202 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



sessing an enduring body, and here was the foundation in the Arab 

 and Barb stallions crossed on the Brittany mares until the type was 

 fixed. In breeding throughout this section of country, the peculiar 

 practice is followed of one section growing and developing what 

 another produces. Thus the sexes are divided at weaning time. 

 The mares are kept steadily at work during the period of gestation 

 with a few days rest before and after foaling. Of course the nature 

 of this work is tempered by her condition, but during the larger 

 portions of the year she labors as though not bearing a foal. At 

 the age of five or six months the colts are weaned and the males 

 abruptly sold to be taken into the interior, upon the fertile meadows 

 of adjoining sections. For these the farmers who bred them receive 

 from five to six hundred francs. 



For the next year they graze in the fields during the season and 

 are fed hay and bran in the winter. In this way they reach the age 

 of eighteen months, having thus far been a bill of expense. Now 

 they are put to work. Docile by nature through centuries of breed- 

 ing and education in this one direction, the^' begin to do something 

 towards paying the expense of keeping. 



No man can continue to breed and train horses successfully with- 

 out getting control of himself, and here, too, one sees the effect of 

 this special line of work generation after generation. The colts 

 partake of the characteristics of their owners and the farmer, out of 

 his love for the work, becomes patient and mild in the treatment of 

 his stock. Four or five of these colts, not yet two j'ears old, are 

 harnessed to a plow or wagon and pull what would be an easy load 

 for two horses. 



As this labor commences, the method of feeding is improved and 

 the progress and development of the good qualities are noticeable at 

 once. At the age of three 3'ears, if kept intact, the Beauce farmers 

 purchase for their work on light, soft soil. The premature work 

 instead of being hurtful has been very beneficial when in the hands 

 of a good master. The labor now is constant, but the country is one 

 of proverbial richness, and cereals abound and the colts receive an 

 abundance of good hay and oats. The work done requires quick 

 movements, for it is all sowing and harvesting, plowing and hauling. 

 As regards the horse, everything must be done promptly, and the 

 education is in this line. Thus the colt matures and at five years of 

 age is bought by the dealer at the annual fair on St. Andrews' day 

 in the town of Chartres. The farmer usually realizes from one 

 thousand to tourteen hundred francs. 



