106 



country whose civilization is of such ancient date as China, the most 

 perfect of domestic artimais : I meaa by this, the animalš that are 

 furthest removed from their natūrai condition. 



Now, knowing what wonderful changes can be, and are produced 

 in the vegetable kingdom by skilful modes of propagating, culti- 

 vating and artificially treating plants, eausing them completely to 

 chauge their nature, producing all kinds of variety of monstrous 

 growth, double flowers, fruit and seed in enormous abundance ; — all 

 this being done by the interference of man, may I ask, is it not pro- 

 bable that a people likę the Chinese, whom we know to have practised 

 these arts for ages, — is it not hkely that they have by artificial nieans 

 induced a simUar power in these domestic animals ; as we find, for 

 example, the pigs, the fowls, the geese and the sheep of China more 

 prolific than the šame animals in any other part of the world ? In- 

 stances of Chinese sows producing twenty-two at a litter have come 

 within ray own observatiou ; their fowls are certainly unequalled for 

 the number of their eggs, and their geese as reproducers stand im- 

 rivalled. 



It is almost needless to say that the result of cultivation, whether 

 as applied to plants or animals, has produced an unnatural and ab- 

 normal condition : instances too numerous to mention may be found, 

 but it will be sufficient to notice the pigeons and ducks. The former 

 in a wild stale produce only two broods in a season ; while in a statė 

 of domestication they continue to breed all the year. The domestic 

 ducks not only produce a much larger number of eggs, but one 

 drake is sufficient for a number of ducks, five or six ; while in a statė 

 of nature they universally are found in pairs. 



Experience has proved that by a careful admixture or crossing in 

 the breed of the Chinese pigs, geese, and fowls, the mixed races are 

 much improved in cjuality and size, wlnle they retain the reproduc- 

 tive power undiminished, and the animals are more hardy. As 

 regards poultry, I cannot admire the celebrated Cochin China 

 breed in their pure statė, but I have abundant proof of their great 

 value for breeding and crossiug ; the least possible trace of the breed 

 appears sufficient to impart all that is desirable, and by after-breed- 

 ing, the improvement that may be made is as astonishing as it is un- 

 deniable. As crossing the breed in the animals before mentioned 

 has been attended with so much success, there is no reason why 

 crossiug the Sheep should not also produce a favourable result. 



It mušt not be supposed, because the Chinese have banished their 

 Sheep (having found cotton and rice more suited to their chmate 

 and better adapted to their wants), that they are unworthy of our 

 notice, takiug into eonsideration that in this country we cannot grow 

 cotton or rice. 



Having \vitnessed the many attempts that have been made to re- 

 duce some of the existiug vvild animals to a statė of domestication, 

 and observing the utter failure in all instances of producing what 

 may fairly be called a domestic variety of any true species, I am 

 inclined to believe it is necessary as a meaus of reduciug wild animals 

 to a domestic condition, that they mušt be crossed with nearly allied 



