130 THE GOVERNMENT STUDS OF FRANCE. 



that of Pin, 1714, located near the borders of La Perche, which 

 was the first and largest establishment of its kind ever estab- 

 lished, and where the finest stallions belonging to the govern- 

 ment have been kept up to the present day. It is to this 

 establishment that the Percherons owe much of their superior- 

 ity, as here was kept the Arab Gallipoli, from which is de- 

 scended the famous Jean le Blanc (739), the progenitor of 

 many of the finest Percherons of the present day. In 1775 the 

 Haras of Pompadour were established with twelve depots, 

 and placed under the superintendence of the administration of 

 the Haras. 



" In 1789, there were in France 3,239 approved and govern- 

 ment stallions, which served, according to regulations, 115,000 

 mares, producing 55,000 living colts. From 1815 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 departments of France, principally from 

 Calvados and La Perche, and 826 were selected from the finest 

 of the improved breeds from government stallions. In 1831 a 

 most noticeable 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. Govern- 

 ment Stud Book for the preservation of pedigrees ; this was 

 placed under the supervision of the Minister of Agriculture. 

 After the establishment of this stud-book more critical judg- 

 ment was exercised in the selection of stallions for government 

 use than ever before, and large prizes were offered for colts 

 produced by the finest mares of the country. Since the estab- 

 lishment of this stud-book a very decided . improvement has 

 taken place in the character of the horses of the entire country, 

 between 11,000 and 12,000 owned by the government having 

 been recorded. No animal is given a number unless belonging 

 to the government studs. 



" May 5, 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- 



