300 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



4th. Endurance. As an example of this, I may be permitted to state that a 

 gray Percheron mare started from Bernay, harnessed to a travelling wagon, and 

 made the fifty-five and two-thirds miles, over a bad and hilly road, to Alencon, 

 in four hours and twenty-four minutes ; also, that a mare, seven years old, 

 trotted, to a heavy travelling wagon, from Lyons-la-Foret, fifty-eight miles, to 

 Pont Andemer, in four hours, one minute and thirty-five seconds, and returned 

 the following day, making the distance in four hours, one minute and thirty 

 seconds, and the last thirteen and three-fourths miles were made within one 

 hour. 



5th. Speed. One of the most noted features of the Percheron is speed. 

 To look at the build of the horse, or to observe him while he is quiet in his 

 stable, one would scarcely imagine him capable of much swiftness. For au- 

 thority under this head, I am again obliged to consult the valuable work of 

 Mon. Du Huys, ' Mounted Percherons,' and twenty-nine results at one and 

 one-fourth miles. The best race was made by Julie, at Montdoubleau, in 

 18G4 ; time, 3 minutes and 50 seconds, or her mile in 3 : 04, and the average 

 time of the twenty-nine was 4 minutes, 12^ seconds. 



The best time for two miles was made by Cocotte at Illiers, in 18G1, in 6 

 minutes, 5i seconds. The average time of forty trials was 7 : 20. 



The best for two and one-half miles was made by Sarah at Langou, in 1865, 

 in 7 minutes and 35 seconds, and the average time of sixty-five trials was 9 

 minutes and 15 seconds. 



Ctli. All-avork. a horse of all-work is often ' read about,' but rarely seen. 

 The animal we use for draft is not a comfortable horse upon the road. The 

 good ' buggy horse ' or ' carriage horse ' is not fit for draft. The trotter is too 

 delicate, and the runner is fit for nothing but his appearance on the turf. The 

 Percheron combine qualities which render him a true horse of all work; 

 he will kindly draw immense loads, will get over the road at an excellent rate, 

 will trot from dawn to dark with an ease and grace that surpluses, and is most 

 easily kept in excellent condition." 



