1792. improvement of Jheef* and viool. 55 



beyond its value. But if it fhall be proved byaset of 

 judicious experiments, which I have no doubt will be 

 the case, that fineuefs of -a'ooI does not necefsarilj tend 

 to diminilb its quantity, and that flieep cf the hardiest 

 sort may be found that produce the finest and closest 

 pile of wool, then his attention would be directed to 

 make diligent search to try if he could discover that 

 breed wich pofsefsed all the different qualities which 

 Tender flieep valuable in the highest degree. But ii^ 

 this enquiry he (houlfl proceed with caution, and ne- 

 ver go an inch beyond the bounds that accurate ex- 

 periments prescribe to him ; fancy and affection fliould 

 be hereout of the question, — it is projit only that 

 ought to be regarded. When ever the farmer has^ 

 obtained a good breed, let him lay it down as a maxim, 

 from which nothing Iball make him depart, ne- 

 ver, on the one hand, to alter it or change it for ano- 

 ther, till he has had decisive experience that he is to 

 do it for the better ; nor, on the other hand, ever to 

 rest satisfied that his breed cannot be improved tiU 

 he has obtained one that pofsefses every estimable 

 quality in the highest known degree. 



That I may not be here misunderstood, let it be 

 supposed that he has obtained a breed that affords 

 very fine wool in abundant quantity, and thrives 

 kindly upon his gang ; though another kind fliould 

 come in his way, that fattened a little more easily, 

 let him, before he resolves to adopt this last, make a 

 fair experiment to try if the whole of the flieep of 

 that kind, which can be kept on a given quantity of 

 Buch food, as he can command, will afford him more 

 profit, taking in every article ia cumulo, carcase,. 



