THE PERCHERON HORSE. 93 



CHAPTER H. 



TRADE. GLANCE AT THE MOST CELEBRATED BREEDING 

 PLACES. 



The good horses are generally bought upon the farms, 

 and among these the dealers are constantly roaming. The 

 trade of the whole of France, and the numerous and in- 

 telligent amateurs from abroad, visit them carefully, beat- 

 ing the country and searching it in all its farthest corners. 

 Still, notwithstanding the purchases there made, the fairs 

 are not wanting in numerous and good animals. We will, 

 like these strangers, run over the best breeding places. 



As an equine country, " Perche, the land of good 

 horses," is divided into three very distinct districts. 



That in which the colts are foaled stocked exclusively 

 with mares and fillies ; 



The district in which the male colts are weaned and 

 raised ; 



And that in which they are brought to perfection a 

 privilege which it shares with Beauce and the Chartres 

 country which it bounds. 



All the territory north, west, and south, of the district 

 of Mortagne (Orne) comprising the cantons of Moulins, 

 Bazoche, Pervencheres, Bellesme, Theil, and part of Noce, 

 possesses breeding mares as well as fillies. In Sarthe, 

 the canton of Montmirail; those of Montdoubleau and 

 Droue in Loir-and-Cher ; those of Alluye, Bazoche, Cloyes, 

 Authon, Brou, and Nogent-le-Rotrou, in Eure-and-Loir, are 

 likewise centers where only fillies and breeding mares are 

 to be met with. Courtalain, on the south border, is also 

 celebrated for this specialty. 



The raising of male-colts occupies all the east, center, 

 and north of the district of Mortagne that is to say, the 

 cantons of Mortagne, Tourouvre, Lougny, Regmalard, 



