THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



79 



re(jional tVom their comprising several departments 

 witliiii tlieir sphere. There was also in that year 

 another general show at Versailles. 



In the year 1852 there were seven district shows, 

 with another general one at Versailles, a place wliieli 

 was thus selected for this solemnity, on account of tlio 

 Agricultural Institute, so ably directed by M. do 

 Qasparin, and which had been established in a portion 

 of tiie Palace grounds comprising the Government 

 farms in the neighbourhood. 



In 1853 there were eight district shows, the general 

 one taking place at Orleans, the Versailles Agronomic 

 Institute having bewi abandoned. 



In 1854 there were only seven exhibitions, and no 

 general one, but it was determined this should hence- 

 forth be held in Paris. 



In 1855 there were eight, district shows, and one at 

 Paris, in the Champ de Mars, called Universal, from 

 the admission of English animals and implements to 

 compete for prizes. 



In 1856, as our readers will recollect, the Universal 

 Exhibition assumed immense proportions, as the whole 

 world was invited to compete, special prizes being of- 

 fered for all breeds, all nations. Besides this remark- 

 able exhibition, there were also eight district ones, in 

 various parts of France, as in the preceding years. 



In 1857 another Universal Exhibition was announced; 

 but not proceeded with. There were, however, eight 

 district shows. 



This year the number of the regional exhibitions 

 has been increased to ten. Next year it is not impro- 

 bable tlieremay be another universal one ; or if not next 

 year, at least in 1860, when the number of district 

 shows will be further increased to twelve. 



To give an idea of the progress manifested by these 

 Exhibitions, we transcribe a paragraph lately published 

 by the Moniteur, sho.ving the increase in the entries of 

 cattle, implements, and produce for the year 1858 as 

 compared with 1857. 



1857. 1858. 



Bulls and cowa 1,868 . . 1,650 



Rama aod lots of ewea ... . 76i .. 921 



Boars aud sows 272 .. 511 



Lots of poultry 260 .. 648 



Implements 1,001 ,. -2,126 



Produce 1,300 .. 2,003 



The district show held at Alengon on the 17th ult. 

 was especially interesting, from two features which no 

 other in France could boast of. The first wSls one of the 

 most magnificent shows of horses that have ever been 

 held in this country ; the other, a new competing ex- 

 hibition of the famous Lonrai herd, belonging to M. 

 Le Comte de Seraincourt. This herd is composed of 

 nearly all the first-prize animals in all the classes of 

 the Universal Exhibition of 1856, and their produce. 

 This wealthy nobleman spared no treasure that we 

 might gratify his praiseworthy ambition lo possess the 

 best animals in all European breeds. The Universal 

 Show of 1850 otFered to hirn, no doubt, the very sug- 

 gestion of his desire, and a fitting opportunity of gra- 

 tifying it. At all events, the result of his lavish ex- 

 penditure is a collection of animals, a kind of zoological 

 museum, which has not its like in the whole world, 

 and which offers, from its comparative merits, one of the 

 most curious and instructive sights which an agricul- 

 turist can behold. It is like Noah's ark. We have 

 serious mi'^givings as to the practical result of this 

 mixture of breeds; but, nevertheless, the exhibition is 

 a most interesting one, and is well worth the journey 

 to Alengon — especially as the pleasure of such a jour- 

 ney is further enhanced by the hospitality of the owner, 

 or, in his absence, the courtesy aud polite attention of 

 his steward, We may state that the Count de Serain- 



court has also at Lonrai a beautiful stud of thorough- 

 bred English liorses, which would do honour to any of 

 our sporting noblemen. 



It had for a long time been a subject of regret and 

 complaint on the part of French agriculturists, that 

 aiiricultural horses were not admitted in district shows, 

 and that Government, so lilieral in their prizes for 

 cattle, offered none for the breeding of farm horses. 

 The district of Normandy, so celebrated fa- its horses, 

 was especially loud in its grumblinsj at this exclusion. 

 The department of Orne, the capital of which is Alenqon, 

 has, however, on this occasion, given a noble ex- 

 ample to the oth.r French districts, by getting up an 

 independent show for horses, and their appeal to 

 the breeders of Normandy has been most enthu- 

 siastically responded to. The beautiful promenade 

 outside the town, known as the Fair Field, was 

 most tastefully arranged for the reception of the animals. 

 Stalls of an elegant construction, covered with blue and 

 white awnings tailing in front like curtains, were erected 

 imder the trees all round the promenade. At night, on 

 the curtains being closed, tlie stalls were ti*ansformed 

 into comfortable stables, and during the day they were 

 gathered each side in graceful folds, thus adding artistic 

 effect to comfort. 



There were on the catalogue nearly 400 entries; 

 but we apprehend there were a good many defaulters. 

 Still if there was a little disappointment in the number, 

 that was amply redeemed by the extraordinary merits 

 and beauty of the animals exhibited. The horses were 

 divided into many categories — viz., thorough-bred stal- 

 lions, and mares with or without foals; half-bred, of va- 

 rious degrees and races; the pure country breeds, among 

 which we greatly regretted to see so few pure Per- 

 eherons — those famous grey horses, which being more 

 and more crossed by half-bred stallions, are ra|)idly dis- 

 appearing from the country. The half-bi-ed horses were 

 truly commendable. In colour, coat, spirit, power, and 

 symmetry, they were really good ; and an English 

 agriculturist, Mr. W. Fisher Hobbs, who was present,* 

 expressed a similar opinion. 



On the whole, it is very obvious that the introduction 

 of English blood into some of the best breeds of French 

 horses has been attended with the most complete suc- 

 cess. This element of perfection, skilfully applied by 

 the Norman breeders, has certainly become a source of 

 great prosperity to the beautiful province of Normandy. 

 The rich pasture land of the Vullees cVAvge rei-ders 

 that district pre-eminently suitable to the breediuif of 

 all kind of animals; no wonder, then, that English 

 blood, implanted upon so well a soil, and fostered by 

 so many favourable local circumstances, should have 

 produced such gratifying results. 



Should this show take place again next year at St. 

 L6, we think it will be well worth the while of our 

 English horse-breeders and agriculturists to avail 

 themselves of the facilities of travelling whicli now 

 exist, and pay it a visit. Clever and experienced as 

 they undoubtedly are, they might take a leaf or two 

 out of the books of their JNorman kinsmen. 



HORSES' COATS.— Lately going to the country to apend 

 a few weeka with a friend of mine, I drove a very iiandsome 

 horse, and a tood 'un — but waa always annoyed about Ida 

 coat, as it was more lilte a lot of bristlea than a horse's smooth 

 akin, and all the grooming he could get " would'ut do it no 

 good." My friend, who ia a great hcrse-brceder and fancier, 

 ninde me try giving him a few carrots every day out of my 

 hand, saying that he would have a good smooth coat in three 

 weeks — and he waa right, for in that time my horse had a 

 beautiful, sleek, gloasy coat, and all from eating a few 

 carrots daily. He tella me it is iufalhble. — Porter's Spirit, 



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