.Biographical Memoir of M. Dauhenton. 15 



. terrogations,—and a sagacity which enabled him to 86ize tlie 

 smallest signs that could indicate a reply. ' . 



In his agricultural investigations an additional quality is ma- 

 nifested, namely, devotion to public utility. What he did for 

 the improvement of our wool, will ever entitle him to the grati- 

 tude of the State, to which he contributed a new source of pros- 

 perity. 



He commenced his experiments on this subject in 1766, and 

 continued them until his death. Patronized at first by Tru- 

 daine, he received encouragement from all who succeeded that 

 enlightened and patriotic minister, and he replied to them in a 

 manner worthy of himself. He fully demonstrated the utility 

 of keeping sheep constantly in the field ; exposed the pernicious 

 consequences of inclosing them in stables during winter * ; tried 

 various methods of improving the breed ; found means for de- 

 termining with precision the degree of fineness of the wool ; dis- 

 covered the true mechanism of rumination -f- ; deduced useful 

 conclusions respecting the temperament of woolly cattle, and the 

 mode of feeding and treating them j ; disseminated the products 

 of his sheep-farm over all the provinces; distributed his rams 

 among all the proprietors of flocks ; had clothes made of his 

 wool, to demonstrate to the most sceptical its superiority || ; 

 formed expert shepherds for the purpose of propagating the 

 practice of his method ; and drew up instructions ada:pted to the 

 capacity of all classes of agriculturists §. Such is a brief statement 

 of Daubenton's labours in this important department. 



Almost at every public meeting of the Academy, he gave an 

 account of his researches, and frequently obtained more grate- 

 ful applause from those present, than his fellow members re- 

 ceived of admiration for discoveries more di^cult to be ma^i?, 

 but of less obvious utility. 



His successes have since been sui-passed ; the entire flocks 

 which the Government brought from Spain, at the request of 

 M. Tessier,.hayq. diffuse(J,,and\Y.UlcQntin.U9^ to diffuse^ t]>9jfin^^ 



• Memoires de TAcademie for 1772, first part, p. 436. 

 t Ibid, for 1766, p. 389. % Ibid. p. 39a 



II Memoire sur le premier drap de laine superfine du cm de la France, 

 lu a la rentree publique de TAcademie des Sciences de 1784. 

 § Instruction pour les bergers et pour les proprietaires. 



