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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



and impression that, after all, this so-called national 

 exhibition is by no means exclusively French, for a very 

 large, and decidedly the most remarkable, portion of the 

 whole can be justly claimed for England. By far the best 

 specimens of cattle, sheep, and pigs, avowedly belong 

 to English breeds. The shorthorns, the Ayrshires, the 

 long and short wools, and especially the pigs, all of 

 English extraction and unmistakable origin fill many 

 pages of the catalogue, without reckoning the evident 

 traces of English blood, especially shorthorn, in the many 

 remarkable specimens of cross-breds, that are exhibited 

 not only in special classes, but also among the so called 

 pure native breeds. As to the implements, the identity 

 is still more palpable, if possible. There we not only see 

 many machines, fresh from the works of the best English 

 manufacturers , but it is a remarkable feature of this show, 

 and it elicits in the most ostensible manner the fact that 

 since the Great Exhibition of 1856, when the French 

 had so good an opportunity of examining English im- 

 plements, nearly every standard machine, from the 

 spade to a combined thrashing machine, has been more 

 or less felicitously copied. Indeed, in casting a glance 

 over the catalogue, we find a great number of imple- 

 ments bearing the well-known names of Ransomes, 

 Crosskill, Coleman, Turner, Garrett, Ashby, &c., &c., 

 with the ludicrously-conceited rider that these imple- 

 ments have been improved, as well as manufactured, 

 by such and such French maker, the faci of which as- 

 sertion would most decidedly be demurred to by the 

 original inventors, did they happen to see them. . 



The magnificent industrial hall, within whose immense 

 precincts the exhibition of cattle is arrayed, is, as usual, 

 most tastefully decorated. The cattle are ranged, ac- 

 cording to breeds, in spacious stalls running in four- 

 fold lines under the galleries, which are reserved for the 

 exhibition of agricultural produce. The centre is trans- 

 formed into a most lovely garden, with fresh lawns, 

 miniature rivers, and water-works, spanned by rustic 

 bridges. Masses of trees and shrubs, most aitistically 

 planned, are grouped here and there ; and all over this 

 luxuriant and smiling surface are displayed in glittering 

 and fragrant groups such a floral exhibition as can rarely 

 be seen. The whole presents a most enchanting cou]) 

 d'ceil. The interior of the building is exclusively devoted 

 to the bovine species ; the pigs, sheep, and poultry are 

 placed outside, under temporary sheds. The horses, of 

 which there is a most remarkable show — in numbers, if 

 not in merit — are placed under a temporary shed ranging 

 the whole length of the Cours la Heine. 



On the whole, this exhibition is a great success. The 

 arrangements are as perfect as can be. The classifica- 

 tion of the various breeds — and they are very numerous 

 — is as judicious in its design as it is successful in its 

 execution, and the varied breeds of the Continent, so 

 distinct from one another in shape and colour, present 

 a most interesting collection, which it is equally in- 

 structive and pleasant to study. Each category repre- 

 sents one distinct breed, and these arc again subdivided 

 into the usual classes, according to sex and age. First 

 come the native breeds, extending right and left of the 

 main entrance from the central avenue of the Champs 



Elysees. In the first place we have the bony and ill- 

 shaped but good milking Norman breed, which 

 muster to the number of 122 animals. Next 

 come the red, long-legged and large-framed Flemish 

 breed, which reach to 90. Thirdly, we perceive a long 

 array of the beautiful white Charolais breed, so closely 

 resembling the shorthorns — numbering 80. Next iu 

 order come the Gascon breed ; of a light yellowish 

 tawny colour, of which there are 17. Then the Garon- 

 naise and Agenaise races, whose sleek coats the golden 

 rays of the southern sun seem to leave imbued with 

 their warm harvest tint ; and of these there are 28 speci- 

 mens. Next in succession the Bazadaise, represented by 

 17 animals. After these come the Marchaise, from the 

 Charente, of which 5 animals only are entered. By a 

 sudden transition we leave the West of France, and 

 alight rather abruptly upon the celebrated Femeline 

 breed, a native of Franche Comte, in the extreme east 

 of France, and of which there are 37 beautiful en- 

 tries. Then come 10 animals of the Bressane breed, 

 closely akin to the Femeline. We take, again, another 

 long stride westwards and come to the Manceile 

 breed, of which there are 17. Next on the 

 promiscuous list we perceive the mountain breeds 

 of the Pyrennees, divided into those of Lourdes, 

 Beam, Basque, and Arriegoise. Of the famous 

 working Limousine breed there are no less than 

 43 representatives; of the bright-red Salers and Au- 

 vergne, 47 ; of the breed of Aubrac, 31 ; Mezenc, 7 ; 

 Parthenaise, Choletaise, and Nantaise, G6. The dimi- 

 nutive, but graceful, little Breton, so remarkable for 

 its strength of constitution and milking qualities, is 

 represented by the large number of 114. The various 

 other breeds not classified in the catalogue number aUo- 

 gether 34 subjects, making a grand total of 801 animals 

 belonging to the pure French breeds, 



The shorthorns number 160. The pure Ayrshire 

 (rather a favourite breed in some parts of France) 

 are represented by 59 ; the Holland breed^ by 89 ; 

 and the Swiss, by 50. Other foreign breeds not clas- 

 sified number 21 animals, making a grand total of 

 379 animals of foreign races. 



There is a special class for cross-bred animals by a 

 shorthorn bull. This is a remarkable entry, and speaks 

 volumes in favour of that cross, as I shall hereafter 

 demonstrats. There arc no less than 146 animals 

 in this class. Of various other crosses there are 60 

 specimens, which, with 26 animals extra stock, 13 of 

 which are contributed from the imperial farms, form a 

 grand total of 1,470 head of cattle. 



I have now only time and space sufficient to say that 

 the entries in the sheep classes number 546 ; of the pig 

 classes, 237 ; with 13 goats, 70 rabbits, and no less than 

 839 entries of poultry. The entries for implements and 

 machinery number 3,976; and those of agricultural 

 produce, 3,615. All these, with about a thousand 

 horses, will suffice to give an idea of the magnitude and 

 interesting diversity of this truly splendid exhibition. 



A lengthened and attentive examination of the various 

 departments of this exhibition has fully ■ -^nfirmed the 

 favourable impression we had received of its excellence, 



