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DEPOT OF STALLIONS. 



had been the winner of large sums. There was also an 

 English horse of the httle Coh breed, and between these 

 stood some very fine saddle horses of the pure breed (I 

 think) of Limousin. The charge made by the French 

 government for the service of any of these horses is only 

 six francs for each mare. They travel to the distance of 

 from 30 to 40 leagues, and find their chief employment 

 in the department of Arriege. Here there are few horses 

 bred, the work being chiefly performed by oxen and mules, 

 and the ass still maintaining its ground, though not to such 

 an extent as beyond the Pyrenees. The services of each 

 horse are limited to 45 mares, but notwithstanding the 

 extreme cheapness of the charge, and the extensive dis- 

 trict over which they travel, scarcely one of the horses 

 covers this number during the season. The horses are 

 fed at all seasons with meadow hay and ground barley. 

 From the terrace behind the stables there is a rich view 

 of the plain to the north of Perpignan, terminated on two 

 sides by the Basses Pyrennees, and on the third by the 

 sea. It is said there is here an extent of land, 10 leagues 

 in length by six in breadth, all of which can be regularly 

 irrigated by means of small canals and water courses, 

 which are cut in every direction. The distribution of 

 the water is regulated by law. The old chateau of 

 Rousillon, with its round tower, overlooks this beautiful 

 plain. The habitations are still, for the most part, con- 

 gregated in small towns and villages, but here and there 

 a detached house is to be seen. The plain is covered 

 with trees, which border the water courses in every 

 direction. Among these the Lombardy poplar, only now 

 assuming the tints of autumn, is conspicuous. Every 

 field is separated by a row of trees, chiefly the willow. 

 These, however, on a nearer approach, lose much of their 



