72 THE PERCHEMXN" HORSE. 



say that, in Nivernais the celebrated Charollaise breed of 

 cattle, only a few years ago, was diffuse, without uniform- 

 ity, and without commercial value. The idea of classify- 

 ing it by means of a Herd-book was no sooner put in 

 practice than good crossings, being all made with system, 

 no longer lost their significance. The breed has visibly 

 improved, and, at present, it has acquired a value which 

 gives it a rank immediately after the Cotentin. 



The Stud-book might be established, as we -have indi- 

 cated above, by inscribing therein all the stallions and 

 mares which had received prizes for years back, continu- 

 ing this operation for a dozen years to come, and adding 

 therein also the animals which had not taken prizes or had 

 not been shown in the fairs, but which public attention 

 had classed among the number of types valuable on ac- 

 count of the beauty and sureness of their reproduction. 



Parallel to the mode of improvement which I have 

 already shown, (Chapter 1st, Part Second), and which has 

 as its agents the members of the Council-boards and the 

 district members of each canton, there might be formed, 

 as a means of embracing all, a great annual Department 

 Fair, to be held alternately in the best towns of Perche at 

 the time of the fairs which attract the most people ; in 

 Orne, at Mortagne and Alen9on ; at Chartres, Nogent-le- 

 Kotrou, and Chateaudun, for Eure and Loir ; at Yendome 

 and Montdoubleau for the department of Loir and Cher. 

 The departments of the Cote-d'Or, Nievre, and Youne, 

 which possess the best Percheron stallions, might likewise 

 enter into the association of the Percheron Stud-book, for 

 which they have all the elements. 



This book would give increased value to the breed, as 

 is easily understood, for it is the surest of all the means 

 of improvement and perpetuation of valuable qualities. 

 It would drive off, forever, the defective stallions, and 

 those corrupted with hereditary blemishes, as well as those 

 coming from tainted families, which, I feel sure, would be 



