THE PERCHEIION HORSE. 29 



oly. Had it not before it the necessity of satisfying the 

 commercial wants that is to say, the express cartage, 

 the heavy work of the contractors and builders of Paris, 

 and in the provinces, the services of the large towns, and 

 the express and other business connected with all rail- 

 roads ? The fear of losing this important market offered 

 to his qualities of speed, strength, and honesty, tempted 

 the breeder to infuse too suddenly the blood of the 

 heavy draft-horse. He might have accomplished this 

 more slowly and gradually, by means of a rational 

 coupling with the heaviest bodied native types ; but our 

 age, eager to enjoy, did not leave him the time. To an- 

 swer to these new wants, Perche opened wide its doors to 

 all the heavy mares that it could meet with. Many came 

 from Brittany, others from Picardy and Caux, and some 

 from Boulogne. During this time the ancient stallion of 

 the country, eagerly sought after by all those who wished 

 to create fine draft studs, passed into the interior and even 

 into foreign countries. 



The success of the Percheron race was very great. 

 All the departments wished to acclimate it. The prices 

 of these stallions had increased so rapidly in a few years, 

 that they had tripled and quadrupled. Accordingly, 

 the possessors sold them. The administrative author- 

 ities, aided by the elite of the proprietors, endeavored, 

 however, to hinder this emigration. They formed a stud- 

 stable at Bonneval ; but this establishment was not com- 

 posed of types that were homogeneous and adapted to as- 

 sure a regular and continuous improvement. Prizes were 

 given at Mortagne, Nogent-le-Rotrou, Illiers, and Ven- 

 dome. But an end was arrived at contrary to what was 

 desired. The prizes served as signs to the dealers. Perche 

 was visited to buy first-class horses. "What surer guaranty 

 than the prize? And then, how could the breeders 

 resist the prices of 3,000 and 4,000 francs, and even more, 

 offered the proprietor of a stallion ? 



