The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-11-14
Agriculture IN France.

The production of Percheron horses being
limited in France has stimulated the trade
in mongrel breeds from the neighboring re-
gions. To stop this fraud, the breeders of
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
Towards" is pure / understand that an
English company is to be formed to breed
real Percherons, and rear them on In proved
principles. The promoters of the company
are buying up farms in the heart Of the
Perche country. am also informed Aus
tralans have put money into the concern.
Something was really demanded TO put
check to the breeder being supplanted by the
dealer.
Normandy is the best pasture land in
France, and If such ferns an element in the
case of Percherons, it more than does so
with respect to cattle. A herd book has al
so been founded to maintain purity in the
race of mich 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 allowing the
latter to serve too many cows. The depart
ments of Calvados and Eure have entered
into the spirit of the idea. Unfortunately
out of applications for 500 registrations, only
bulls and 50 cows were deemed worthy of
being enrolled in the lore dor.
Five years ago Switzerland attempted to
establish Herd Book. After numerous
difficulties, success is TO be recorded. ALI
the cautions have adhered to the central reg
lister. 1t only takes cognizance of what is
called the grand bovine races; these are in
eluded under two heads, the red and white
and the black and white breeds. Upwards
of 2S1 breeders adhere to the conditions Of
the Herd Book, and Fribourg appears to be
their head quarters.
Now that cooperative cheese and butter
''farmeries' are the order of the day, [ wish
to draw attention to the special breed of cat
lie in the canton of Appenzell. The cows
are good mixers, small but well built, ad-
mirably adapted for mountainous regions,
and easily reared. They are small feeders,
and their milk liz as rich as Jersey, and as
abundant as a Kerry or West Highland COW.
They yield from IA to 20 quarts of milk
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 fir. to 20 fr., and descend 10 the
autumn relatively fat. The proprietor him
self, or 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
cuts. They receive the ball when Is months
old, and when they have had calves, are
fattened for the butcher. Young bulls of 2
10 8 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 twice day, milk and wa
ter 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 twice day, and receive salt every
second day. They are daily curried, and oc-
casionaly washed. When wet after q storm
of rain, they are rubbed with a wisp of straw
this keeps away, it is considered, rheuma-
kism. The Swiss loves his COW as an Arab
his horse; he employs neither whip, stick
nor dog Government is all by the voice.
NJ 30
kebe Vichl
It is most essential to secure COW as lead
er or conductrice, that will instinctiyey
find out the rich little hooks of grass. Such
an animal will readily fetch so to 60 frs.
higher price. This 'conductrice" is hon
ored 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 no
mixing up ever ensues. Should strange
COW be added 10 the herd and display an
ambition for craftsmanship, a death fight
comes off, if the intruder be not removed.
The bells sare slung from a leather collar
around the animals neck; they chime in
with the owners chant-le RAM DIES rGcheS,
or Kdhereichen. At the sound of this chant,
which is not composed of words, but of alter
nate low and high SQUADS, all the cows
"come home.' Women are best at the
chant, and can call herd from great dis
4ance. II COW, born and reared in the
Alps, be exported, and if by chance it hears
10 its new home the rGnz, it will paw the
ground, prick up its ears, cock tail and rush
through all barriers. Bells produce the
same effect. All these Alpine COWS detest
dogs with cat hatred. The herds are al
ways headed by or beautiful goats; as
many older ones bring up the rear. All the
COWS wear their bells when descending into
the lowlands for the winter; the "conduc-
trice' has her gala bell, which is IA inches
in diameter, and costs 100 frs. 1t is quite
patrisrchal procession. These COWS seem to
have an caute instinct thus, if they go too
near a slope which oyerhangs precipiee,
when they feel themselves gliding towards
destruction they throw themselves on their
bellies, close their eyes aud await the newt
able dash and crash ii 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
IL