Mr. A. D. Bartlett on Chinese Sheep. 387 



following report from tlic?;e gentlemen was received. They say, 

 " That the sample of shonp's wool from China enclosed in Dr. Price's 

 letter, is a class of wool which would be extensively used by the 

 manufacturers of this district for goods of low quality ; that it ap- 

 pears to be wool suitable for combing purposes, and would now 

 command about one shilling per jjound." 



That the wool does not appear to offer any great inducement for 

 its introduction will be seen by the above report, but I think it 

 highly probable that, by cultivation and judicious crossing, a great 

 improvement may be fairly looked for. It is, however, a matter of 

 the utmost importance to us that we should possess animals whose 

 power of reproducing is greatest, in order to supply the increased 

 demand for meat. 



The origin of our domestic animals has been a subject of much 

 discussion ; the remote period of their domestication involves us in 

 much doubt ; and this mystery and obscurity will probably never be 

 satisfactorily cleared up. It is, however, interesting to find in a 

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

 perfect of domestic animals : I mean by this, the animals that are 

 furthest removed from their natural 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, causing them completely to 

 change 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 Uke the Chinese, whom we know to have practised 

 these arts for ages, — is it not likely that they have by artificial means 

 induced a similar 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 same animals in any other part of the world ? In- 

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

 within my own observation ; their fowls are certainly unequalled for 

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

 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 state produce only two broods in a season ; while in a state 

 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 state 

 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 quality and size, while 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 state, but I have abundant proof of their great 



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