THE PERCHEBON HORS^E. 51 



failure ? These evils have been branded in large characters 

 on all our breeds, since that day when they became the 

 objects, not of constant and uniform care, but considered 

 as subjects of no consequence, upon which individuals 

 might experiment in order to test their theories, and set 

 themselves up as teachers. 



Since then, we have no more types properly belonging 

 to distinct districts, but a confused assembly, combining 

 with rare qualities the defects of this or that cross and 

 twenty others more. Everywhere in turn, from one region 

 or another, were stallions employed of different typee and 

 races : those of the south transported to the north, and 

 those of the north to the south ; and that without prepa- 

 ration, and without attention to the differences of soil and 

 climate of the various regions. All these practices have 

 injured our breeds without successfully retaining their 

 own native qualities. 



CHAPTER VH. 



THE ARAB CROSSING. 



I commence with the Arab crossing. Two motives 

 have induced me to follow this classification : 



1st. The Arabian is the type horse, and the type should 

 be examined before its derivatives. 



2nd. The Percheron shows a very great analogy, by his 

 coat, conformation, character of race, mild disposition, 

 and endurance, to the Arab, of which he seems to be the 

 son, notwithstanding certain differences, the result of 

 time, climate, and the region in which he is bred and in 

 which he lives. 



I have said that the Percheron horse exhibits in com- 



