EVOLUTION FROM WITHIN 99 



notes, the Abbe Fret, from whom we have so fre- 

 quently quoted, says: 



' ' Since 1836 the desire to ameliorate agriculture in 

 The Perche has made great strides among the farm- 

 ers. A noble emulation has been set by creating 

 ' prizes of encouragement, ' an agricultural committee 

 having been established at Nogent, which unites 

 annually under the presidency of the Count de Bussy. 

 This committee has already justified the hopes of its 

 founders and is spreading its influence over the re- 

 gion. A depot of stallions has been established at 

 Nogent, at the barracks of St. Denis, by the Haras 

 du Pin, which has greatly improved the horses of 

 the Percheron breed. They have distributed prizes 

 at Nogent to the owners of the finest brood mares." 



A few more records and we shall conclude this 

 discussion. In the "Bulletin de la Societe Eoyale de 

 Mans" is an interesting account of an agricultural 

 show held at Mamers in 1838. Prizes were given for 

 the best draft mare having foaled during the year, 

 age 4 to 9 years; also for the best colt, two to three 

 years, and the best filly, same age. All were to be 

 of the Percheron breed. Agricultural shows at which 

 Percheron horses were exhibited also took place at 

 Saint Calais, Beaumont-le-Comte, Saint Pater, La 

 Ferte Bernard and Marolle-les-Braults. 



At a show held at La Ferte Bernard on the 19th of 

 September, 1841, a M. Torsay won the first prize on 

 a light flea-bitten gray mare, about 16.2 hands high 

 and eight years old. Second prize went to M. Vin- 

 cent on a steel gray, five years old, of about the 

 same height. A black mare, six years old, measuring 

 about 16.1, received honorable mention. It will be 



