192 
Publications of Interest to Agriculturists . 
interest of the following translation of the remarks upon the 
Charolais cattle, which have been so successfully crossed with the 
Shorthorns : — 
This ancient breed, of which the cradle was the county of Charolais, in 
the Saone-et-Loire (situated in the East Midlands of France), was formerly 
used for purposes of draught, but its precocity and its natural aptitude to 
fatten rapidly upon the pastures, led breeders to develop its capacity in this 
direction. 
The Charolais breed is large, strong, and hardy. The uniformly cream- 
coloured coat, but rarely marked with the yellowish spots which it is the effort 
of breeders by selection to suppress, covers a skin at once thick and remark- 
ably supple. The head is rather large, the horns are fine and white, and 
sometimes greenish at their extremities, the muzzle and eyelids are rosy, 
/-A'tM. _ &.p jy 
Fig. 4. — Bull and Cow of tlie Brittany breed. 
and the nostrils well open. The body, which is lengthy, has a full, deep chest, 
with restricted dewlap, rump and thighs well developed, the tail short, broad 
at its root, and slender at its extremity. 
Considerable improvement had already been effected with the breed, 
when, in 1770, the Charolais farmers introduced it into the adjoining 
Nivernais district, lying to the north-west, which at that time possessed 
only the Morvan breed, and cattle which were imported as draught beasts 
from Auvergne and Limousin. The newly-introduced cattle were made 
the objects of the greatest care, and were generously nourished in rich and 
extensive pastures, whilst their essential characteristics were rendered per- 
manent by means of a rigid selection of breeding stock. In these circum- 
stances they throve exceedingly well, and thus gave rise to the Nivernais 
variety. 
Subsequently, in 1830, Count de Bouille introduced into the Nievre some 
Shorthorn bulls, which he crossed with pure-bred Charolais cows. The 
English blood was found to stimulate the precocity and to enhance the beef- 
producing capabilities. It rendered the cows better milkers, but it diminished 
the aptitude of the breed as animals of draught. Nevertheless, the advan- 
