298 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



acter of that breed known as ^The Perchero7i.' The immense power, wonder- 

 ful endurance and extreme docility of tliis peculiar animal, will render its 

 introduction into this country an important advance in the art of stock 

 breeding, while to the farmer his usefulness and strength ^ill render him 

 preferred above all others. 



During a recent visit to France I was peculiarly struck with the beauty and 

 strength of the Percheron, and made express inquiries concerning them and 

 their management and breeding, and trust the informarion whicli I received 

 will not be uninteresting to those engaged in agricultural pursuits. 



The department of Perclie is a small extent of country, about twenty-five 

 leagues in length by twenty in breadth. It is bounded on the north by Nor- 

 mand}^ on the south by the Vendomois, on the east by Beauce, including 

 Chartrain and Duuois, and on the west by part of Normandy and Maine. It is 

 in this beautiful country, where agriculture lias flourished for years, where the 

 beautiful meadows stretcli far and wide, watered by brooks and rivers, and 

 where the climate is remarkable for its salubrity, that the Percheron is found 

 in his glory, and surely a more magnificent animal cannot be imagined than a 

 well-bred Percheron on his native soil. Such were my thoughts in the spring 

 of 18G8, as I viewed him in Perche, and determined if possible to introduce the 

 breed into Missouri. 



It is not my intention in this brief paper to enter into the genealogy of the 

 Percheron, but from historical deductions it is fair to believe tliat he is of 

 Arabian origin, modified of course by climatic influence. ' Mon. Eugene 

 Perrault,' says ])u Huys, ' one of the most extensive and skillful dealers in fancy 

 horses in all Europe, has frequently remarked to me, that of all the various 

 breeds of horses none Avere so interesting to him as the Percheron, and judging 

 from his appearance and quality, he was satisfied that he was a genuine Arab, 

 modified in form by the climate and rude services to whicli for years he liad been 

 subjected.' There arc many interesting historical facts, to prove this hypothesis 

 to be correct, and among others I would allude to the defeat of Abderame on 

 the field of Vouille. In this memorable engagement, it is reported that over 

 300,000 infidels were slain, and that the horses (all of eastern extraction) 

 which they rode, fell into the hands of the conquerors. These horses, or at 

 least a very large number of them, were divided among the men of La Perche 

 and Normandy, and the country immediately surrounding. Again, excavations 

 made as recently as 18G1, revealed carvings and antiques on which, beyond 

 doubt, the horses represented must have been of the Arabian breed. 



These horses, then, were gradually modified by the peculiarity of climate, 

 mode of keeping, the labor they were obliged to perform, and especially by the 

 contact with the Britainy race of horses. 



It may here be asked, what arc the advantages which these horses possess ? 

 Allow me to state them as briefly as possible : 



1st. Strkngtii. Let any stranger in France, whether he be a breeder of 

 horses, or a student of metaphy.sics, stand in the streets of Paris, and sec the 

 enormous blocks of stone carried along with ease by a single Percheron, wliich 

 in our country would require a whole team to move, and he will certainly be 

 struck with amazement. Let him observe those omnibuses of immense size, 

 filled to overflowing with people inside and out, moving at a rapid rate, drawn 



