FRANCE. 251 



fattening joined to good milking qualities. Besides, it is intelligent 

 and docile. Briefly described, it is from 4 feet 2 inches to 4 feet 6 inches 

 size: live weight, 1,750 to 2,250 pounds; fine, soft, shiny coat, generally 

 red, without spots; fine, supple skin, loose from the ribs; long, slim 

 horns, ordinarily white, wide apart, shooting upwards and backwards 

 toward the end; short head; large forehead; bright, mild eye; good-sized 

 neck ; dewlap is moderate ; shoulders strong and chest well developed ; 

 limbs muscular, fairly strong; are lusty, vigorous, and straight, so formed 

 as to insure a brisk gait ; the Salers is often observed trotting like a 

 horse ; his body is thick-set and his belly well developed. The name is 

 derived from the little city of Salers, district of Mauriac, situated in the 

 midst of the mountains of Cantal. 



Although they occupy a small territory, they manage to export many 

 of these cattle. The oxen are first sold to the neighboring departments 

 for work, and finally they are sold to those who fatten them and thence 

 to Paris. The cows emigrate south and are sought for dairy purposes. 

 At the recent fair for animals for food at Paris the race de Salers, 

 as usual, was well represented. Many of these cattle attain great weight, 

 at the age of five years often running from 2,000 to 2,700 pounds. 



The heifers, as remarked, are sold to the south of France, enough only 

 being reserved to replace the superannuated cows of the dairy; others, 

 again, are sold in pairs for working cows. 



DAIRYING ON THE CANTAL MOUNTAINS. 



A dairy in this part of France consists of about 35 cows, varying 

 however from 20 to 100 cows each. A certain amount of mountain past- 

 urage is required for this dairy. These domains upon the mountains 

 contain 800 acres or more and pasture several dairies. The milk is made 

 into cheese at home in the spring and fall, when the cows are on the 

 farms, and on the mountains when the cows repair there during the 

 summer. The mountain is utilized as a pasture as long as possible ; 

 then the cows descend to the farm and live upon the late vegetation. 

 This devoured, they go into winter quarters in the stables. The past- 

 urage of the mountains is gauged by the number of head it can feed. 

 They say a. mountain of 40, 50, or 100 head, to express that the same 

 number of cows or their equivalent can be kept during a certain time. 

 A three-year-old ox or cow or 2 yearlings represent a head; three animals 

 of two years old represent a head j a mare and colt represent two 

 head. The young calves with the cows are not counted* This compu- 

 tation is admitted and has the sanction of the law in case of dispute. 

 The area per head upon the mountains of Salers, where the herbage 5s 

 thick and ricb, is 1 acres ; another claims it requires 2J acres and even 

 more per head. The cost of this mountain pasturage is from $6 to $8 per 

 head for the season. In Auvorgne, and especially Salers, these mount- 

 ains are carefully tended, and are watered as well as possible. They 

 spread the cattle droppings and break down the mole-hills, and close a 

 certain portion each year. When required, drainage is employed, and 

 the pasture is never too closely fed. The herdsmen lead the cows to a 

 dry place for rest at night, and these places are changed every few days. 

 Portions of the pasture well-sprinkled and cared for afford great relief 

 to the cows, which are driven two or three times each day. 



The cows ascend the mountain on the 25th May ; this is fixed and 

 would require a convention to change. Their time of departure de- 

 pends upon how much food is at the farm ; the 1st of October is about 

 the usual time of descent to the farm. Compared with the Flamandes 



