THE FRENCH STORY RESUMED 207 



to be established is that prior to the founding of the 

 stud book the same persistent government-super- 

 vised work in the interest of preserving Percheron 

 integrity, as related in preceding chapters, was con- 

 tinuous, even though no published pedigree record 

 was maintained. At this point, therefore, we shall 

 only record further the fact that two of Chera- 

 dame's greatest contemporaries and successors in 

 developing Percheron character were MM. Fardouet 

 and Caget, both of whom left a legacy of inestimable 

 value to France and America as a result of their 

 labors. Here again we are able to supply govern- 

 ment data until now not appearing in published 

 records. 



Michel Fardouet. — M. Fardouet 's farm of La Beu- 

 vriere was situated in the commune of Verrieres in 

 the department of Ome. His first approved stallion 

 was Madere, foaled in 1862. This horse served as a 

 pensioned stallion, and had notable place in the Per- 

 cheron annals of his time for several reasons. In 

 the first place, he was a big horse standing 17 hands. 

 In the second place, he was black. And most im- 

 portant of all, he served as a subsidized stallion in 

 the Perche for a period of 14 years, from 1867 to 

 1879 inclusive. Here, therefore, is one prolific 

 source of size and of the color that subsequently 

 became for a time so popular in America. 



Another good Fardouet stallion of this era was 

 the gray Bon Espoir, foaled in 1862. He had gov- 

 ernment endorsement, as did also Bayard, a stallion 

 that rendered good service during 1873 and 1874. 



