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INTRODUCTION. | EXXV 
} viduals appear, which are at once preferable in oth points 
of view, (not only a poflible but a common cafe) ‘care 
fhould be taken to preferve them, whether male or female, for 
propagation. ‘This care would foon produce great improve- 
ment. Publick comparifon for fmall prizes would eftablith 
characteriftic excellences, diffufe emulation, furnifh a mar- 
ket-for whatever excellence might be otherwife deftroyed, 
-and perpetuate the ufeful ftrife. 
On this topic of /e/ection for breeding, admonition cannot 
well be too urgent. For the difadyantage arifing from the 
neglect of it is one of the greateft in the mifmanagements of 
a flock; and-than fuch neglect, in common praégtice, no- 
thing has been more frequent. By that kind of attention 
which is fometimes paid to feleStion, we occafionally fee 
refpeCtable farmers bring their flocks to great uniformity of 
fize, and in fome of the longer-legged races and mixtures 
to a gigantic ftature; as though all excellence confifted in 
the largenefs and bold appearance of the animal; bearing a 
prodigious pair of horns upon a large head, and ftanding on 
legs of equal coarfenefs! The fleece, if regarded.at all, is 
“regarded with fmall attention to the finenefs of the pile, and 
elaftic quality for clothing manufacture. The reverfe of 
this conduct would be attended with no extraordinary 
trouble: true critical attention might be eafily paid—habit 
would render it familiar and delightful—the advantage in 
ultimate profit would be certain. 
It is natural for a man to be attached to a flock of his 
own breeding, anda kind to which perhaps his anceftors 
had beeri accuftomed; a total change is a ferious thing; 
and fuch a change fhould never be lightly refolved on, or 
without a fair comparative experiment, on a fufficient feale, . 
againft the old race of fheep. But obftinate incredulity is 
the enemy of «// improvement. And here, on the fubject 
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