The Agricultural Features of the Paris Exhibition. 241 
loins, but rather defective in quality. The second prize in the 
female class went to a pen of the Mezenc race, and the third to 
sheep of the Ariegeois breed, which in some respects resembled 
Cheviots. Three specimens of the sheep of the Alps were shown, 
i but could not have earned a very high reputation. Tliey were 
\ bare, thin creatures. Among this small flock there were four 
black sheep ! — specimens of the Chilloe breed, shown from the 
Haute-Loire. They were not very good — nor could we see 
1 much about the other varieties to recommend them. 
Charmoise. — As already stated, the origin of this race was a 
cross between the New Kentish and the Berrichon breeds. It was 
I established about thirty-eight years ago by a celebrated French 
I breeder, M. Malingie-Nouel, at the farm of Charmoise, in Loire- 
I et-Cher ; and has attained wonderful uniformity in shape and 
I characteristics. The animals are " near the ground, short and 
\ thick." The head is small, the eyes are keen and dark, the body 
j is broad and compact, and well-covered with mutton. These 
i sheep fatten much more quickly than most of the other French 
I breeds, the bone is fine and the amount of offal very small. 
■ They need, however, some improvement, more particularly an 
i increase in size. A cross with the Border-Leicester or the 
Cotswold breed should give satisfactory results. The Charmoise 
race has been freely crossed with the Berrichon and Solognot 
breeds, and it is stated that it has contributed in a notable degree 
to their improvement. About forty of the breed were entered. 
Leicesters (Dis/dey).~The main object for which English breeds 
have been imported into France was the crossing with and 
thus improving the native sorts. Both of Leicesters and South- 
downs, however, several pure-bred flocks are maintained in the 
I country. French breeders affirm that the Leicester in its pure 
state is too soft for France ; that it can neither withstand cold 
nor endure much walking ; but they readily admit that it has 
rendered and is still rendering valuable services in the improving 
of the native breeds. On this latter point more hereafter. More 
than eighty pure-bred Leicesters were exhibited in the French 
Division, the principal exhibits coming from the departments of 
Nievre, Manche, Maine-et-Loire, Cher, Loiret, and Aisne. A 
few would have made a creditable appearance in an English 
Showyard ; but, on the other hand, a good many showed a slight 
want both of quality and true Leicester character, as well as 
rather big bones and lack of finish. M. Tiersonnier, Gimouille, 
Nievre, who owns a well-bred and very valuable flock of 
Leicesters, was first in both classes, his first-prize tup being 
a beautiful sheep of three summers. Large, broad, deep, and 
level, he was well-sprung in the rib, full in front, and good 
below, but a little uneven behind. His wool was of beautiful 
VOL. XV. — S. S. R 
