FRANCE. 277 



perature is 57 F. in summer, 69; in winter, 43. The soil belongs 

 to the Tertiary period. 



Feeding and housing Bordelais cores. The cows of the Bordelais breed 

 are left in the fields day and night as long as the weather permits; 

 when stabled (in cold or snowy weather) they are fed on second-crop 

 hay, coarse cabbage, and any kind of green food that may be had cheap. 

 Those kept by rich people 'have rations of bran added to the above. 

 When the pea season sets in, very large quantities of that vegetable are 

 daily shelled in the city of Bordeaux at the establishments for preserv- 

 ing vegetables, and the pods are sold for the cows, who are very fond of 

 them. That food gives a particularly sweet taste and pleasant flavor to 

 the milk. 



EXPERIMENTAL CATTLE-FEEDING IN FRANCE. 



It may be interesting to note the following remarks, being the result 

 of experiments made by a breeder of dairy cows, although such experi- 

 ments have not been made on local breeds. 



To properly keep cattle in France requires every day 1 pound 11 

 ounces of hay, or the equivalent of it, for each 100 pounds weight of 

 the live animal. An animal, to be completely satisfied, requires every 

 day one-thirtieth of his weight. Besides that one-thirtiei"u in dry sub- 

 stances, he wants four-thirtieths of water, or any other liquid contained 

 in the food. If, to be completely satisfied, a cow requires a daily food 

 of 3J per cent, of its weight, and if If are necessary to sustain life, it 

 ensues that the half of the ration is keeping food and the other half is 

 productive food. Each pound of productive food gives one pound of 

 milk, or increases by nearly 1 ounce the weight of the calf in the 

 mother's womb ; and for the animals which are being fattened, 10 pounds 

 of forage give 1 pound of increase in weight. The calf at its birth 

 weighs one-tenth of its mother's weight. During the first month after 

 calving, the cow gives a weight of milk equal to 3 per cent, of her 

 weight. Afterwards the milk diminishes gradually. 



THE LANDAIS CATTLE. 



Description. Buff color, with a lighter hue around the eyes and the 

 extremities. In some animals that color is darker, and sometimes tinted 

 with bay. This breed is much smaller than any of the before mentioned 

 the bull being only 4 feet 4 inches and the cow 4 feet high. It is a 

 small or rather mean variety of the great Pyrenean family, hardly in- 

 teresting to others than the inhabitants of those barren countries. The 

 animal is small, compact, well-shaped, energetic, and quick, with long 

 thin horns, dead white, with black tips. It is extremely sober, and is 

 noted for its endurance ; its fine and nervous limbs, like those of the 

 Devon breed, have a peculiar character and prove its swiftness. The 

 animal is kept in good condition, in spite of hard plowings, with very 

 little forage, and that of the worst kind. The cow, though not strong, 

 is equally enduring, and without extra food works very hard, even 

 whilst feeding her calf. The animal trots very well without losing 

 breath ; oxen unaccustomed to the cart have been known to travel from 

 47 to 50 miles in one day and night. 



A pair of Landais oxen in working condition, four and a half to five 

 years old, are sold at $180 to $200. When specially fattened the ox 

 may reach the weight of 1,600 pounds. In spite of its qualities this 

 breed is not of sufficient value to export. 



The grazing grounds of the Landaise. The altitude of the country is 

 160 feet above the level of the sea. 



