266 French Ayriculture and State Establishments. 



practice is opened to the students. At Alfort there are 280 

 scholars. These youths are lodged^ boarded, washed, and in- 

 structed for 14/. a-jear. Out of the number the government pro- 

 vides appointments for about 40 in the cavalry and in other de- 

 partments. There is a considerable space of ground attached to 

 the establishment, and a botanical garden. As it is intended 

 that the youths educated here should be instructed in all points 

 of useful practice relating to agriculture, that in after-life they 

 may be of more general use in the farming districts, an establish- 

 ment of sheep, pigs, and dogs is kept up, in order to illustrate 

 the diseases and treatment of these animals. In order to let the 

 country people know who have obtained diplomas in the veterinary 

 schools, the prefets have orders to fix up a list of their names in 

 each commune. 



Here, too, a part of the herd of short-horn Durham cattle, 

 bought of late years by the government, has been brought, for the 

 edification of the Parisians, as specimens of the improved breed. 

 They have 2 bulls and 8 or 10 cows of this breed at Alfort, kept 

 always in the stable, looking well, and well attended to. 



It is proposed to establish a breeding-herd of short-horns at 

 Du Pin in Normandy, in connection with the great breeding- 

 stud for horses now flourishing there. The favourite colour in 

 France is red, and that colour is preferred perfect, not broken 

 into roan, as with us. 



At present, though the Government circular of 1838 especially 

 invited public attention to this improved breed of cattle, a taste 

 for it does not appear to have made great progress in France. 



Haras, or Studs. — The haras or studs are by far the largest 

 and most expensive of the government establishments connected 

 with rural affairs : of these haras, three are breeding establish- 

 ments, where mares and foals are kept — Du Pin, Rozieres, Pom- 

 padour. The principal haras is that of Du Pin in Normandy, 

 where some of the best horses are bred from pure English 

 blood. At Rozieres the chief attention is directed to a mixed 

 breed, that has been long established in that neighbourhood, 

 called the " race ducale," from the Dukes de Deux Ponts, the 

 former possessors. At Pompadour the breed is almost exclu- 

 sively Arab and Persian ; they have 40 Arab mares, and a great 

 many Arab horses. 



These establishments altogether contain no less than 1300 

 horses. Of thorough-bred stock they have 167 stallions, 98 

 mares, 121 colts and fillies. 



The covering stallions for the departments amount to 870, who 

 cover on an average 35 mares each, making 30,450 mares 

 covered yearly by government stallions. These stallions do not 

 travel, but are kept at their respective stations. 



