30 HORSE-BREEDING FOR FARMERS CHAP. 
introduced in the last century were Glorious, Badin, 
Lancaster, Warwick, Somerset, and Doctor. In 
1790 the breeding harras were suppressed, and 
during the First Empire England was closed, with 
the result that all sorts of sires were used with dis- 
astrous effect; but after 1830 English blood was 
poured into the Normandy breeds. At that period 
the Norman was an ugly beast. “In truth,” says a 
French writer, “he was a horrible brute, and long is 
the list of shameful epithets fastened to his name. 
And as with his moral, so with his physical con- 
dition, one had no longer a horse but a pig to do 
with.” 
From 1850 English blood has been properly and 
carefully administered with the very best results, 
though at one period (1860) substance was sacri- 
ficed too much to activity and lightness. The 
English blood introduced to improve this breed in- 
cludes Thoroughbred, Cleveland, and Hackney. 
Merlerault—Cotentin 
The Merlerault variety of the Anglo-Norman 
differs from the Cotentin and the Vallée d’Auge, 
being lighter and shorter coupled, and an excellent 
saddle horse, fairly fast, with nice action and plenty 
of bottom. 
As I shall endeavour to show that the breeder in 
England can devote himself profitably to breeding 
general utility and harness horses, I shall allude to 
one or two other Continental breeds that have at 
present cut out the home producer. 
