132 THE GOVERNMENT STUDS OP FRANCE. 



government stallions. Besides this, large sums are given in 

 prizes at the annual regional exhibitions and races held under 

 the auspices of the government. 



"We thus see the Frenc^h government the most liberal 

 patron of the breeder and the stallioner, but farther yet than 

 this, it becomes an important factor in sustaining the prices of 

 the finest types of all breeds, as the hundreds of stallions of the 

 very highest order of merit that they are obliged to buy 

 annually to supply the Haras, creates a constant demand for 

 the best types at very high prices. 



" The valuable qualities claimed for the French horses over 

 those of other coach breeds are based upon a system of breed- 

 ing not possessed by any other race. 



" The breeding of all classes of domestic animals in every 

 country is conducted by individual enterprize and the out- 

 growth of individual ideas. Therefore the fixity of type is 

 greatly affected or destroyed altogether by the variety of opin- 

 ions entertained by the large number of people of different 

 tastes engaged in the breeding ; hence, so general a lack of that 

 uniformity of character so highly esteemed and so necessary in 

 every successful breeding animal. The French Coach breed, 

 instead of being the product of a multiplicity of ideas, has been 

 developed under the exclusive guidance of the Director-General 

 of the National Studs of France ; and as these officials are 

 educated in the same school from generation to generation, are 

 taught to value the same form, seek for the. same qualities, and 

 pursue the same system, we can understand how it has been 

 possible for them to attain such high perfection and great uni- 

 formity in the horses of the country. The power exercised by 

 the Inspector-General is extraordinary, controlling, as he does, 

 the selection of the 2,500 stallions owned exclusively by the 

 government, and the thousands of others annually inspected, 

 which must obtain his approval before receiving their permits 

 and subsidy ; and, further, all breeders are confined exclusively 

 to the use of animals inspected and licensed by this department. 



