THE PERCHERON HORSE. 91 



of his construction and qualities. This is why the old in- 

 habitants, who had seen that fine breed before its degen- 

 eration, speak of it with so much warmth. This is why, 

 notwithstanding the incredible crossings, it has withstood 

 such mixtures. And this is why it is always energetic, in 

 spite of the diluted nourishment without tonic properties 

 which is given it, and which would be enough to bastardize 

 a race with characteristics less fixed and permanent. 



Let us, however, beware of utterly condemning the 

 management of the breeders, and let us not entangle, 

 with an imprudent hand, the threads of his traditions. 

 The horse is his sole fortune, and in the raising of this aid 

 of his agricultural labors, he gains to-day his livelihood. 

 Ilis management has a fixed end to which he always tends 

 with an incredible perseverance, and that is to increase 

 the size of his horses without prejudice to their good 

 qualities. 



Now that the country is covered with excellent roads 

 and highways ; that railways have accustomed us to great 

 speed ; that diligences and mail-coaches are forever gone ; 

 that the stylish carriage horse, the hunter, and the half- 

 blood, have reached great perfection, the role of the Per- 

 cherou is completely changed. He is no longer the hunter, 

 the saddle-horse, nor the motive power of heavy wagons 

 over new and broken roads ; he remains exclusively both 

 the quick and mettlesome draft-horse, and the heavy 

 burden and express wagon horse. He must possess superior 

 strength, speed, docility, temper, and honesty, and a com- 

 plete absence of irritability. It is for this reason that 

 after having listened to enthusiastic advisers, and allowed 

 himself to be led astray by men too eager to enjoy the 

 result of their ideas, he to-day is no longer to be cajoled 

 by the solicitations of the amateurs of foreign blood. 

 The Percheron cultivator does not wish even a single 

 drop of it, and exerts himself exclusively in producing 

 heavy horses. Encouraged in this way by the dealers of 



