Tlie Agricultural Features of the Paris Exiiihition. 211 
improvement in the Nivernais, that the Charolais cattle of that 
country are distinguished by the name of Nivernais-Charolais. 
It is contended by some that this improvement has been brought 
about by the exercise of increased care in the selection of ani- 
mals for breeding, and of better treatment in rearing. The most 
generally accepted explanation, and probably the most correct 
one, is that the improvement is due mainly to an infusion of 
Shorthorn blood. It is evident, from what we have ascertained, 
that very substantial improvement had been effected in Nivernais 
and elsewhere by careful selection of sires and good treatment ; 
but it is equally clear that it is since the crossing with the 
Shorthorn, commenced in Nivernais (only recently), that the 
improvement has been most rapid and most marked. Writing 
of the Paris Show in 1877, M. de la Trehonnais, a recognised 
authority, says : " The most striking part of the Show was, in 
my opinion, the marked improvement evident in the Nivernais 
cattle. It is whispered that this is owing to an infusion of 
Shorthorn blood. I know nothing as to this, but I say with 
pleasure that I have never seen such an assemblage of fine 
Nivernais cattle as those which formed, undoubtedly, one of the 
chief ornaments of the Show." The Charolais cattle being 
always white in colour, the greatest possible care must of course 
be exercised in the introduction of Shorthorn blood. It is not 
enough that the Shorthorn bull selected should himself be pure 
white ; it is also essential that he should be descended from a tribe 
whose characteristic colour is white. It will thus be easily 
imagined that crossing with the Shorthorn has not as yet become 
very general or very extensive. There is now, however, a 
certain and growing demand for white Shorthorn bulls for mating 
with Charolais cows, and it is pleasing to know that systematic 
efforts are being made to meet that demand. The French 
writer, already referred to, states that M. Colcombet, a farmer in 
the Bourbonnais, where the Charolais breed prevails, has set to 
work to build up a herd of white Shorthorns. " He started," 
the writer says, " by buying the whole of the twenty-two volumes 
of the ' English Herd-Book,' and every volume of the French ; and, 
with the patience worthy of a Benedictine monk, he traced back 
from generation to generation the accidents of colour in each 
family. With the knowledge thus laboriously acquired, he was 
able to select his stock with such certainty that the most perfect 
success has rewarded his toil. He is now somewhere about his 
fortieth calf, each perfectly white, without a single hair of red or 
roan appearing in any of them to upset his calculations or betray 
his hopes." At the Exhibition we had the pleasure of meeting 
M. Colcombet, and were glad to learn that his praiseworthy 
industry is still being rewarded with unbroken success. Up to 
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