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of France has been reduced to a science. Under the fostering care 

 and patronage of the Government, which has generously and Hberally 

 provided for every contingency, the raising of high-class horses of the 

 different breeds has become a possibility. In 1 7 89 there were in France 

 3,239 approved and Government stallions, and from 181 5 to 1833 the 

 Government bought for service in their studs 1,902 stallions. Of these 

 223 came from Arabia and other foreign countries, 853 from the 

 northern ^ apartments of France, and 826 were selected from the 

 finest of the improved breeds from Government stallions. In 1831 a 

 notable advance was made toward the improvement of the light-breeds 

 suitable for coach and cavalry purposes, which was followed in 1833 

 by a royal decree establishing a Government stud book for the pre- 

 servation of pedigrees, and this was placed under the supervision of 



the Minister of Agriculture. After the establishment of this stud 

 book, more critical judgment was exercised in the selection of stallions 



for Government use, and a decided improvement has taken place in 

 the character of the horses of the entire country, between i j,ooo and 

 1 2,000 owned by the Government having been recorded. No animal 

 is given a number unless belonging to the Governmant studs. In 1870 

 the management of the Government haras, or studs, was vested in the 

 Department of Agriculture and Commerce under the immediate 

 supervision of a director-general, eight inspectors, twenty-six sub- 

 directors, t6n superintendents and twenty-six veterinaries. In 1874 the 

 number of stallions owned by the Government of F'rance was ordered 

 increased 200 per year until they should reach 2,500, and the credit 

 necessary for prizes awarded to breeding animals should reach 

 1,500,000 per annum, and a special sum of 50,000 francs per year 

 was granted to make experiments with Arabs and Anglo-Arabs, and 

 for this purpose sixty finely bred mares were placed at the haras of 

 PompSdour. 



The French Government has kept one central object constantly in 

 view, the encouragement of the people by every possible means to 

 adopt a higher standard of breeding ; furnishing them the means to 

 accomplish this by introducing into every locality the finest stallions 

 of the different breeds, which are offered for use at a nominal service 

 fee. These consist, first, of stallions owned by the Government ; 

 second, stallions belonging to private individuals, inspected and 

 approved by the Government, such approved stallions receiving from 

 the Government from 300 to 3,000 francs per annum., according to 

 their breeding and superior excellence ; third, authorized stallions — 



