The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-09-12
AGRICULTURAL.
The Breeding and BaIsing of Stock in
France.


limited in France, has stimulated the trade
In Mongrel breeds from the neigEboring re
gons. To stop this fraud, the breeders o.
real Percheron horses have very properly
founded stud book. Henceforth a good
Percheron must establish his family connec.
ton, prove that "all the blood of all the
Howards' is pure. I understand that an
English company is to be formed to breed
real Percherons, and rear them on improved
principles. The promoters of the company
are buying up farms in the heart of Perche
county. l am also informed Australian:
have put money into the concern. Some
thing has really demanded to put a check to
the breeder being supplanted by the dealer.
Normandy is the best pasture land in
France, and if such forms an element in the
case of Porcherons, it more than does so
with respect 10 cattle. A herd book has
also been founded to maintain purity in the
race of milch COWS. Such is the demand for
the milk products of Normandy, to say moth
ing of eggs and poultry, that it has been
called the home farm Of London. Norman
farmers chiefly sin by disregarding the
points of excellence in the bulls, and allow
ing the latter to serve too many cows. The
departments of Calvados and Eure have en-
tered into the spirit of the idea. Unfortu-
nately out of applications for 500 registra-
tions, only bulls and 80 COWS are deemed
worthy of being enrolled in the hUre dor.
Five years ago switzerland attempted to
establish a Herd Book. After numerous
difficulties, success is to be recorded. All
the cantons have adhered to the central
register. 1t only takes cognizance of what
is called the grand bovine races; these are
included under two heads, the redant white,
and the black and white breeds. Upwards
of 281 breeders adhere to the conditions of
the Herd Book, aud Fribourg appears to be
their headquarters.
Now that cooperative cheese and butter
farmers" are the order of the day, 1 wish
to draw attention to the special breed of cat
tie in the canton of Appenzell. The COWS
are good mixers, small bat we'll built, ad
mirably adapted for mountainous regions,
and easily cared. They are small feeders,
and their milk is as rich as Jersey land as
abundant as Kerry or West Highland COW.
They yield from IA to 20 quarts of milk a
day, but the average daily yield for the year,
is about quarts. The cows are hired for
the summer pasturage on the slopes of the
Alps, for Is fir. to 20 fr., and descend in the
Autumn relatively fat The proprietor him
self, or a member of his family, acts as herd,
and superintends the sale of the milk at the
central depot, or more generally converts it
himself into cheese. He may have from 20
to go cows. The latter never exceed cuts.
They receive the bull when IS months old,
aud when they have 6 calves, are fatted for
the butcher. Young bulls of to years old
are selected to serve.
Cows intended for the summer highland
pasture, are preferred if they have been
calved in February, and for lowland grazing,
if in November. Calves destined for the
butcher, are only allowed to suckle their
mother three or four times. They are then
fed from the pail thrice day milk and wat
er at first, then pure milk, mixed with the
refuse of the cheese factory. But they are
finished off on goats milk. The cows are
MIXED thrice day, and receive salt every
second day. They are daily curried, and oc-
casionally washed. When wet after storm
of rain they are rubbed with wisp of straw,
this keeps away, it is considered, rheuma-
tism. The Swiss loves his COW as an Arab
loves his horse; he employs neither whip,
stick nor dog. Government is all by the
voice. He addresses them as his dear beasts,
dGs kebe Vich!
1t is most essential to secure COW as lead
er, or conductrice, that will instinctivey
find out the rich little hooks of grass. Such
an animal will readily fetch so to 60 frs.
higher price. This "conductrice" is honored
with specially large bell; there are others
with smaller ones, or clochettes. She is
faithfully followed by the whole herd, and if
different herd be encountered, NJ mixing
up ever ensued. Should strange COW be
added to the herd, and display an ambition
for craftsmanship, death fight comes off, if
the intruder be not removed. The bells are
sung from leather collar round the ami
mails neck; they chime with the owners
chant, le rGnz deS rGches, or Kubereichen.
At the sound of their chant, which is not
composed of words, but of alternate low and
high sounds, all the COWS "come home"
Women are best at the chant, and call
herd from a great distance. If COW, born
and reared in the Alps, be exported, and if
by chance it hears in its new home the RANK
it will paw the ground, prick up its ears,
cocktail, rush through all barriers. Bells pro-
duce the same effect. All the Alpine cows
detest dogs with eat hatred. The herds
are always headed by or beautiful goats;
as many older ones make up the rear. All
the cows wear their bells when descending
into the lowlands for the winter; the con-
ductrice has her gala bell, which is IA inches
in diameter, and costs 100 frs. 1t is quite
patriarchal procession. These cows seem to
have an acute instinct; thus, if they go too
near slope which overhaDgs a precipice,
when they feel themselves gliding towards
destruction, they throw themselves on their
belly, close their eyes, and await the inevita-
BILE dash and crash If not rescued by ropes.
When a storm threatens the cattle are
housed, otherwise in turning tail to hurri-
cane, they would rush with closed eyes into
perhaps an abyss.
The harvest may he considered as termin-
ated in France. Wheat will be an excellent
crop, despite the the run of tropical weather
for the grim. Oats and barley will suffer
little, except on the sea coast, or in humid
situations. Green crops can yet pull up.
As forage it will be defective. But this
prospect has been anticipated by maize
eowings for ensiage. A farmer then has
only himself to blame if he be caught like
the Foolish Virgins, with no oil in his lamp.