70 THE PEECHEEOX HOESE. 



and by instinct avoids every thing resembling them. 

 And, on the other hand, it seizes hold of and clings eagerly 

 to every indication that can serve it as a sign or mark 

 every thing that can guide it in the search for what it 

 likes, and every thing that can guard against its opposite. 



Hence, it repels and proscribes the dark-colored coats 

 without examination and reflection, because they are con- 

 sidered the colors of the English horse ; it accepts the 

 grays with confidence, because with them it perceives the 

 absence of the dreaded blood, and in them it has found 

 that which satisfies all its wants. Would we have arrived 

 at this point if we had been prudent, and had the cross- 

 breeding been better understood ? 



Finally, what is there at the end of this negative pole 

 and this positive pole ? There is the Percheron on whom 

 has devolved, and will devolve for a long time yet, the 

 rude and killing mission of executing the feats of strength 

 exacted of him by modern civilization. The profits in sup- 

 plying the demand, accrue, and will accrue for a long time 

 to the producer. 



Thus so long as machinery does not replace the horse in 

 the traction of heavy carriages, so long as the necessity 

 for hard labor remains, requiring strength, intelligence, 

 endurance, and willingness, so long to the Percheron alone 

 will be reserved the dangerous honor of being the great 

 draft power, and the price of this matchless agent will in- 

 crease in proportion to the growing impossibility of find- 

 ing his substitute. 



It is now the time, while crossing the active and trot- 

 ting breeds with the Arab or with the well-chosen English 

 horse, to carefully preserve the heavy draft-horse, and, by 

 means of persevering and judicious crossing, retain for 

 him his marked superiority. 



These crossings, which I will sum up in concluding, may 

 find a powerful aid in the creation of a Stud-book of th<? 

 Percherou breed. 



