IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) /> f>A i ^ €4f'^ ^ « 1.0 I.I IK 1*0 IL25 III 1.4 6" M 1.6 .Sciences Corporation 4 m V r<\ 33 WEST MAIN STRUT WEBSTiR,N.Y. MSN (716)872-4303 ^ 6^ CIHM Microfiche Series (Monograplis) ICr/IH Collection de microfiches (monographles) Canadian Instituta for Historical IVIicroraproductions / inttitut Canadian da microraproductiont historiquas 1 -n Tcchnicat and Biblioflraphic NotM / Notti ttchniquts ct bibliographiqutf Th« Institute has anampted to obtain the bast original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may altar any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. L'institut a microfilm^ la meilleur axemplaire qu'il lui a M pouibia da sa procurer. Las details da cat axemplaire qui sent peut4tre uniques du point da «ue bibliographiqua, qui pauvent modifier una image reproduite, ou qui peuvcnt axiger una modification dans la mithoda normale da f ilmaga sont indiquAs ci-dessous. LlJc Coloured covers/ Couverture da couleur □ Coloured pages/ Pages da couleur r~~1 Covers damaged/ Couverture endommagte □ Pages damaged/ Pages andommagiat D Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restauria at/ou pelliculte □ Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque □ Pages restored and/or laminated/ Pages rastauriai at/ou palliculAas r~^ P*9*i discoloured, stained or foxed/ uLJ Pages dicolor^, tachaties ou piquaas D Coloured maps/ Caites gAographiques en couleur □ Pages detached/ Pages ditachies D Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encra da couleur (i.e. autre qua bleua ou noire) 0Showthrough/ Transparence D D D Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with othsr material/ Relie avec d'autres documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La reliure serrif peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distorsion le long de la marge intirieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever pouible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajoutias lors d'une restvuration apparaissant dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela ttait possible, ces pages n'ont pas et^ filmies. □ Quality of print varies/ Qualiti inigale de I'impression □ Continuous pagination/ Pagination continue n Includes index(es)/ Comprend un (das) index Title on header taken from:/ Le titre de i'an-tCte proviant: I I Title page of issue/ D D Page de titre de la livraison Caption of issue/ Titre de depart da la livraison Masthead/ Genirique (piriodiques) de la livraison ca Additional comments:/ Commentaires supplementaires: Pages wholly obscured possible Image. by tissues have been refilrned to ensure the best This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est U\mi au taux de rMuction indique ci-dessous 10X UX 18X Z2X 26 X SOX ; 12X 16X 20X 24 X 28 X 32 X The copy filmed here hat been reproduced th,*nk» to the generosity of: BibiiothAque natlonale du Quebec L'exemplaire fiim* fut reproduit grAce A la g4n«rosit6 de: Bibllothdque nationale du Quebec The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in Iceeping with the filming contract specifications. Original copies in printed paper rovers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the bii^clt cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. The last recorded frame en each microfiche shall contain the symbol — ^- (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever appiies. INIaps, plates, charts, etc.. may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les images suivantes ont 6ti reproduites avec le plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et de la nettet« de rexemoiaire film6. et en conformity avec Iss conditions du contrat de filmage. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprim«e sont fiim^s en commenpant par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la dernlAre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second plat, selon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires origlnuux sont film6s en commen^ant par la premiere page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la derniire page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la derniire imaoe de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols — »► signifie 'A SUIVRE ", le symbols 7 signifie "FIN ". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre filmAs A des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seui ciichA, il est fiimA d partir de I'angle supArieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la n*Athode. 32 X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 ||iet*'ei$'3:'; ^r *'/^ "^ PERCIIEROXS AND NORMANS BY AUZIAS-TURENNE Ml tlif '" Siicietii « Amrii'iilti'iii'^ il-' 1 r.inii' MIUATitU Ol « THE HARAS NATIONAL CO. OF MONTREAL. 30 S'l'. JAMES STREET. MONTRE.VI.. 1891 f" Wit f» r.^'fi.'ir ^^.,^^ .£ _ ] PERCHERONS AKD NORMANS BY AUZIAS-TURENNE NIexnbnr of tlie Sooi4tA dea ABHoulteura de Fraiioe ' DIRECTOR OF THE HARAS NATIONAL CO. OF MONTREAL. 30 ST. JAMES STREET, MONTREAL. 1891 il'lr'^; l»";2«' ? e 1 ,-.,J sF • • ..a...A. ...... ..f.,...r....f.,. t....t... . •,...*....•...• • TO THE HIGH AUTHORITIES AMO FORESIGHTED STATESMEN WHOSE KINDLY GOOD WILL HAVK PATRONIZED THE HARAS NATIONAL OF MONTREAL, THESE FEW PAGES ARE RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY THE AUTHOR. Montreal, July 1st, 1891. • . -<--f-j— ... 4 ••««aiiBa-__ ■«ll THE HARAS NATIONAL CO. WAS INCORPORATKD ON MAY 27, 1889 BY HON. LOUIS HEAUllIEN anp HARON E. de MANUATORANCEY, OF PARIS. INAUGURATED ON MAY 10, 1890 BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE RIOHT HONORABLE LORD STANLEY OF PRESTON, G. C. B., P. C. GOVERNOR GENIRAL OF THE DOMINION OF CANADA, ETC., ETC., ETC. VISITED ON OCTOBER 25, 1890 BY . MONSEIGNEUR LE COMTE DE PARIS AND MONSEIGNEUR LE DUC D'ORLfiANS. ON DECEMBER 17, 1890 BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF QUEBEC and HON. H. MERCIER, PRIME MINISTER AND PRESIDENT OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. INTRODUCTION THE HARAS NATIONAL Co. Since 1888. the company of the Haras National has im- ported to Canada Percheron and Norman Stallions. They will import also Thoroughbr.fls from England. Fully convinced that such hrw-ds are the best to cross with our Canadian mares, they have recoiled from no sacrifice in procuring the finest stallions from France. It has been and it is their ambition to create in Canada, cost what it will, a Haras (1) truly national in every sense of the word, and to breed in Canada the very best horses of this continent From this view, they have made it a point : First. To select as reproducers only animals that repre.sent the best, the type of the aforesaid breeds, and which will therefore best fulfill the aim and the purpo.se of the breeds; Emo?«*rtI,"'"'H''''""^**'**''*' '^*'"> »°owapplied in Prance and SoITuL T fi°'^^ °"*'"*' ^'""*' ^"'*' ""'y ^'th animals of supe- rior class, and the managers of which aim. above all things al improvmg the breeds by careful crossing ^ ..I- Ir it ! — 8 — .; Second. To have a book of record by mci.as of which the pedigrees of the animals imported or born in Canada can be traced (1). Then as directs Ch. du Hays, " they will advance slowly and with precaution in order to avoid mistakes by which they would loose ground and destroy the good results already obtained. Correcting defects by opposite qualities strenghting these qualities by helping them with like qualities, they will, at last, obtain a conformity that is to say a fixed Canadian breed, genuine and thoroughly homogeneous, inva- riably reproducing its own typical form." On account of its being recognized by the Government of the province of Quebec, the Haras National was honoured by much praise, much censure. Before saying what actually it is doing, what it intends doing later, we will give short but definite information on the two principal races patronized by the Haras, that is the Percheron and the Norman breed. We do not undertake any criticism of other breeds : we do not indulge in unbecoming comparisons. We leave it to the impartial reader to judge. (1) The Percheron Stud-book of Canada, under the sanction of the Council of Agriculture of the Province of Quebec, february 1891. President : Honorable Louis Beaubien, Montreal. Vice-president : W. E. Baker, Demorestville. Ont. •^^ ^ U i'.!i {li. , " • \',fl- Frviici) ]', ..:■.■■ , ' ■ i txi- that oi ill '! (,■ ■'■''■>' ' to ill, ' ' in !i,lil.\i\ — (A.Hilfi- .■■.:,,!.>. ,11. ; 1' ■ itj^M-raiuful -tabljsh :„.,.,.,1 trnmrnfmimm ■a THE PBRCHERON Origin.— Sketch of this race.— Its qualities and defaults. — acknowledoemenes. The Percheron is one of the draught breeds that enjoys in Europe and even in the world the highest consideration. It has, on account of its incontestable merits, carried all over the world the fame of the little French province, where the bast centre of production is to be found. The fame of the Percheron horse is only to be compared to that of the Tho- roughbred horse of England : For the Percheron is to the draught hreeda what the english Thoroughbred is to tlte light breeds: a regenerator and improver. — (Andre Sanson, The Origin of the French Races of Horses). This breed is one of the most firmly and well established. At the time of Louis XIV, the Percheron horse was considered as an animal possessing great excellence, and capable of tra- velling long distances at a trot, drawing a heavy load. It possesses an active, energetic temperament : the right one to pull heavy weights at a quick gait. Fast steppers are common in this race. It is the model draft horse. Before the establishment of railways, it was this breed that was used more than any other for diligences. Statistics for the past I-*.'^.- Ii( — 10 — twenty years show that the P.iris omnibuses Imyo purchased 65.31 per cent, of Pereheron.s for use on their omnibuses. Its zooteehnic feature is mlftn<'HH combined with Htrength. ( 1 ) Together with this, it easily po.ssesses elegance of form while preserving all its zoological features. This is the reason why Percherons are sought after by all the nations which are trying to improve their draft horses or to create a hived for thetn- aelves. (The aim of the Haras National in Canada). That is to say : By the United States and South American Republics, who import thousand of them every year (especially of the heavy type). By Great Britain, a customer of no small magnitude. t By Austria, who breeds pure Porcheron stallions in its State Haras of Kisber. By Germany and Italy, eager purchasers of light Percherons. By Russia, who nothwistanding the fact of its being the richest country of the world in horses, cross imported Percheron stallions, with its native mares, in the State Haras of Derkul. This, coming from such a country, we look upon as the highest praise of the Percheron. The Percheron is generally gray or black; head rather large and long ; nostrils well open ; eye, large ; ear, fine ; neck rather short, well filled out ; withers high, shoulder pretty long and sloping, broad. (Jeep breast, a well rounded body, the girth with him, as with the Arab, always lacking in fulness, (1) Co-otte at Illiers (France) and Sarah, both Percheron mares, made two miles (mounted) in 6 miuutes 5i seconds and 6 minutes 2 seconds. Decidee at Rouen (Franee),a Percheron mare.made 2 3/5 miles draw- ing 388 pounds in minutes 22 seconds and again 2 3/5 miles in 10 minijiteB 49 seconds drawing 408 pounds. ' .. Jixsjanisie&.aMiitit.i». ■^11— ! rftther short in the back, croup hoi-izontal and muscular ; short, strouj^ joints, tendons weak ; foot excellent ; sometimes the hoofs are protected by hair growing al)ove the coronets ; this makes the feet of such Percherons often appears flat, although they are not in reality ; still they never have a (juan- tity of hair on their fetlocks, a true shelter for grease in the heel, which is greatly aggravated by the snow and frosts of winter, causing a footrot that nothing can cure. The Oriental blood has been a powerful factor in the for- mation of the actual Percheron race. What the Darley Arabian has been to the Thoroughbred, the gray Arabian Smetanka to the Orloft", the gray Arabian Oallipoli has been to the Percheron horse of France. In former times, the overthrow of Abderam And his 300,000 Saracens (732 A. v.) left the fine Arab and Barb steeds of the barbarian cavalry in the hands of the vic- tors, between Poitiers and Tours. The returning crusaders, with many fine Arabian stallions, and such infusion of Oriental blood as was kept up for many years by lord de Mondoubleau, Geoffroy IV, comte de Rotrou, marquis de Mallart, comte Roger de Bellesme, and many others, have been the principal factor in the Percheron breed. The Oriental blood ! the fonn et principium of all breeds ! The Arabian horse ! The primitive horse, as created by the Almighty in the world's first dawning, the true horse well kept and not altered thx'ough the centurys ! '. . lucky horseman who has had in his possession a true Oriental horse, does not wonder at the qualities of the Percheron — the great nephew of the Arab. Those qualities, to sum up, are : 1. The imported pure breed Percherons are unexcelled in their stj'le and action among all draft horses. They are the — 12 — fastest walkers and trotters with an lieavy load of any breed of horses in the world. a. They have the best feet of any draft breed.. In this, tfiere ia a conspicuous excellence. 8. Their power of endurance has won for them friends everywhere (1). It is particularly valuable for its astonishinfr piecocity and produces by its works, as a two years old, more than the cost of its feed and keep. 4. It is exempt from the hereditary bony defect of the hock, and where it is raised, spavin, jardon, bone spavin, perio- dical inflammation are unknown ; and they are sure to trans- mitting their good (jualities to their colts. 5. Good teijnper, kindness and trustworthiness are the pre- vailing moral qualities found in these noble animals. A child can handle them with safety ; as the numerous visitors at the Haras National will bear witnesses. «. The pure bred Pereheron foal is very small, and the fears of disaster in breeding small mares to large pure bred stal- lions has been fully demonstrated to be unfounded, especially on the horse ranches of the Far West and California, on a large scale for instance, at the Black Hills horse ranch of the Perehe- ron and Arabian, Importing Horse Co., (S. Dakota) at the Post Pereheron Horse Company's ranches (Wyoming), or at the model Farm of senator Palmer, near Detroit, U. S. (1) The Bray Pereheron mare of Mr. Braulavoris, at Almenesches (Orne), made 55 3-5 miles over a hilly road in 4 hours and 24 minutes. The gray Pereheron mare of Mr. Couturier, at Pleury-sur- Andelle (Eure), made 58 miles and baek, on two consecutive days, over a difficult road, the first day in 4 hours, 1 minute and 35 seconds the second day in 4 hours, 1 minute and 30 seconds. The 132 last miles were made in 1 hour. Both mares were harnessed to a travelling tilbury. mmmi y loatl-ttf any breed ■aft breed.. In this, — 13 — The excellence of the Pereheron among the draft breeds, as well as the superiority of the Thorougiibred from England among lighter breeds, we would proclaim, even if we were alone against thousand century's old prejudices ; but, happily, such is not the case, as the reader will renuMnber ; besides, for twenty-tive years, the Americans, our neighbours, have given a decided preference to Percherons and Normans, both as draft and carriage horses and imports many thousands of them every year. Still, this population is formed of all sorts of nationalities of which each one was naturally pledged at first in favor of the horse that came from his fatherland. It is well known that in the great horse's fairs of Chicago and New-Orleans, Percherons have always won prizes over the other draft breeds, especially in the great battle of Races at Chicago 1881.— ViDOOQ (488-732). Chicago 1883.— La Ferti5 (.5144-452). Nouvelle-Orleans 1885.— Brilliant (1271-755). In order, that a timely array of facts bearing upon the relative merits of the different breeds of draft horses that are being bred in the United States and Canada, might be known to the people, that they might pursue the most profitable course of breeding, representatives of the Chicago Daily Tri- bune (the acknowledged champion of the agriculturists of the great North-West), were instructed to procure of the well known and leading dealers in the New-York, and Chicago, horse markets information, upon the best draft breed. Here, then, is what men who supply New York city and Brooklyn have said on the subject: — Dahlman (1), Whitson (1) Handle betwen 9,000 and 10,000 horses annually. I!n^ / — 14 — Oakloy, Smith, Huyinan, St<>in, liioh.sy.J. I),ilili,iAn and Xuw- man. wlio han.llo niiu-tc-iitl>.s af nil the .Iraujrht horses sold in these groat cities, unite in saying that tlie Pccherons give the bast satisfaction to the people who buy them to we"ir out ; that they la.^u ,lil ! I I i I i § Pi I ' I'll' 'ii 4 1? — 18 — This article is replete with interest, especially for Canadian breeders, and we fully agree with the author, and have come to the same conclusions about the Canadian breed. The carelessness of the breeders generally, the influence of a northei-n climate, after a succession of generations has given us the tough, shaggy pony of Canada : if we would not have in course of time, a race as diminutive as the Shetland ponies, we must counteract such causes, such carelessness; and this', the Haras National is bound to do. The •' French Canuck " resembles the Percherou in form and in many of its characteristics, and may claim close consanguinity (1). Indeed, on July 16, 1685, 12 mares and 2 stallions sent to Canada by the King of France, were unloaded at Quebec. It is highly probable that, coming from the Havre, they we^e Normans, Percherons. Those horses-the first importation in America for breeding purposes-won a great fame among the red warriors, quitt delighted at seeing what they called the " cariboos de France ", so gentle and apt to labor. The mares were given to Me.ss. de Talon, de Chambly, de Sorel, de Contre-Cceur, de St-Ours, de Varennes, de la Ches- naye. de Repentigny, de Le Bert, on the following terms : On the third year, a yearling was to be given to the king- or hundred "livres"; if through any carelessne.ss of the pro- prietor,a mare died before the third year, a penalty of 350 livres was to be paid to the king. The two stallions, were given to Mr. de Chambly and the king paid him twenty " livres " annually for their keeping. a/Vnl!"* H^'ll^r "Cle">«^nt". 32172 of the Haras National, now IS I — 19 — Thus was establisheil the first Haras in America. In 182C or 1827, J. McNitt of Wasliington N. Y. purchased near Montreal a gray horse, known as " European Norman " imported from Le Havre in 1816. His son, the " Morse's horse " (1) was the sire of Alexander Norman, the founder of the famous Norman family. It is highly probable that " European Norman " was a Percheron. From this family have sprung the Blackwoods and the wonderful trotter Lula, May queen. He was extensively patronised in Washington and surrounding countries. It is not at all unlikely that many of the so called gray Messenger mares, that come from that region were, of his get. (2) In 1867, J. X. Perrault, Esq., of Montreal (to whom we are indebted for interesting notes about the first horses brought to Quebec) imported some Percheron stallions, who have bred superior colts in Vercheres and I'Assomption : Many a gray team, sprung from them, can be seen in the streets of Montreal : but people wished too rapid results : and as proceeding too fast is a greater error than stopping the way, they reduced to very little the results of several years of success. Still, when the merits of their descendants have been so thoroughly tested, our farmers bitterly regret not having retained them in their counties. Their progeny has been really remarkable, large, strong, active, and selling at figures rarely under $150 or S200, and it is that past experience of our province, which has induced and justified the Haras in renewing such breeding. (1) The "Morse's Horse" wa8 gray, foaled in 1834, dam Beck by Harris Hambletonian son of Bishop's Haiubletonian 2d dam by Pea- cock, blood unknown. (2) Pilot, Old Copperbottom, Columbus. Royal Georges have Cana- dian sires as ancestors. MPa to £-1 !i!: II I! 1 1 nwm I i| ii i | wipp)M»«M»ii»>^«pinpp NORMAN OR FRENCH COACH '|■■^ !■! |t;ii I t. I r'.-I;.'ii 1 itch i'V'Viis firt' 'la'-^ 1 ,„.-..,! 're*.vunti: llci, ol' ,Uij)!ii-iij'' 'jt' lii, <.i tuu I ,iU"Mi ii"\ .i'li)--' uii'ii.'i' n; treinod i •<'k)r-C t!ic .^atiuual -ui: )b>.i i tl t !?!■ --'Mlif SCi UiTflt U) tl It: .SfllUC d h iinu how sucli !,n-'Vit jail«»nnity in this Krcfi! hu-s been nit.ni;*' •!. bn. iK. r . <'scenfl)iiit* .11.1 tnijc'iirtl) Thi'ntu ■ n!s tl. U-'LT <"i flu the valuniii-. ih J |Ujii;:k'S t»j; thtst-- bivais through so (nauy geueratious, h us deveksfH^i H ra<'<" <>! I :^uch sizr n'tyrfu) vnduratK;. ■ H'f 1 -vit th neriV-fS- >ii,--^iii*»t)' "r5"flX"ti ;1 ''iirritigu, that our thoi to their otftpriiur. Thf" inDst f xcli horse iif* , l.-'cn attained, whiln these quuiitie,-: families of thi.s mit uuou> rrott »g »ft laiui'Iinj' of the blood of tht- N'oi- nuh ! Bi'lfoundif. ii tr-jtters much of t;iurt.>d t ! i 1 1 ■ 1 11 1 {^ 1 '1'" p . ii « ■fc i;iy^Fi|fm,^.b,||^ NORMAN OR FRENCH COACH " The valuable qualities claimed for the French Coach (Nornjans) horses over those of other coach breeds are based upon a system of breeding not possessed by any other race. Instead of being the product of a multiplicity of ideas, the French Coach horse has been developed under the exclusive guidance of the Director-General of the National studs of France ; and as those officials are educated in the same schools, trained in the same system, and taught to seek the same qualities and form, it is easy to understand how such great perfection and uniformity in this breed has been attained. These horses are the descendants of the Arab, the famous breed of the Merlerault and the I^'rench and English Thorough- breds. The uniting and concentrating of all the valuable qualities of these breeds through so many generations, has developed a race of such size and wonderful endurance, com- bined with perfect symmetry and graceful carriage, that our idea of perfection in a coach horse has been attained, while their breeding assures their power to transmit these qualities to their oflFspring. The most famous trotting families of this breed are the result of the mingling of the blood of the Nor- folk trotters, a breed that, through imported Belfounder, has given to American trotters much of their renown, imported I :t3SiW r'^ ■;■• -ki , Mi If — 22 — Phenomenon in France corresponding to imported Belford in the United States. Young Rattler was imported about 1820 and the stallions of his get gave the qualities which the French people especially fancied for coaching uses. No other coach horse can approach them in the combination of size and stylish action, for though they may never attain as high a rate of speed as the ligh-weight American trotter, yet their achievements over the inferior tracks of their native country, in their three to seven mjles races, stamp their endurance as sonething wonderful-a quality that can only he obtained by a horse of their size."— M. W. Dunham. Many of these horses weigh from 1,300 to 1,400 p'xunds, and yet are as graceful as a fawn and quite beautiful. The prevailing color is bay, but there are many chesnuts among them and blacks are occasionally seen. These horses are often called " demi-sang " (half-blood), as produce of the union of French Norman mares with Thoroughbred sires. As J. H. Sanders says in the " Horse Breeding ", it is only within a recent period that French Coach horses have attracted attention at the hands of American importers and breeders : the draft horses of that conntry having largely monopolized the attention of American stock raisers travelling in France. But within the past two or three years the growing demand for stylish, high-stepping coach horses in America has led to the importation of French Coachers in considerable numbers. The course of breeding that has produced these horses in France is much the same as that which has created the modem Cleveland Bay of England, the blood of the Thoroughbred largely predominating in both, the only difference being in the mares that have constituted the basis. — 23-^ . ■ The French Government own about 2000 of those Htallious, chiefly bred in Normandy, and from such fact, are frequently spoken of in France as Noriaa)if>. Between 11000 and 12000 owned by the (Jovennnent have been recorded in its Stud book established in 183.'}. A great future there is in Canada for the Coacher. We are confident that such horses which will prove as valuable and successful in Canada as their ancestors have done ii France. • THE HARAS OF FRANCE, GERMANY, AUSTRIA AND RUSSIA It was during the reign of Louis XIV, in 16G5, that the first state Haras was established in France, under the adminis' tration of the great statesman Colbert, and from that time down to the present day, the French Government has kept one central object constantly in view, the encouragement of tile people by every possible means to adopt a higher standard of breeding (1). To day the French Haras owns over 3.000 stallions (2) includ- (1) The Hams of Pin was established in 1714, and the Uaras of Pompadour in 1775. (2) In 1890, there were in France 1600 /loyal or approved stallions (many were brouRht from Spain, Turkey, Barbary). In 1789, there were 3239 approved anA government stallions, which sei ved 115,000 mares, producing 56,000 colts. From 1815 to 1883, the French Haras bought for their studs 826 stallions from the finest of the improved breeds from government stallions, 853 stallions from the Perche and Xormandy, and 223 staU lions imported from Arabia and the foreign countries. ■'i t, p'" 'iif — 24 — ing Thoroughbreds from England, French Coach, Arabians and Percherons. The credit necessary for prices offered to farmers in the different liorse fairs, is S300,000 per annum ; $10,000 per year is granted to make experiments with Arabian and Anglo Arabian mares at the Haras of Pompadour. In the winter these stallions are kept in the Haras, 400 being assigned to each : in the spring, when the breeding sea- sons begins, they are sent all over France " en station " two or three are takeli to the same district (station) where horses are bred. The charge for the service of the.^e magnificent animals, is but a nominal one, varying from 95 to Slu. As each mare is served (the choice of the stallion is generally left to the ma- nager of the " station ", the owner receives a certificate to that effect, giving the name of the stallion, with his pedigree in full and the time of date of the service. In addition to these there are two classes of stallions re- ceiving governmental i m jgnition. First approved stallions, which after inspection by the au- thorities are granted a subsidy varying from S50 to $600 k year, for remaining in the country, and serving mares at prices fixed by their owners. Besides, a subsidy of from $20 to $120 is given to approved mares with colts by the Haras stal- lions. (Dec. 9th, 1860). The second class are authorized upon inspection to serve mares, but receive no subsidy. To further prevent the use of inferior individuals, a decree was issued in 1885, excluding from public service all stallion not authorized by the govern- ment. Thus the horse breeding of France has been reduced to a science. For centuries the history of the French horse has been identical with the history of the nation, and amid all the — 25 — Lsses of stallions re- on, and amid all the turmoil of its political strife, the safety and improvement of the horse has been a prevailinjf sentiment. Every year governments agents are sent to the different horse markets to purchase three years old stalliona Should a horse be offered for sale, the owner setting its value at a given sum, but the government agents judging it to be of a greater value, their valuation is paid for it. Such liberal action has encouraged breeders in producing none but the finest breeds. Thus the government has made France one of the gi-eatest breeding country of the best strains of heavy draught, fine carriage and showy horses. " The laws and regulations of the French Haras, are, I think, admirable ", says H. Quetton St-George, of Oakridges, in his very interesting book "On the Breeding of Horses in Canada." There are similar systems of Haras in Europe, which meet with great success. For instance : In Germany, at the Haras of Trakehnem (Arabians and Thoroughbred. In Austria, at the Haras of Mezokegye. \ Thoroughbred from ofBabolna. ( England, u u I! 12- u ( '*"'* Arabians, ot Kisber. V French Coach and And che splendid Haras of Galicie. ' Percherons. In Russia : At the Haras of Tachesmenaky : English Thoroughbred and pure Arabian sires ; Of DerkvZ : Draft sires, Percheron, Suffolks and Orloffs mares ; Of Streletsk : pure Arabian and Orloff-Rostoptschin mares ; Of Nowo • Alexandrowsk : Orloff-Rostoptschin sires and mares, and Thoroughbred sires ; 4 i ! u — 26 — Of Limaewiik. English Tlmnn.frhbred and Arabian n.ares ; Of Chranuwuy : Orlotf.sires anil Orlort" mares. The overthrow of the Khan of Crimea, .luring the sixteenth century, by the Russians left in Russia, about (50,000 Arabian sires which improve.l greatly the native horse. In 1(JH0, the great Peter establishe.l the Hrst state Haras of Russia, .'leH- iiitely organise,l in I84:{. Ti... famous Orloff race (bred by the count Orloff- Tschesmenskow). comes from the cro.ss of Arabian sire with Danish ami Dutch mares (li). .Such has beeen the origin of the Russian horse-this horse which rode in May 1889.-2457 verstes ; 10;37 miles in thirty days! -(From Lubeny (Poltawa) to }^arif<, lieutenant Michel Asseef, of the 2r;th Ru.ssian Dragoons, with Diana, an officer's saddle mare, and Vluga, a soldier's saddle horse.) uikI Arabian iiiarus ; THE HARAS NATIONAL Co. AND WHAT IT INTENDS DOING ? Thoy are two ways of crossing, applicable to any breod . lo RegL-nt-ration through itself, or by selection : Tliis interbreefling is not yet practicable in Canada of our days. 2o Iiuprovintr by foroii^m blDod ; such wili be the course of the Haras, and so doing, it will create a draft horse coiubininfj Hw'iftnesH with »trength and the best carriage horse of America. They are two varieties of Percheron which may be classed as follows : lo The light Percheron. Prevalence of sanguine tempera- ment ; 2o The draft Percheron. Prevalencis of muscular force. The Haras will breed Percherons of the lighter type where they will developp notable trotting qualities, and heavier Per- cheron in the richest farming country, where the fall of snow is light. The colts, if a trial is allowed, will quickly enough tell their own story. The Haras will breed Anglo-Normans and Thoroughbreds all over the Dominion (1). (1) T^ie Haras has sent this year : Light Percheron stallions to the counties of Bellechasse, Berthier, Portneuf, Champlain and Chicoutimi, P. Q. to Indian Head, Assa. and Montreal. Heavy Percherons to the county of Vandreuil and to Ottawa, Brandon, Winnipeg, Man. and Montreal. French Coach to Brome Ct, Terrebonne Ct, P.Q. Ottawa and Montreal. — 28 — ill Besides, it intends to prevent as much as possible the use of the stallions before fully four years old and the Hllies being put to breedmg before reaching their 3rd year. All will be done with time, without haste. The breeder must have an unflinching attention, an unwearied patience. If the first crossing is not all that has been wished for, such imperfections will disappear at the second crossing in a great measure, aud from the third and fourth crossing, the problem will be solved : size and vigor, weight and elegance, strength and swiftness. Finally, the Haras will advise the farmers to march perse- veringly, systematically in the same way of breeding, without ever listening to advice which would modify the work commenced. How many farmers are now breeding their mares, the first year to a Clyde, next to a trotter, and then to a Percheron ! What can be the results of such foolish crossings, if not miserable scrubs ? In 1890, the Agricultural Society of Hochelaga Ct, P.Q., rented for the season a Clydesdale stallion for $1000. This experiment formed the basis of a somewhat similar contract which was granted by the Province of Quebec to the Haras for the furnishing of a certain number of pure bred stallions to Agricultural Societies throughout the Province every year. Any stallion becoming sick or dwabled to be replaced at once by another one, from the stud of the company, A small nominal fee per mare for the season was added in return of the privilege to select the number of horses required out of a greater number kept at the Company's stables and also as an encouragement to this Company who has undertaken to import and keeps constantly on hand these horsesfor hire or for sale. The Haras ente»d into a similar contract with the — 29 — department of Agriculture of the Dominion for sending some pure bred sires to the Experimental Farms. Such will be the work of the Haras National. It is created : the " principium " is laid, and will not die, no matter who will manage it It bears no malice to none, but asks the good will of every one in such a national work. On a very modest, very small scale, it intends to begin and to do in Canada, what the State Haras of France, Austria, Germany, Russia, have done in their respective countries. It will enrich the Dominion. The Canadian Equine History of the next twenty-five years will verify the truth of this prediction. -n5757S^'^5"^rSr— ^t "I ? 'I -' 3, NOTES. The AVERAGE SELLING PRICE OF THE COMMON HORSE IN 12 States (Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Kansas, Nebraska, Dakota, Wisconsin, Ohio, Missouri, Ken- tucky, Minnesota,) $96.67 compared with an average of S163. . . . for grades. Service fee Total Cost Selling Price Net Returns Comm. horse. Grade horse. Profit of grade $ 5 00 20 00 $55...* 70 OO $96 67 163 00 $41 67 93 00 over com. horse $5133 • Owin^ to the long winter, the cost of producine an horse at maturity m Canada is about $90. . """i^iug an norse at w ing Price Net Returns i 96 67 $41 67 163 00 83 00 $5133 oducing an horse at THE FIRST HARAS IN AMERICA 1670 Depenses pour Canada et Acadie Saint Gennaiu en laye, le 8e jour d'avril 1670. Garde de mon thresor royal. M. Estienue Jehanuot sieur de Bartillat, payez coinptant au Thresorier General de la Marine, M. Olivier Subleau, la .somuie de trente neuf niille cent trente huit livres quinze sols pour employer au faict de sa charge, n»e.snie celle de x. x. X. 11. m. 9me x. v. lbs au payment tant du passage et nourri- ture de cent engagez ef cent cinquante lilies qui passent au dit pais de Canada, que pour I'achapt et passage de douze cavalles, deux estallons et cinquante brebis pour le dit pais ; scavoir x. 9 lbs pour le passage et nourriture des dits cents engagez a raison de c. ll. chacun, x lb. 9. pour les cent cin- quante filles, II. 9. c. X. II. pour I'achapt des douze cavalles, deux estallons et cinquante brebiis a I'aison de 9. x. x. il. pour chacune cavalle, No 4, pour chaque estallon et c. lb. pour chaque brebis et x. 9. lbs. t. pour le passage et la nourriture des dits bestiaux et aultres frais, et b. il. un x. x. x. bus. li. x. bs pour les taxations du dit thresorier a raison de cinq deniers pour livres. Manuscrits.relatifs a la Nouvelle France Archives d«> la province de Qut^bec — 32 — Recensements de la Nouvelle France Unovembre 1681 78 chevaux ■ 1683 56 1685 156 1686 175 « En 1734 les chevaux de service coutaient k Quebec 100 k 150 francs. Archives de la province de Quebec. ELLE France lient k Quebec 100 k jrovince de Quebec. SOME OF THE PRIZES WON BY THE J3:J^T^Jl.& J^JsJTXOISTJ^JZj IN 18 88 Society des Agriculteurs de France, Paris, AfiH'icultural Exhibition of Hochelaga County, P.Q. Central Canada Exhibition Association, Qttawa. ' Class: Breeding Percheron mares, any age. 1st Prize : Fanchette 15107. Silver Medal : Fanchette 15107. Class : Two years old Percheron stallions. 1st Prize : Joly 15168. Class : Four years old or over draught stallions. 1st Prize : Boi de Bignan 1499. Class : Two years old Percheron stallions. 1st Prize : Joly 16168. 1889 Agricultural Exhibition of Hochelaga County, P.Q. Eastern Townships Agricultural Association, Sherbrooke, P.Q. ' Class: Three years old Percheron stallions. 1st Prize : Joly 15168. Class : Four years old or over draught stallions. 1st Prize : Boi de Bignan 1499. Class : Breeding draught mares. 1st Prize : Fanchette 15107, ' Class : Three years old Percheron stallions. 1st Prize : Joly 15168. Class: Thiee years old coach horses. Diploma : Marquis de Puiaaye. , 1st Prize : Marquis de Puisaye. 34 — Industrial Exhibition, Toronto, O. Industrial Exhibition, Toronto, O. Western Fair, London, 0. Agricultural Exhibition of Hochelaga County P. Q ^ Class : Three years old Percheron stallions and over. ^dVvizQ .Joly 15168, Class : Coach Horses, three years old and over. 3rd Prize : Marqids de Puiaaye. 18 9 Class : Percheron stallions, any age. ^ 1st Prize : Joly 15168. Oliver Medal : Joly 15168. 3rd Prize : Bontempa 20828. Cla^s : Percheron stallions, any a^e. ^ 1st Prize : Joly 15168. Diploma : Joly 15168. 2nd Prize : Boom 32171. Class • Four years old Percheron stallions ai^ over. 1st Prize : Bontempa 20828 2nd Prize : Boom 32171 Class : Coach horses, any age. 1st Pnze: Holopherne. 18 91 (to date) Agricultural Spring Exhibition of Hochelaga County, P. Q Class: Percheron stallions, any age. ^ J^^,Prize : Bontempa 20828 2nd Pnze : Boom 32171 Class :. Coach horses, any age l3t Prize : Holopherne •-^=4- (s-^s— e7-:^St. Jjf. IJ; i hree years old Percheron ions and over. '^•.Joly 15168, oach Horses, three years nd over. ) : Marquis de Puisaye. ercheron stallions, any e : Joly 15168. ied&l : Joly 151Q8, !e : Bontevips 20828. ircheron stallions, any ^ : Joly 15168. : Joly 15168. e : Boom 32171. ir years old Percheron as ar^ over. : Bontemps 20828. 3 : Boom 32171. ich horses, any age. : Holopherne. eheron stallions, any : Bontemps 20828. : Boom 32171. eh horses, any age. Holopherne.