HEAVY DRAUGHT HORSES. Ill 



add that from an agricultural point of view, the land both in 

 North and South America, does not require the heavy type of 

 farm horse vs^hich the stiff clay land of England necessitates as 

 a rule. Nevertheless the Percheron is a grand sire for a cross, 

 and he is probably the most prepotent of all Sires. 



The first Percheron sent from France to the United States 

 was in the year 1851. Up to 1872 purchases were exceptional. 

 In that year mares as well as stallions were exported. Between 

 the years 1880 and 1890, 1,000 to 1,200 stallions and from 100 

 to 120 mares annually were sent. Exportations slackened off 

 until 1900 when they were resumed fairly actively. At the 

 same time the importation of Shires and Clydesdales into 

 America would appear to have decreased. In the year 1903 

 the American Percheron Stud Book registered 37,000 animals, 

 while the Clydesdales numbered 10,000 and Shires 7,400. 



The introduction of Percherons into the Argentine has also 

 been recent. Seven Stallions were imported in 1900, 256 in 

 1906, and 180 in 1907. 177 animals comprising 75 Stallions 

 and 102 Mares were imported in 1908. In comparison with 

 the latter during the same year (1908) 73 Clydesdales (54 

 Stallions and 19 Mares), 53 Shires, and 47 Boulonnais were 

 imported. The Stud Book Eegisters of the Argentine in 1909 

 as quoted by Mons. Lesage, of the Veterinary Institute, Buenos 

 Aires, gives the following list of Mares : — 



Percheron Mares 1878 Suffolk Punch Mares 169 



Total 5879 



The Percherons purchased by the Argentine are not so 

 massive as those exported to the United States, and purchasers 

 of the latter country have a preference for black colour instead 

 of the " gris pommele " which is the primitive colour of the 

 Percheron. 



Another very useful French heavy draught horse, a few of 

 which found their way into our Army by requisition in the 

 early days of the War, is the Boulonnais, and as his home (Pas 



