Hie Agricultural Features of tlie Paris Exhibitivn. 209 
leading; honours at the great annual Paris Butter Show, are maJe 
from the milk of Xorman cows ; and so are the famous cheeses 
of Camembert, Livarot, Xeufchatel, *Scc. To show the import- 
ance of the butter industry in France, it may be mentioned that 
in 1874 France exported 740,000 cwts., value 3,(300,000/. ; 
and, further, as indicating the superiority of the milk of the 
Norman cows, it has been stated that the Isigny fresh butter 
often brings as much as 10?. 10s. per cwt. at Isigny, and from 
od. to 9(^/. per lb. more than any other at Rio Janeiro and else- 
where to which it is exported. This superiority in the quality 
of the milk of Norman cows is no doubt the main reason why 
their breeders are so reluctant to intermix the breed with strange 
blood ; and if crossing is to become general, it certainly ought 
to be carried out with the greatest possible care. 
Flemish. — This race, of which 84 specimens were shown in the 
French Division, is pre-eminent for milking properties. In the 
Departments of the North, of Pas-de-Calais, of Aisne, and 
around Paris, the Flemish cattle are kept in large numbers, and 
are regarded as a profitable kind. Deep-red in colour, they are 
described in the French Catalogue as animals of great weight, 
with splendid conformation, fine skin, neat head, true outline, 
good rump, neatly attached tail, but narrow chest and flat ribs. 
It is also stated that recently the breed has been improved both 
in its milking and beef properties by judicious selection in 
breeding. Mr. Richardson states that in Flanders, which is 
almost wholly stocked with Flemish and Dutch cattle, the former 
fatten much more quickly than the latter ; and he mentions 
that it is a general practice among farmers there to take one, 
two, or three calves from cows of the breed and then prepare 
them for the butcher. The large majority of the male calves of 
the Flemish race are slaughtered for veal, few more being 
allowed to grow up than are necessary for the maintenance of 
the breeding herds. Crossing with the Shorthorn has been 
frequently tried, and indeed is constantly practised to a slight 
extent ; but it is asserted that while the cross improves the 
cattle from a butcher's point of view, it depreciates their milk- 
ing properties. The annual produce of milk from a good 
Flemish cow is stated at about 2600 litres, or a little over 4300 
English pints. For a considerable time after the cow has 
dropped her calf the daily yield is very often about 25 litres, or 
close on 44 English pints ; in some exceptional cases even as 
much as 30 litres, or a little over 52 English pints. 
The breed was very well represented, and had the coveted 
honour of carrying away the 2500 franc (100/.) prize offered for 
the best group of milk-producing cattle. This group was 
exhibited by M. Bosse, Director of the Asylum of Bailleul, 
VOL. XV. — S. S. P 
