xvi INTRODUCTION, 
thefe objects will be eafily allowed to attach to the fmalleft, 
moft compaét, and fmall-boned bodies. The Chinefe race, 
or that mixed with one of our own fmalleft and moft fuitable 
varieties—or rather with individuals of fuch defcriptions, 
which may be felecied for the purpofe, and the produce after- 
wards kept diftin& in propagation, feems to be the fimple 
plan for excellence in this bufinefs.—-W hen it is confidered , 
that the fmaller animals are certainly not lefs prolific, and 
fooner come to the period of breeding than large ones—that 
they will fubfitt on fhorter food, get fpeedily into good cafe, 
where large ones will look lean; fat fooner, and when 
killed, yield meat more fine for general confumption, as 
pork, or as fmall bacon; that none excel them in flavour; 
one fhould think the balance in favour of the careful propa- 
gation of fuch a race, by fuch a breeder as we have alluded 
to, would have been almoft certain;—that it was next to 
impoffible for an educated man of fortune to engage on fuch 
a feale of breeding, with ideas foincorre&! At any rate, 
the chance-medly fyftem, while it betrays want of refle€tion} 
ufeful tafte, and the proper fpirit of example, is certainly to 
be blamed. We have often heard of large {wine-breeders, 
for the purpofe of general experiment as to profit, when 
compared with other kinds of flock; but we have feen too 
little of difcrimination and fyjtem in fwine-breeding itfelf; 
as though this animal, which, from its aforefaid quicknefs 
of propagation, and the different convertible ufes of its fleth, 
is, perhaps, (Jike the potatoe among vegetables) of more 
real confequence to the bulk of the nation than any other, 
were to be the laft to receive improvement. The gentle- 
man in queftion, however, more certainly than the farmer 
with the Wiltfhire flock, we may ftill pronounce u/eful ta 
fuiety on a wrong principle; and if he has perfeverance 
enough to continue Jong in negligence and error, we will 
hope 
