THE FRENCH STORY RESUMED 189 



that had been in existence for many years previously, 

 such as the Haras du Pin. As has already been 

 shown, the Percheron breeding district, of which 

 Nogent-le-Eotrou is the capital, had from the earliest 

 periods benefited by the government's initiative at 

 the stud just mentioned. Every year approved stal- 

 lions from Le Pin were located in the old barracks of 

 St. Denis at Nogent, where now stand the town col- 

 lege and court of justice. 



In the year 1836 a committee of prominent men, 

 including most of the best farmers of this district, 

 organized a committee for the purpose of holding 

 exhibitions or meetings known as cornices in various 

 localities, for the purpose of awarding prizes to the 

 best animals and incidentally of encouraging agri- 

 culture and good farming through the continued 

 maintenance and improvement of the Percheron 

 breed. These comices exist at the present day, and 

 are held in addition to the annual central show main- 

 tained under the auspices of the Percheron Society 

 of France. 



In 1836 we find that the president of the council 

 of Nogent was the Count of Bussy, and among the 

 members were Messrs. de Maurissure, de Chabot, 

 Bailleau, farmer at Brunelles, Noel of La Messes- 

 selle, Ducoeurjoly and Le Marie of Nogent. Similar 

 councils were also established at Chartres and Chat- 

 eaudun. Some idea of the magnitude of the horse- 

 breeding operations in the Perche during this per- 

 iod may be gleaned from the fact that an old pub- 

 lication sets forth that "the district of Eure-et-Loir 



