258 Tlie Agricultural Features of the Paris Exhilition. 
in France, it is no unusual sight to see half-a-dozen Percheron 
horses dragging anav at a load which would be casv work for 
a pair of good Shires or Clydesdales. Indeed, one needs but 
to see and examine the Percheron breed to know that its forte is 
moderately light work, in which speed is a leading element. 
Just as surelv does an inspection of the Shires and Clydesdales 
mark them out as aboye all others the proper horses for " heayy 
lifts." We do not think that the importation of Percheron 
horses would be an acquisition to British farmers or others who 
haye heayy draught-work to perform ; nor do we think it likely 
that an infusion of Percheron blood would exercise a beneficial 
influence on our stock of heayy-draught horses. For light- 
draught work of all kinds the greys of France are admirably 
suited : and any deficiency in our home supply of horses for 
these purposes might well enough be met by drafts from their 
ranks. Already their suitability for these purposes has been 
well proyed in England ; for a few years back they haye been 
used in large numbers in London, and other large English 
towns. In America, too, they haye earned a high reputation, 
and a great many sires haye been drawn away there at long 
prices. 
The display of the breed was large and of yery high merit, 
and formed one of the most prominent features of the Show. So 
many handsome horses of similar type — so uniform, in size, 
character, and gait, could not fail to proye an attractive sight. 
A large share of the prizes fell to their lot. 
Other Draufjht Horses. — Throughout France, as in most other 
countries, there are a great many yarieties of draught horses, 
though only two or three could be called distinct well-defined 
breeds. Judging by the specimens exhibited at Paris they are, 
as a rule, lighter in the body, with less muscle and rounder 
bone, than British draught horses. H e haye already said that 
we did not think that the importation of Percheron horses would 
be an acquisition to British farmers and others who employ 
heavy-draught horses : and still less advantageous, we think, 
would be the introduction, either directly or by crossing,^of any 
of the other draught breeds of France. There may be faults 
in our heavy-draught horses — undoubtedly there are. But 
we have not seen anything in the French breeds that would -lead 
us to recommend them as likely to eradicate those faults. France 
has gained much, and she may gain still more, by the infusion of 
English blood into her live stock ; but in the meantime, at any 
rate, we do not think it likely that anv advantage would accrue 
to Great Britain by a reversal of the process either in regard to 
horses, cattle, sheep, or swine. As already hinted, however, any 
deficiency that may exist in our own supply of light-<lraught 
