256 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. 



THE LANDALSE BREED. 



I liave said that the race Bazadaise is often confounded with the 

 race Landaise. It is often crossed thus, but without any advantage, 

 and tending to attenuate the proportions of the animal. The raceLau- 

 daise, like the Bazadaise, is found in the department of the Landes, and 

 is also subjected to hard work. Agriculture is rude in that department. 

 The animals subsist upon scanty, hard grass. During the winter the 

 working cattle are fed upon hay, the others upon wheat, straw, and 

 corn-stalks. On many farr^s the cattle are fed by hand. Many wickets 

 are placed in the wall of the house which opens upon the court, sur- 

 rounded by sheds and stalls, where the animal is free. By these wickets 

 the members of the family in turn give mouthful after mouthful of food 

 to the animals, and with wonderful patience and economy place every 

 mouthful of food in the very gullet of the animal, thus prevented from 

 rejecting it. They are often tempted by the sight of a green leaf, or 

 some appetizing hay tea, or a bit of turnip, but these appearances are 

 often deceitful, and the poor beast is only offered some dry straw which 

 had been untouched in his rack and should have served for a bed. 



This method of taking care of an animal takes much time, and makes 

 a great inroad into the night of the workman, whose entire day is taken 

 up in the fields ; but it is astonishing with how little feed, of " the most 

 ordinary kind, the animals subjected to heavy and incessant labor can 

 be kept in good condition. 



The cows, much smaller than the oxen, are subjected to hard work, 

 while they nourish their calves without receiving any additional nour- 

 ishment themselves. 



LANDAISE BULL-RACES. 



The agility of these animals is extraordinary: they take a trot with- 

 out being blown. They are often sent on long routes and make 45 to 

 50 miles in twenty-four hours, and in making these distances they do 

 not stop for rest. At the fairs in the Landes the agility of these ani- 

 mals is often exhibited; the bulls rarely figure in these games, although 

 they are termed "bull-races." The oxen and cows ordinarily take part 

 in these games. These are less exciting than bull-fights, but the great- 

 est enthusiasm is evinced by the crowd, and the same agility and au- 

 dacity on the part of the actors, who evince a curious knowledge of the 

 ways of the animal, to whom they openly oppose themselves without any 

 other defense than the rapidity of getting out of his way. The skillful 

 athlete, with a cigarette in his mouth, makes a slight movement when 

 the bull advances towards him with his head lowered; the horns graze 

 his breast, but he has closely calculated the distance. As the infuriated 

 animal rushes upon him, with his head lowered to strike him, he coolly 

 places a foot between his horns, and, aided by the upward movement of 

 the animal's head, safely springs behind him. This is not always ac- 

 complished without accident, but precaution in the way of cords usually 

 prevent any unpleasant episodes. 



THE LANDAISE AS A MEAT CATTLE. 



The race Landaise has an established reputation at the annual fairs 

 of fat cattle in France. Upon a hardy race, badly fed in its home, as 

 are the Laudais, increased food works wonders ; if to this is added a 

 selection of breeding animals you are sure to arrive at the utmost rel- 

 ative perfection of the race. This race, while strongly framed for work, 



