VI PREFACE. 



ness of style, very free action, considerable speed united 

 to power, with astonishing strength for his weight, and the 

 greatest kindness and docility, seems to offer to American 

 horse breeders an exceedingly useful animal, either to be 

 maintained distinct, or used for improving our stock of 

 both light and heavy draft-horses by crossings. The value 

 of this work, however, does not consist in its recommenda- 

 tion of this breed, or demonstration of its value in France, 

 but its bold discussions of the principles of breeding as ap- 

 plied to the improvement of the Percherons, and equally 

 applicable to that of other draft breeds, will doubtless 

 commend themselves to the careful consideration of 

 breeders. 



Interest in the Percherons has increased greatly of late. 

 Several notable importations have been made, and excel- 

 lent representatives of this noble breed are to be found in 

 the Eastern, Western, and Middle States. The engrav- 

 ings which embellish this volume are portraits of animals 

 owned by Mr. W. T. Walters of Baltimore, Md., through 

 whose interest in this subject the Publishers were induced 

 to issue this translation of M. Huys work. 



