end other domejilc Animals, 371 



tory to aftertain the hdi% of this fuppofed cohabitation, and to learn, in cafe it takes place, 

 what is the produce. For this purpofe, I put a ram with a flie-goat, and a ewe with a 

 goat^ 



I g^ve an account to the Academy of Sciences, in 1779, of the experiments which 1 had 

 already made, to afcertain what foods might be eaten by fheep without injury, and alfo that 

 which would prove noxious. I am enabled at the Mufeum to extend thefe experiments to 

 a great number of plants which I could not find in the diftriit of the province of the Cote 

 d'Or, where I have operated, during a long courfe of time, on the improvements of (heep. 



There are^onvincmg proofs, that the time the fheep remain folded in corn-fields, and 

 in the meadows, greatly augments their produce ; yet the praftice of folding fheep on fueh. 

 grounds is not praitifed in the greater part of the provinces of the French republic. If this^ 

 were done on all the fields, we (hould probably be able to raife a fufficient crop for the con- 

 fumption of the republic ; or, at lead, we fliould not be obliged to import fo great a quantity 

 from foreign countries. I have entertained the opinion, that we might extend the cuftom 

 of folding or penning (heep, if a fmall floclc were to be fo managed in the Garden of Plants j 

 people from all the provinces, who vifit that place, would then fee the manner in which a 

 park or fold is conftituted, how they change the place, the cottage where the fhepherd fleeps 

 who guards it, the dog-houfe, &c. 



They would alfj obferve the difference between the produce of the fields, which had been 

 thus treated, and thofe which had not ; for to extend the ufe of a pradice fo ufeful, fo im- 

 portant, and fo neceflary as the parking of flieep in corn-fields, and in meadows, it is necef^ 

 fary to employ every means which can contribute to it. I have caufed very circumftantial 

 experiments to be made in my fheep-farm, near Montbard, in the province of the Cote 

 d'Or, on the produce of lands cultivated in this manner : I have compared the crops of 

 fields and meadows which had been parked, with the crops of neighbouring lands on which 

 flieep have not been fed, and with thofe of other lands which had neither been parked or ma- 

 nured, and alfo with lands which had only been manured without folding the Iheep upon 

 them. Inconteftable proofs muft neceffarily be given of the advantages of parking, to in- 

 duce thofe people to employ it who may not be convinced of the great benefits they would 

 reap from it. I cannot too often obferve, that if all the fheep which are in the republican 

 territory were to be thus treated, it would greatly augment the quantity of our firfl aiid 

 greateft fubfiftence. This confideration furely merits the particular attention of govern- 

 ment. 



It has been affirmed, that the flefh of the hogs of Siam* is more delicate and white than- 

 that of the common hogs. This animal has been varioufly fpqkcn of. In fome of the repub- 

 lican provinces where there were formerly fome, there are now none ; and though they arc 

 reared in other provinces, yet thefe animals fornj no part of the commerce of the dealers in 

 fwine of Paris, who can give no reafon why they are not. I fhall make trial of a hog o£^. 

 Siam, to a/certain whether they are worth being reared for common confumption. 

 • I fuppofe this to be known in England by the name of the Chinefe breed. — N» 



The 



