulking at his work or food1 and fearing neither heat nor cold3 this is a specimen of ,percheron qualities4 ,do you expect from an unjudicious cross with ,english blood a good1 heavy draft-horse1 a good shaft-horse1 or a true wagon-horse8 ,no one has now any illusion on this score4 ,in ,london1 a traction of only about #b1jjj lbs4 is required of a draft-horse4 ,in ,paris1 the horses harnessed to the heavy stone carts are required to drag as much as #e1jjj lbs4 each1 and often even more4 ,what will dealers in heavy draft-horses do8 ,the trade is already taxed to supply the demand4 ,for long experience has taught1 and unjudicious crosses have proved the ,english horse and his derivatives to be unfit for this purpose1 for they are too nervous and not sufficiently staunch4 ,thus1 the trade avoids them by instinct1 and by instinct avoids every thing resembling them4 ,and1 on the other hand1 it seizes hold of and clings eagerly to every indication that can serve it as a sign or mark--every thing that can guide it in the search for what it likes1 and every thing that can guard against its opposite4 ,hence1 it repels and proscribes the dark-colored coats without examination and reflection1 because they are considered the colors of the ,english horse2 it accepts the grays with confidence1 because with them it perceives the absence of the dreaded blood1 and in them it has found that which satisfies all its wants4 ,would we have arrived at this point if we had been prudent1 and had the cross-breeding been better understood8 ,finally1 what is there at the end of this negative pole and this positive pole8 ,there is the ,percheron on whom has devolved1 and will devolve for a long time yet1 the rude and killing mission of executing the feats of strength exacted of him by modern civilization4 ,the profits in supplying the demand1 accrue1 and will accrue for a long time to the producer4 ,thus so long as machinery does not replace the horse in the traction of heavy carriages1 so long as the necessity for hard labor remains1 requiring strength1 intelligence1 endurance1 and willingness1 so long to the ,percheron alone will be reserved the dangerous honor of being the great draft power1 and the price of this matchless agent will increase in proportion to the growing impossibility of finding his substitute4 ,it is now the time1 while crossing the active and trotting breeds with the ,arab or with the well-chosen ,english horse1 to carefully preserve the heavy draft-horse1 and1 by means of persevering and judicious crossing1 retain for him his marked superiority4 ,these crossings1 which ,i will sum up in concluding1 may find a powerful aid in the creation of a ,stud-book of the ,percheron breed4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,improvement ,,by ,,means ,,of ,,the ,,stud-,,book4 ,the ,percheron breed is old enough1 is propagated with sufficient uniformity1 and presents sufficiently marked typical qualities to authorize us in claiming1 in favor of its members1 the characteristics and the title of a separate and distinct breed4 ,consequently1 a ,stud-book1 recording its pedigrees1 would not be out of place4 ,this book would have the effect of concentrating the efforts of all the breeders1 giving them a definite direction1 and at the same time it would designate stallions foreign to the race1 and which1 up to the present time1 have been presented with impunity as ,percherons4 ,england exhibits a curious example of the influence of the ,stud-book in the improvement of a breed4 ,the equine and bovine races of that country1 before the establishment of the ,stud and ,herd-books1 were but rudimental4 ,the small number of colts of the ,royal mares by ,eastern stallions would have been lost had they not been classed together in families in a special book4 ,the discovery of the value of the bull ,hubback would have been to no purpose had his descendants not been classified by themselves in an authentic manner4 ,for it is especially1 and only1 in the reproduction by family that a breed is formed4 ,consanguinity alone can form1 in the beginning1 a bond of cohesion and connection among the descendants of the primitive families4 ,by it1 alone1 they acquire that great similarity of shape and adaptation to particular ends1 that great ancestral power1 which they transmit to their posterity1 and which1 even in a commercial point of view1 gives them a superior value4 ,if it be permitted me for this purpose to select an example within our reach among the bovine races1 ,i would say that1 in ,nivernais the celebrated ,charollaise breed of cattle1 only a few years ago1 was diffuse1 without uniformity1 and without commercial value4 ,the idea of classifying it by means of a ,herd-book was no sooner put in practice than good crossings1 being all made with system1 no longer lost their significance4 ,the breed has visibly improved1 and1 at present1 it has acquired a value which gives it a rank immediately after the ,cotentin4 ,the ,stud-book might be established1 as we have indicated above1 by inscribing therein all the stallions and mares which had received prizes for years back1 continuing this operation for a dozen years to come1 and adding therein also the animals which had not taken prizes or had not been shown in the fairs1 but which public attention had classed among the number of types valuable on account of the beauty and sureness of their reproduction4 ,parallel to the mode of improvement which ,i have already shown1 7,chapter #ast1 ,part ,second71 and which has as its agents the members of the ,council-boards and the district members of each canton1 there might be formed1 as a means of embracing all1 a great annual ,department ,fair1 to be held alternately in the best towns of ,perche at the time of the fairs which attract the most people2 in ,orne1 at ,mortagne and ,alenon2 at ,chartres1 ,nogent-le-,rotrou1 and ,chateaudun1 for ,eure and ,loir2 at ,vendme and ,montdoubleau for the department of ,loir and ,cher4 ,the departments of the ,cote-d',or1 ,nievre1 and ,youne1 which possess the best ,percheron stallions1 might likewise enter into the association of the ,percheron ,stud-book1 for which they have all the elements4 ,this book would give increased value to the breed1 as is easily understood1 for it is the surest of all the means of improvement and perpetuation of valuable qualities4 ,it would drive off1 forever1 the defective stallions1 and those corrupted with hereditary blemishes1 as well as those coming from tainted families1 which1 ,i feel sure1 would be refused a record in its pages4 ,the prices of colts would likewise gain by this measure1 the effect being a powerful impulse given to breeding4 ,but it would be necessary to be very careful about ever admitting any foreign blood1 in order that the recorded herds might accumulate more and more an ancestral force4 ,the ,stud-book would offer still another advantage1 that of permitting us to find again the good types1 should ,perche some day1 in consequence of bad crossings1 or from want of judgment1 deviate from the true way4 ,in fact1 desire of gaining too much and of enjoying too fast at present tempts every body into innovations4 ,our age1 so eager to enjoy1 and so quick in all enterprises1 has no longer the patience to wait for the improvements that time and study can alone confirm and solidly establish4 ,it wants things off-hand1 and for this it is often satisfied with adulterated products2 hence1 these injudicious crossings2 hence1 this mania for mixing together without discernment--a mania which threatens to destroy our valuable national breeds4 ,in the midst of all this1 the opposition of the army1 of the government stud-stables1 and of the trade in heavy horses1 bring forth new complications4 ,the army1 neither occupied in breeding nor raising1 and naturally remaining beyond the consequences it causes1 encourages these crossings1 obtaining thereby1 more rapidly1 the horses it needs4 ,but how many of the horses bred by these means are not only unfit for army service1 but also unfit for any service6 ,indeed1 with a blood stallion and a common mare1 if at the first crossing1 among the thin-flanked1 imperfect ones1 there happen to be a passable horse1 good1 and with a certain degree of style1 ordinarily all progress ends there4 ,for1 by the use of the latter as a reproducer1 an animal ungainly and without value will most certainly be the result1 except by chance4 ,the races of the south affiliate with the ,arab1 and those of the north with the ,english2 but the ,english1 by the infusion of his blood1 destroys the race of the south4 ,this mode of crossing tends1 then1 to cause our old ,french races to disappear4 ,at the government studs1 with elevated views1 and with a disinterestedness to which all delight in rendering full justice and homage1 they constantly encourage the crossings in which they see the realization of their views4 ,they offer rewards1 the most powerful of all incentives--giving but very modest prizes to the heavy horses1 proscribing the light coats1 and reserving their encouragement for the light horses of dark colors4 ,as for the trade1 it adopts but slightly the views of the army and the government stables1 and it gives its money to what has remained outside of these impulses4 ,with the ,stud-book we will be able1 without giving offence1 to satisfy the army1 the stud-stables1 and the trade--the army and the stud-stables1 which want the light1 stylish1 dark-skinned horse2 the trade--omnibuses1 consumption of the large cities1 and agriculture--which require weight1 vigor1 action1 honesty1 docility1 and endurance4 ,the ,stud-book will furnish the means of finding types fit for all services4 ,but the breeders will divide themselves into two opposite parties4 ,those who wish the dark-skinned1 light horse1 will breed him on the uplands and in the more barren districts4 ,the others1 in the rich1 fertile1 and abundant meadows1 with a more nutritious food1 will apply themselves to the opposite type4 ,each will work in his own sphere2 the profits1 losses1 successes1 and failures1 will soon be summed up1 and will soon become1 on both sides1 the object of minute comparisons4 ,if the light horse produce the most profit1 his empire will soon extend over the domain of the heavy one4 ,but if1 on the day of reaction1 it be recognized that this crossing is incapable of ever making a good omnibus1 a good shaft1 or a good team horse2 if the crossed breed be set aside for the primitive horse2 and if it come about that the ,percheron of pure race is better paid for1 the fashion will soon return to him4 ,there will the utility of the ,stud-book be felt1 for it will be by means of the families preserved authentically pure1 in the cantons which had chosen them1 that it will alone become possible to remold a race1 compromised in a moment of hasty judgment1 and render it plentiful upon the market4 ,it would suffice to bring together these types1 and encourage the start in order to restablish ,perche in all her glory4 ,they might even1 in the end1 bring back to a good condition the lanky race that a better system1 a more abundant nourishment1 and more appropriate classification1 would be called on to restore to its primitive form4 ,some generations would suffice to restore to it that homogeneousness that it formerly possessed1 when the post-service required of it its vigorous and swift mail-coach horses4 ,in summing up1 the ,stud-book seems to me a useful agent in a triple point of view1 namely3 in the preservation1 perfection1 and restoration of the ,percheron breed4 ,illustration3 ,decoration ,,recapitulation4 ,preserve the ,percheron race as pure as possible from all mixture not perfectly homogeneous2 respect all its varieties due to the districts where they have been bred and raised2 improve by crossing the best types of the country1 and in such a manner as to correct defects1 while preserving intact qualities and character4 ,if it be necessary to give more style to the action1 and more richness to the blood1 ask these qualities of the ,arab1 which has the privilege of imparting style and tone1 while preserving weight1 hardihood1 vigor1 and docility4 ,the ,arabian is kind1 intelligent1 reliable1 laborious1 and easily kept4 ,if1 in obedience to urgent considerations1 and in the absence of oriental horses1 it becomes necessary to have recourse to ,english blood1 choose quarter-bred stallions--at the most half-bred--but of an ancient race1 and well-confirmed1 with a well-opened and expressive eye1 fine action1 high spirit1 and especially a total absence of irritability1 and with all the appearances of honesty and aptitude for work4 ,for the innate defects of the ,english1 generally impressible1 susceptible1 and unintelligent1 cannot be too carefully guarded against4 ,delicate1 a great eater1 and requiring great care1 he must1 if honest1 be well worked2 if not1 he pays ill his cost1 and robs the hand which nourishes him4 ,he should always be selected from a working family1 and be himself a free worker4 ,he who wishes to embark in horse-breeding will avoid more than one shoal by observing these simple considerations4 ,the delicate ,english horse1 fond of his manger1 bearing but little continuous and monotonous work1 requiring of those that have charge of him tact1 mildness1 and an advanced equestrian education1 is the horse of the rich man1 and the man of pleasure1 of the lover of the turf and chase1 and of the wealthy farmer1 who looks more to the beauty of his stock than to the quantity of its work4 ,the ,arabian1 sober1 energetic1 and laborious1 is the horse for the small proprietor1 the soldier1 and the laborer4 ,he is the wealth of the poorer and less improved countries4 ,the draft-horse is only suited to the farmer1 and his size should be adapted not only to the district in which he is to be used1 but also to the standard of cultivation of the country1 and to the means of the person requiring his services4 ,he may be improved1 may be a trotter1 and may be more stylish1 but should always be adapted to the means of the breeder1 and to the richness of the country4 ,a large and fine animal would only vegetate in the hands of a person whose land is scarcely sufficient to support his family4 ,he should only be owned by the wealthy farmer4 ,and1 on the other side1 the latter should never raise his eyes to the blood horse1 which should be left to those who have been a long time accustomed to the risks inseparable from his breeding and training4 ,a final word will make my thoughts better understood4 ,i desire to speak of the financial question1 which is every thing in breeding and in agriculture4 ,the best and the only manner of considering this is to compare the breeder at the start1 at the beginning of his career1 and when his career is ended1 to verify the results4 ,this operation is nothing short of a settlement of accounts4 ,in my travels ,i became acquainted with two neighboring districts4 ,one was rich1 fertile1 and productive1 eminently suited to breeding superior fancy horses4 ,but they were poorly raised therein2 the farmers disdained rearing horses suited to the soil1 and the horses they did breed1 already bad from the very start1 were raised in idleness1 and poorly fed1 on account of their earning nothing4 ,the other district was poor1 and the soil produced only what could be wrested from it by force4 ,however1 by dint of labor1 agriculture flourished4 ,the horse1 chosen with care1 suited the country1 worked well1 and all prospered4 ,the fancy struck me1 to compare the settlements of estates in these two districts1 and here are the results of this examination3 ,in the first district1 the breeders all commenced and entered upon their career with capital4 ,notwithstanding this1 #ah out of #bj died over head and ears in debt4 ,in the second1 they were almost all former servants or farm hands1 possessing only their savings1 with which to establish themselves4 ,in spite of these difficult beginnings1 #ag out of #bj left fortunes to their children1 who1 the reverse of the children of the former1 were early accustomed to labor and to a regular life4 ,it is useless to say that in these examples ,i always excepted the cases where trade1 to carry on its business1 sheltered itself under the cloak of the breeder2 for this does not constitute breeding any more than the trade in bread-stuffs carried on in a farm-house constitutes agriculture4 ,finally ,i would call the attention of the ,percheron farmer to two suggestions4 ,suppose the supply of horses from the departments of ,orne1 ,eure and ,loir1 ,loir and ,cher1 ,eure and ,sarthe1 and from the district of ,mortagne1 now amounting to about sixty thousand head1 should outrun the demand of the omnibuses and wagons2 the remedy for this would be to aim at greater style and beauty1 at the same time preserving the qualities required by the omnibuses and express companies4 ,we would thus create another outlet for our stock1 through the demands of the dealers in fancy horses1 and the consumption of the army1 and bring the ,percheron race very near to perfection4 ,no disappointment need be feared in crossing the ,percheron with a foreign stallion1 either a heavy ,arabian1 a strong1 well-bred ,merlerault1 or a dark colored ,norfolk1 on the express condition that this stallion should be selected with care1 and be of the best stock of his breed4 ,the ,arabian can be placed everywhere1 both on poor land and in the hilly districts2 where the progeny of the other stallions would not thrive1 his will succeed well4 ,the get of the ,merlerault1 and of the ,english horses especially1 require the most fertile and the best cultivated districts4 ,if the results of these crossings1 male or female1 be successful1 they may be well employed in breeding1 and1 after some generations1 in the districts where breeding is carried on with care1 they may become the starting point of a choice stock4 ,commencing with the qualities of good and substantial post-horses1 the ,percheron could be elevated to the dignity of the carriage-horse1 and in other less fertile localities to staunch and compact hunters4 ,those showing no improvement1 7too many of which are met with7 would find a market open to them in the trade1 among the moderately rich1 and in the army1 especially in the artillery4 ,the males1 when castrated at an early age1 would be more acceptable to the trade1 and1 while ceasing to dishonor the privileged class and the class destined for reproduction1 could be used for numerous purposes4 ,for the gray horse the outlets are necessarily more limited4 ,when the omnibuses and teamsters have taken their complement of #f1jjj or #g1jjj horses1 and when the foreigner has gathered up his #fjj or #gjj choice specimens1 there no longer remains a sufficient demand for the second-rate stock4 ,as there now exist neither diligences1 couriers1 mail nor post-coaches1 for which the gray ,percheron was formerly required for the night road service1 there is no longer any imperious reason for preserving his old coat2 henceforth he may be bay or dark colored4 ,and1 provided he becomes so by the aid of a dark-coated ,arabian1 or a heavy1 well-bred ,merlerault1 or by a fine specimen of a ,norfolk1 the type of his race1 ,i see therein no inconvenience4 ,when steam machines1 to supply the hands which are wanting1 will plow our fields and perform the hardest work1 we will have no longer to regret that our ,percheron laborers have not the gray color which possessed the property of turning the scorching rays of the sun4 ,one of our greatest writers1 one of our lights in equestrian science1 has1 however1 written3 8,the use of stallions of mixed blood1 borrowed from foreign races1 left but regrets in ,perche4 ,it has produced vices of disposition and blemishes which did not belong to the ,percheron horse1 and has given him in exchange no good quality4 ,it has disturbed the structure of the progeny without any gain in form or endurance40 ,notwithstanding all my respect for this high authority1 let me be allowed to ask him if he has ever seen the progeny1 too rare it is true1 of some well-chosen stallions in close affinity to ,percheron blood1 called ,gallipoli1 ,sandy1 and ,bayard8 ,never did finer results gratify the pride of a breeder1 never did trotters drag heavy diligences with more power and ease1 and never did sons transmit more faithfully to their descendants the image and characters of their ancestors4 ,doubtless he was only shown the numerous and heterogeneous progeny of even the best full-blooded stallions ,sylvio1 ,eylau1 ,reveller1 and others by ,percheron mares--crossings so surprising in their absence of affinity that ,i am still astonished that the thought of them ever entered a reasonable mind4 ,when in the absence of stallions of our own1 such as we wish1 ,i advise the use of foreign ones1 ,i do not give this counsel blindly1 but1 select the types appearing to me the best adapted to the purpose1 and instead of proceeding with giant strides ,i would pursue the work with a patient and prudent slowness4 ,,part ,,iii4 ,,information ,,to ,,strangers ,,wishing ,,to ,,buy ,,percheron ,,horses4 ,illustration3 ,decoration ,although ,i consider ,perche an exceptional country for the production of good horses1 ,i attribute to its air1 to its water1 and to the nutritiveness of its grasses1 the admirable qualities of the animals bred therein4 ,i am convinced that the excellent care1 the wise management1 exempt alike from pampering indulgence and from the harsh treatment which irritate the disposition1 and from which the good teacher never departs in his intercourse with his pupils1 contribute a great deal to the success of the result4 ,starting from this point1 ,i think ,i can assert that with care and this identical management1 horses can be elsewhere produced that ,perche would not disown4 ,it is1 then1 the recapitulation of this method and management which should be presented to the stranger desirous of raising the ,percheron horse4 ,i will tell him what the cultivator of this country does1 and in doing like him1 provided he make the attempt in a high1 healthy district1 a district with a sharp air and one often refreshed by winds1 presenting some analogy to the rugged hills and the excellent grassy valleys of ,perche1 no doubt he will arrive at magnificent results4 ,several suppositions may be presented to the consideration of the stranger wishing to raise ,percheron horses4 ,either he should buy in ,perche a mare in foal1 or purchase four or five months' old colts1 which he wishes to wean in his own country1 or his purchases will be made of yearlings1 or1 finally1 he will carry with him full-grown males and females1 or only one or the other sex for the purpose of breeding4 ,each one of these suppositions can be determined by the practical knowledge of breeding1 and by the study of the methods practised in ,perche1 and may suggest as many chapters4 ,but1 before undertaking anything1 ,i will ask this amateur if he really loves the horse1 and if he admits the qualities needed in the ,percheron breeder4 ,if he answers in the affirmative1 ,i will enter upon the subject4 ,if1 on the contrary1 he be not sure of himself and of the agents that he is to employ1 ,i might as well throw aside my pen and not write another word4 ,the disposition of the ,percheron breeder towards his horses is that of a never-changing mildness2 and this is why his horse is so gentle and so docile4 ,the ,percheron loves his horse1 but not with an affection resembling that hearty passion1 that sudden blaze of regard1 too explosive to last long1 of certain amateurs2 he loves the horse with an hereditary love1 a family love1 if ,i may so express it1 and the horse1 on his side1 loves him hereditarily4 ,the women and children have generally the care of the horse while the men are in the fields4 ,hence the even and amiable temper of the horses raised under this system4 ,the ,percheron cultivator possesses1 above all1 great patience and a supreme control over himself1 indispensable qualities in training young colts1 which1 if treated with harshness would soon lose their heads1 and become infallibly nervously timid if subjected to violence and impatience4 ,here lies the secret of good training and the art of uniting in the horse a cool and calm temper with a decided character4 ,he is laborious and loves to stir the soil2 hence his practice of early working the colts1 which renders them laborious and honest4 ,but1 as he is1 above all1 intelligent and loves in a rational way1 he only requires of them work in proportion to their strength1 and gives them good nourishment4 ,this management1 uniting work and good food1 is an admirable means of giving strength1 health1 and a good constitution4 ,finally1 the ,percheron inhabits a broken country1 where he must constantly ascend and descend4 ,this circumstance is most favorable in giving strength and suppleness to his shoulders1 haunches1 and hoofs1 which1 by turns1 work and rest in this unparalleled district4 ,this portrait is not only applicable to the large proprietors and to the farmers1 but to all the ,percheron population4 ,there is not a man in this district who has not been a working man1 who has not raised1 trained1 and driven colts1 and who1 even in his tenderest age1 when he could walk and hold a little whip1 has not lived among the horses and played between their legs4 ,it requires no searching here to find a man acquainted with the horse1 a good farm hand2 the first face you meet with is that of an intelligent agent1 and a trustworthy one in the difficult art of training colts4 ,if you have such men at your disposal1 undertake boldly your task2 but if the proper men are wanting1 forbear1 for you will arrive at nothing satisfactory4 ,illustration3 ,decoration ,,chapter ,i4 ,,food ,,and ,,breeding4 ,the stallion1 in the districts inhabited by mares1 is1 with some rare exceptions1 a 8rover10--that is to say1 he visits the farms at stated periods4 ,his standing season lasts six months1 from ,january to ,july1 and he generally returns four times to the same place4 ,the foal is dropped1 ordinarily1 very early1 and always in the stable1 where it constantly remains until weaning time4 ,the dam goes to work every day1 and leaves its foal each morning1 to see it again only in the middle of the day1 and at night4 ,green clover1 or other green forage1 is fed1 to keep up her supply of milk4 ,at six months the colt is weaned4 ,if it be a filly1 it remains in the canton where it was foaled1 to be put to breeding when it reaches the proper age4 ,if it be a horse colt1 it is sold to the farmers of the raising districts1 of which we will speak in the chapter devoted to the trade4 ,the stock of these districts is recruited from two sources1 the southern region principally1 7in the vicinity of ,montdoubleau and ,chateaudun17 on account of the great reputation of its mares4 ,the cultivator desirous of rearing good colts traverses these districts as early as the month of ,june1 and makes his choice of colts from under the dams1 and out of herds of established reputation4 ,this manner of selecting stock to raise is the most logical1 as also the most expensive4 ,it is much in favor with the farmer carrying on a large business1 in the neighborhood of ,mauves and ,regmalard4 ,some cultivators of the other cantons follow his example2 but not so rich as he1 they have but the second choice4 ,the second source1 and the most abundant1 is the purchase of gang colts--that is to say1 those which1 in ,perche1 have not been sold during the summer2 but principally those from the neighborhood of ,coulie1 to the north-west of ,maus1 and those of ,lower ,maine4 ,they are brought1 entirely weaned1 to the fairs of ,perche about the end of autumn4 ,st4 ,andrew's fair at ,mortagne offers a curious specimen of this operation4 ,the farmers select from the gangs4 ,the origin1 in this case1 is no longer of any account2 there is neither sire nor dam to weigh down the scales2 the merit is all exterior--of the individual4 ,if this way of buying be not so dear1 it is likewise not so sure1 unless the purchaser be acquainted with honest dealers1 accustomed to bring in only good colts4 ,there is but little trouble taken in weaning the colts4 ,this passage from one period of life to another1 always so serious with thoroughbred colts1 takes place quite simply with the future field laborers4 ,they wean themselves in the trip from their birthplace to their new destination4 ,the farmers in the neighborhood of ,regmalard1 who ordinarily buy them very young1 give a little cow's milk on their arrival1 to strengthen them1 and to serve as a transition2 but even this method is far from universal4 ,the colts1 when they come upon the farms1 are put five or six together1 pell-mell1 into an indifferently ventilated stable1 which receives its light through a lattice door4 ,their nourishment consists of a very thin mush1 made of barley flour and bran1 frequently renewed4 ,the solid portion of their food is composed of dry clover and hay1 with which their cribs are regularly filled4 ,some farmers feed aftermath1 which is sweeter2 but as this is apt to load the stomach1 in order to render it more easily digested1 it is mixed with oat-straw4 ,it is very rare that these colts1 changed from one district to another1 often making long stages1 and exposed to the inclemencies of the weather1 are not attacked with strangles4 ,many raisers at this period have the pernicious habit of giving them some kind of grain1 in order to warm them up1 and cause them to throw off the disease4 ,but this food has the fault of thickening the blood too much1 and exposes them to numerous ailments4 ,this diet is continued until the spring1 at which time the colts are given green fodder in the stable4 ,later1 they are turned into the clover fields after the first cut1 or into the meadows after they are mowed4 ,at eighteen months they commence their apprenticeship2 passing their necks through the collar1 they are harnessed to plows or wagons with horses already broken1 although of an age at which1 in many countries1 their equals are as yet ignorant of all labor4 ,the food1 composed of clover principally1 hay1 millet straw1 corn salad1 7,feticus17 and cracked rye1 baked in loaves1 becomes from this time forth1 a little more nourishing4 ,they also commence to eat oats1 but as yet1 sparingly4 ,this is not given them pure1 but with the chaff--that is to say1 it is not winnowed4 ,the quantity of this food used by day is not less than to #a to #a gallons1 yielding not much more than of a gallon of oats4 ,on the other hand1 the meal and the mush are increased1 to give them body and strength4 ,at thirty months old they are still kept upon this food1 in the midst of all the farm work1 which they daily perform 7with1 however1 a great deal of moderation71 and in dragging very light burdens2 for1 truly1 it is but a training1 to confirm the hereditary mildness of their character1 and to teach them1 little by little1 to become willing and fearless4 ,in the meanwhile the dealer1 who roams constantly about among the farms1 arrives4 ,he buys and resells immediately to the farmers of ,little ,perche and ,thimerais4 ,more stimulating feed is given them1 in consequence of more constant and harder work4 ,this life lasts a year1 and is terminated by the passage into ,beauce1 or the ,chartres country1 where their work is again increased4 ,with the work the feed increases1 and this combination leads to the perfection of the horse4 ,it is at this time that the horses1 having attained their maturity1 and the maximum of their strength1 are bought for ,paris1 whither they are called by relentless labor1 which they are enabled to endure by their unconquerable will1 great muscular force1 energy1 and courage4 8,this mode of training10 to borrow the words of a noted breeder1 8represents the division of labor1 which gives such happy results in the manufactories1 and its advantages cannot be well appreciated1 except by those who1 having raised horses1 know what embarrassment an assemblage of colts of all sizes and ages produces4 ,unfortunately it would be very difficult to introduce this excellent custom elsewhere1 which has probably existed for ages in ,perche without the knowledge of its source40 ,the colts destined for breeding are generally devoted to this purpose at the age of two years1 and continue1 on an average1 until they have attained the age of four4 ,i speak of ,little ,perche1 for in ,great ,perche1 since the foundation of the ,equestrian ,society1 the seat of which is at ,chateaudun1 and which extends its action to quite a distance1 the covering is done by adult stallions4 ,at four1 they are sold either to ,paris1 or to foreigners1 should their merit render them worthy of such a choice4 ,this total emigration of the male colts at the age of six months1 renders it very difficult to procure good stallions of this breed4 ,from ,great ,perche they are scattered among the trade1 often before the age of a sure selection4 ,when they are sought after in ,perche1 they are no longer to be found2 they must then be followed and hunted up on the ,beauce farms1 and this pursuit is extremely difficult4 ,it1 however1 offers greater chances of success than the ,chartres market1 where the greatest number of mature ,percheron horses are to be found4 ,as for the fillies1 their experience is the same as that of the colts1 with this single difference that their life is exempt from migration4 ,they are raised in the region in which they are foaled4 ,they work from a very early period1 bear two or three colts1 and then disappear1 like the males1 in the vortex of consumption4 ,for1 beyond some exceptional cases and remarkable productions1 it is rare that they grow old upon the farm4 ,the farmer1 in order to lose nothing of their value1 sends them off at the age of five1 six1 and seven years4 ,it would be a happy thing1 as we have already said1 if sufficient inducements in the way of prizes could be offered to retain the fine breeding mares upon the soil1 and put an end to this custom1 so inimical to progress4 ,the farmers who have pasture grounds1 as in the environs of ,regmalard1 make use of them for raising their colts1 as is done in ,merlerault and in the ,auge ,valley4 ,instead of letting them loose in the fields1 they are sent to pasture4 ,the hay of the valleys is good1 but insufficient for the supply of the farms2 the deficit is made up by the use of artificial fodders1 in which clover enters for three-quarters2 the remainder is composed of fenugreek1 lucern1 and some roots4 ,millet1 or barley and oat straw are also given as food1 and in certain cantons they are stacked in alternate layers with the meadow grass1 in order to give them the odor and fragrance of hay--an ingenious method of making an unattractive food acceptable4 ,the stables1 although much better than formerly1 in the good old times of the race1 still leave a great deal to be desired4 ,they are not furnished with stalls1 but the horses are tied alongside of one another without any separation4 ,but such is the gentleness of character of this breed that an accident was never heard of4 ,the whole of the management which we have just described has a marked tendency towards constantly enlarging the horse at the expense of his nervous system4 ,this diet1 completely out of place in a mild1 grain producing country1 has reason for existing in ,perche1 and the ,percheron cultivator knows too well what he does in employing it1 not to have understood this4 ,the climate and the products of ,perche1 the air and the water1 affect too exclusively the nervous system not to require being constantly combatted4 ,for this ,i desire to take an example in the whole animal kingdom stocking this country4 ,everybody to-day well knows the influence of climate upon animals4 ,no one now any longer doubts that it is to the sharp and healthy air of the ,percheron country1 to its elevated hills1 and to its atmosphere constantly renewed by the powerful ventilators of its valleys and forests1 that this country owes the eminent qualities of its fine race of horses1 which has won for it the right of displaying this significant title3 8,perche1 the land of good horses40 ,everything surrounding us inclines us to adopt this opinion4 ,the domestic animals brought here are transformed in a short time by the contact of the air breathed and the nourishment furnished4 ,the marked types of the ,billot and ,crvecur fowls are no sooner brought here than at the first generation a total change is effected in their looks4 ,from the second generation it is difficult to recognize them in the thin1 lean1 and nervously formed fowl1 with a wild look1 and always ready to take wing4 ,the bovine race of ,perche is also far inferior to the improved race4 ,it is the opposite of the kind prized nowadays1 the race which is mild1 lymphatic1 and short-legged1 always inclined to fat1 and having in its bony frame only just enough to serve it for its locomotion1 forming a quadrilateral of flesh1 mounted on four small legs1 a rump bending with its haunches1 a broad1 smooth back1 and a low brisket4 ,its horns1 which are seemingly useless in a country from which man has driven out the wild beasts1 fall overlapping one another1 like a useless ornament1 upon the head4 ,such is not the ,percheron breed of cattle2 on the contrary it is dry and bony1 of a nervous temperament1 long legs1 angular haunches1 contracted chest1 lank thigh1 and thin neck1 with a long1 thin head4 ,two long horns of a greenish-white stand up in the air1 always threatening as in a savage country1 infested with dangerous animals4 ,an expressive word designates them fully3 a cattle dealer will tell you they are 8staggy10 and will pass on without bestowing upon them a glance4 ,they are hardly fit for quick fattening1 and are recognized without trouble by their color1 which in terms of the trade is said to be 8a little weak10 and by their skin1 which is dry and harsh4 ,the dealers appropriately express their condition by 8no good points40 ,the bulls1 especially1 are tough1 with big horns1 bony limbs1 large joints1 an ugly head1 and the whole difficult to fatten1 which well entitles them to the full application of the epithet 8boorish beasts10 invented to express animals of inferior quality4 ,it is in vain that ,maine1 the district which joins it1 has given to ,perche its race of cattle2 they have degenerated1 have become taller1 lanker1 less easy to fatten1 and have preserved no trace of the fine head and the good fore-quarters that are to be found in ,maine4 ,in vain has ,normandy poured out a generous blood4 ,the ,norman type hardly appears2 it is degenerated and entirely loses the agreeable color1 fine head1 good limbs1 white horns1 and other good points4 ,for several years1 the fashion of crossing with the ,cotentin race has become universal1 and continues to make rapid progress4 ,from the second generation1 nevertheless1 there remains almost nothing in the conformation and in the quality of the stock to show the cross4 ,it is only by dint of always crossing with the ,cotentin that ,perche has been able to make for itself her present passable stock4 ,the sheep1 sufficiently delicate for the table1 are small1 and form a degenerate and nameless mixture of the breeds of ,maine1 ,caux1 and ,trennes1 crossed for several years back with the ,merino4 ,they present the same conditions as the horned animals4 ,like them1 they are difficult to fatten and are not lymphatic1 notwithstanding the frequent importations of the heavier and fleshier breeds4 ,such predispositions can only come from the soil1 and the constant sway of the nervous over the lymphatic system produces all the qualities of the ,percheron horse4 ,this is why tradition has painted such a seductive picture of his construction and qualities4 ,this is why the old inhabitants1 who had seen that fine breed before its degeneration1 speak of it with so much warmth4 ,this is why1 notwithstanding the incredible crossings1 it has withstood such mixtures4 ,and this is why it is always energetic1 in spite of the diluted nourishment without tonic properties which is given it1 and which would be enough to bastardize a race with characteristics less fixed and permanent4 ,let us1 however1 beware of utterly condemning the management of the breeders1 and let us not entangle1 with an imprudent hand1 the threads of his traditions4 ,the horse is his sole fortune1 and in the raising of this aid of his agricultural labors1 he gains to-day his livelihood4 ,his management has a fixed end to which he always tends with an incredible perseverance1 and that is to increase the size of his horses without prejudice to their good qualities4 ,now that the country is covered with excellent roads and highways2 that railways have accustomed us to great speed2 that diligences and mail-coaches are forever gone2 that the stylish carriage horse1 the hunter1 and the half-blood1 have reached great perfection1 the role of the ,percheron is completely changed4 ,he is no longer the hunter1 the saddle-horse1 nor the motive power of heavy wagons over new and broken roads2 he remains exclusively both the quick and mettlesome draft-horse1 and the heavy burden and express wagon horse4 ,he must possess superior strength1 speed1 docility1 temper1 and honesty1 and a complete absence of irritability4 ,it is for this reason that after having listened to enthusiastic advisers1 and allowed himself to be led astray by men too eager to enjoy the result of their ideas1 he to-day is no longer to be cajoled by the solicitations of the amateurs of foreign blood4 ,the ,percheron cultivator does not wish even a single drop of it1 and exerts himself exclusively in producing heavy horses4 ,encouraged in this way by the dealers of all countries1 paying excessively high prices for the big and heavy ,percheron horse1 while leaving upon his hands1 without the offer of a farthing1 the horse in which a few drops of 8blood0 can be perceived1 he has spread his sails and stretched them boldly to catch the breeze of the day4 ,we shall carefully avoid following the example of numerous famous doctors1 the display of our little bundle of receipts4 ,let it be1 however1 permitted us to touch again slightly upon the question in expressing the fear that1 should he not take care1 the breeder of heavy horses will in the end render them too heavy and weighty4 ,stallions having a small touch of blood1 well applied1 and sufficiently latent not to excite mistrust1 having action1 good limbs1 strong loins1 and deep chest1 are indispensable for warming up the ,percheron blood and giving it tone4 ,look at ,sandy1 and afterwards at ,collin1 ,bayard1 and some others whose influence was immense4 ,their progeny1 magnificent in every respect1 did not show too much blood in their exterior1 but revealed it vigorously by action and high spirit4 ,the crosses which have best succeeded with the ,percheron are undoubtedly1 as shown by numerous examples1 those derived themselves from an oriental cross4 ,this fact1 which clearly proves that the ,percheron race has a great affinity with the race of the desert1 should not be neglected in foreign alliances4 ,as for the ,english alliances1 these have not given as yet all the results promised2 but from this nothing must be inferred against new trials4 ,too much blood had constantly been used1 and consequently the end was missed by wishing to proceed too rapidly4 ,little blood1 at first1 but blood well chosen1 from the ,norfolk race1 blood patiently infused into ,percheron veins1 is the means of triumphing over old prejudices and opening to this country an extensive and successful future4 ,illustration3 ,,kate4--,,mare4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,trade4--,,glance ,,at ,,the ,,most ,,celebrated ,,breeding ,,places4 ,the good horses are generally bought upon the farms1 and among these the dealers are constantly roaming4 ,the trade of the whole of ,france1 and the numerous and intelligent amateurs from abroad1 visit them carefully1 beating the country and searching it in all its farthest corners4 ,still1 notwithstanding the purchases there made1 the fairs are not wanting in numerous and good animals4 ,we will1 like these strangers1 run over the best breeding places4 ,as an equine country1 8,perche1 the land of good horses10 is divided into three very distinct districts4 ,that in which the colts are foaled--stocked exclusively with mares and fillies2 ,the district in which the male colts are weaned and raised2 ,and that in which they are brought to perfection--a privilege which it shares with ,beauce and the ,chartres country which it bounds4 ,all the territory north1 west1 and south1 of the district of ,mortagne 7,orne7 comprising the cantons of ,moulins1 ,bazoche1 ,pervenchres1 ,bellesme1 ,theil1 and part of ,noc1 possesses breeding mares as well as fillies4 ,in ,sarthe1 the canton of ,montmirail2 those of ,montdoubleau and ,drou in ,loir-and-,cher2 those of ,alluye1 ,bazoche1 ,cloyes1 ,authon1 ,brou1 and ,nogent-le-,rotrou1 in ,eure-and-,loir1 are likewise centers where only fillies and breeding mares are to be met with4 ,courtalain1 on the south border1 is also celebrated for this specialty4 ,the raising of male-colts occupies all the east1 center1 and north of the district of ,mortagne--that is to say1 the cantons of ,mortagne1 ,tourouvre1 ,lougny1 ,regmalard1 and part of ,noc4 ,this division1 however1 is not always distinctly marked upon the borders4 ,the parishes upon the confines of each district1 such as ,bazoches1 ,courgeoust1 ,pin1 ,saint-,ouen1 ,noc1 ,berdluis1 etc41 have farms stocked exclusively with fillies1 whilst others possess only stallion colts4 ,the region for the mares is itself divided into two cantons3 that of the north and that of the south4 ,the southern is the most renowned1 inasmuch as its mares pass for having retained the characters of the old ,percheron race more closely4 ,it comprises the cantons outside the district of ,mortagne4 ,montdoubleau is the capital4 ,the northern1 enclosed in the district of ,mortagne1 counts three very distinct varieties1 namely3 ,the pure ,percheron races in the south1 and in the canton of ,bazoches2 in the west1 in the parishes which border on ,mesle-sur-,sarthe1 mares possessing in various degrees some of ,english blood1 got from the government stud of ,mesle-sur-,sarthe1 which is composed exclusively of thoroughbred stallions2 the canton of ,moulins1 in the north1 nourishes another high-spirited variety1 endowed with excellent action1 but deficient in height4 ,accordingly it is more valued for furnishing good horses for service than for furnishing ameliorating types4 ,the best centers for stallion colts are3 ,regmalard1 which is1 if ,i may so say1 the principal place for good stallions2 ,mauves1 which furnished1 thirty years ago1 the famous stallion ,jean-le-,blanc1 of ,m4 ,miard4 ,for fillies1 ,villers-en-,ouche1 which stocked this country with magnificent ,percheron mares2 ,verrieres1 ,corbon1 ,comblot1 ,courgeon1 ,loisail1 ,reveillon and ,villiers4 ,as for the rest of ,perche1 it supplies ,beauce and the ,chartres country1 on account of the great similarity existing between them4 ,a country of transition1 it buys colts to plow the fields1 keeps them only a year1 and sells them grown to the cultivators of ,beauce1 to be sent to ,paris after a sojourn of a year or so upon their farms4 ,the environs of ,courville--,chateauneuf1 ,brzolles1 ,la ,loupe1 ,champroud1 ,thiron1 ,pontgouin1 ,verneuil1 etc4--are celebrated for the taste of its farmers for fine horses4 ,illiers1 which formerly possessed this specialty1 has occupied itself for several years in weaning colts4 ,illustration3 ,decoration ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,speed ,,and ,,bottom ,,of ,,the ,,percheron ,,horse4 ,we have said that one of the distinctive qualities of the ,percheron horse1 and one which has won for him universal esteem1 was fast trotting while drawing a heavy load4 ,it would be1 however1 an error to suppose that this faculty of fast trotting puts him on a level with the blood-horse4 ,the latter draws little1 it is true2 but he has a long stride1 and1 as regards mere speed1 he beats the ,percheron out and out4 ,for the presence upon the turf of such horses as ,dcide and ,sarah1 who have trotted against blood-horses of the first order1 sometimes honorably beaten and more often victorious1 the presence1 ,i say1 of such horses1 is but a happy and rare exception4 ,the specialty of the ,percheron1 quick draft1 has then its limits1 and it is these limits that ,i wish to make known by means of numerous examples collected with care4 ,what the ,percheron has done in the diligences1 mail and post-coaches is known to everybody2 and it is useless to repeat it4 ,from one relay to another1 never dragging less than two1 and more often three thousand pounds1 in hot weather and cold1 and over hilly1 difficult roads1 he made his three leagues to the hour easily1 and sometimes four2 but this was the 8ne plus ultra10 beyond which it was not reasonable to go4 ,what he does in the omnibuses1 the world that visits ,paris realizes and admires4 ,and this is one of the principal attractions of the ,percheron horse to the intelligent stranger4 ,it now only remains for us to follow him upon the turf and sum up the time made in the trots won by him4 ,the courses1 for some time frequented by him1 are those of ,illiers1 ,courtalain1 ,montdoubleau1 and ,mortagne2 and here he is always to be found4 ,it is1 also1 indispensable to notice1 in order to be strictly impartial1 that these tracks1 except the new one at ,mortagne1 finished two years ago1 were only plowed fields1 hard in dry weather1 but cut up like a peat-bog in wet times2 that the track of ,mortagne1 as is well known1 is placed on a steep side-hill1 and joins to the above defect the one of offering three steep inclines1 up and down1 like the roof of a house1 within a distance of #c1jjj feet4 ,the horses which had done the best elsewhere failed on this track1 and took a long time to make the distance4 ,it is to this circumstance that is to be attributed the low average time1 but it is this also which shows us the courage of the ,percheron4 ,when a colt of thirty months 7and of these there were a number7 had bravely accomplished his task and had gone two or three times around this killing track1 it could be boldly predicted that there was in him the making of a staunch and valuable horse4 ,to all this let us add1 that either under saddle or in harness1 the ,percheron is almost always placed in an unfavorable situation4 ,mounted1 he is put into the hands of a youth1 ardent1 without experience1 and without calculation1 who pushes him without discretion in the beginning1 and is totally ignorant of the jockey's art4 ,harnessed1 he is covered with heavy and inconvenient gear1 and he drags either a big1 heavy-running wagon1 or a poor1 low traveling-tilbury4 ,the following list shows the result of #aif trotting matches1 officially reported upon the turf1 and two trials to prove bottom1 likewise certified with care1 and will give an average of what the ,percheron is capable of doing either upon rugged1 cut-up1 or hilly tracks1 or upon the highways of a densely populated district4 ,illustration3 ,decoration ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,speed ,,of ,,the ,,percheron ,,horse4 ,,mounted ,,percherons4 #a ,,miles----#bi ,,results4 ,the best two are those of ,julie1 at ,montdoubleau1 in #ahfd1 time #c minutes #ej seconds2 and of ,godius1 at the same place1 in #aheg1 time #c minutes #eh seconds4 ,the poorest two results are those of ,vidocq1 at ,mortagne1 #ahfe1 time #g minutes #cg seconds2 and of ,lansquenet1 same place1 in #ahfa1 time #g minutes #dh seconds4 ,the average time of #bi recorded trials is about #d minutes #ab seconds4 #a ,,miles----#ca ,,results4 ,the best two are those of ,vaillante1 at ,mortagne1 in #ahfd1 time #d minutes #ch seconds2 and of ,julie1 at ,montdoubleau1 in #ahfd1 time #f minutes #ad seconds4 ,the poorest two are those of ,mouche1 at ,mortagne1 in #ahee1 time #i minutes #ah seconds2 and of ,biche1 at ,mortagne1 in #ahee1 time #h minutes #cj seconds4 ,the average time of #ca trials is about #f minutes #dj seconds4 #b ,,miles----#dj ,,results4 ,the best two are those of ,cocotte1 at ,illiers1 in #ahfa1 time #f minutes #e seconds2 and of ,sarah1 at the same place1 in #ahfe1 time #f minutes #b seconds4 ,the poorest two are those of ,balzane1 at ,illiers1 in #ahei1 time #i minutes #dj seconds2 and of ,renaud1 at the same place1 in #ahej1 time #aj minutes #cj seconds4 ,the average time of #dj trials is about #g minutes #bj seconds4 #b ,,miles----#fe ,,results4 ,the best two are those of ,sarah1 at ,langou1 in #ahfe1 time #g minutes #ce seconds2 and of the same at ,mortagne1 in #ahfe1 time #g minutes #dj seconds4 ,the poorest two are those of ,marmotte1 at ,mortagne1 in #ahfe1 time #ac minutes #bf seconds2 and of ,julie1 at ,courtalain1 in #ahfc1 time #aa minutes #cj seconds4 ,the average time of #fe trials is about #i minutes #ae seconds4 99 99 99 99 99 #b miles were made at ,illiers1 by ,bichette1 in #ahfj1 in #ab minutes #ae seconds4 #b miles at the same place were made three times1 and gave an average of #aa minutes #be seconds4 #c miles at the same place were made by ,champion1 in #aheg1 in #ab minutes4 ,,harnessed ,,percherons4 of a mile was trotted to harness in #ahee1 at ,bethune1 by ,grise1 in #d minutes #b seconds4 #a miles were made at ,mortagne1 in #ahef1 by ,battrape1 in #e minutes #d seconds4 #b ,,miles----#h ,,results4 ,the best two are those of ,achille1 at ,illiers1 in #ahfe1 time #g minutes #ag seconds2 and of ,julie1 at ,illiers1 in #ahfc1 time #g minutes #dj seconds4 ,the poorest two are those of ,championnet1 at ,illiers1 #aheh1 time #g minutes #ec seconds2 and of ,bichette1 at ,illiers1 in #ahdi1 time #h minutes #ac seconds4 ,the average of eight trials is about #g minutes #cf seconds4 #b ,,miles----#ad ,,results4 ,the best two are those of ,vigoreux1 at ,illiers1 in #ahea1 time #h minutes #cj seconds2 and of ,bibi1 at ,mortagne1 in #ahfe1 time #i minutes #ed seconds4 ,the poorest two are those of ,bichette1 at ,courtalain1 in #ahfj1 time #aa minutes #cj seconds2 and of ,artagnan1 at ,mortagne1 in #ahej1 time #aa minutes #ee seconds4 #b ,,miles----,,loaded4 ,two trials were made at ,rouen1 by ,dcide3 ,the first time in #ahfd1 drawing #chf pounds1 #b miles in #i minutes #ba seconds2 the second time1 in #ahfe1 drawing #djh pounds the same distance1 #aj minutes #di seconds4 ,illustration3 ,decoration ,,chapter ,v4 ,,endurance ,,of ,,the ,,percheron ,,horse4 ,a gray mare bred by ,m4 ,beaulavoris1 at ,almenesches1 7,orne71 in #ahde1 belonging to ,m4 ,montreuil1 horse dealer at ,alenon1 performed the following match3--,harnessed to a traveling-tilbury1 she started from ,bernay at the same time as the mail courier from ,rouen to ,bordeaux1 and arrived before it at ,alenon1 having made #ee miles over a hilly and difficult road1 in #d hours and #bd minutes4 ,this mare is still living1 and now belongs to ,m4 ,buisson1 hotel keeper at the sign of the ,white ,horse1 at ,les1 7,orne71 where she still draws the omnibus plying between the railroad station and the hotel4 ,a gray mare #g years old1 belonging to ,m4 ,consturier1 of ,fleury-sur-,andelle1 7,eure71 in #ahfd1 harnessed to a tilbury1 travelled #eh miles and back on two consecutive days1 going at a trot and without being touched with the whip4 ,this was over the road from ,lyons-la-,foret from ,pont ,audemer1 and back1 a difficult and hilly way4 ,the following time was made3 ,the first day the distance was trotted in #d hours1 #a minute1 and #ce seconds2 the second day1 in #d hours1 #a minute1 and #cj seconds4 ,the #ac last miles were made in one hour1 although at about the #dast mile the mare was obliged to pass her stable to finish the distance4 ,transcriber's ,notes pg #da ,changed3 prefering a less showy color to3 preferring a less showy color pg #eg ,changed3 ,if1 on the contary to3 ,if1 on the contrary